Archaeology and Ether's Hiding Place

In Ether 13, we learn that Ether "hid himself in the cavity of a rock" while witnessing the destruction of the Jaredite people (verses 13, 14, 18, and 22). Interestingly, recent archaeological research has found evidence of this practice among ancient Indians.

"Excavations ... help prove that the natural rock overhangs that dot Ohio's landscape provided shelter for hunters dating back more than 12,000 years." Nigel Brush, a geology professor at Ashland University in Ohio, has lead excavations at 30 rock shelters over the past 27 years. During that time, he discovered that these shelters "were used over and over again the same way for thousands of years."

In fact, some were used as base camps, possibly for months at a time. This fits the experience of Ether who spent a year or more hiding from the people in "the cavity of a rock," perhaps a shelter like those studied by Brush (Ether 13:18).

While this offers no proof of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, it adds circumstantial evidence that the Book of Mormon history is consistent with archaeological findings.

For more info, see "Gimme shelter: Archaeological digs show ancient Indians took refuge beneath rock overhangs," THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, September 20, 2009.