Indian Head Rock

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The Indian Head Rock is an eight-ton sandstone boulder, which until recently resided in the bottom of the Ohio River. ^[1]

1 Etymology
2 History
3 Dispute
4 References

[edit] Etymology

The face on The Indian Head Rock. Taken 2008

The name Indian Head Rock comes from a carving on the bottom of the boulder with the features of a face present. It has been theorized that the face was carved by an American Indian as a petroglyph, a boatman as a river gauge, or was carved by John Book from Portsmouth, Ohio who later fought in the Battle of Shiloh. ^[1] Other theories include that a band of robbers used it to mark their nearby stash and that a quarry man carved the face with a metal device. ^[2]

[edit] History

A woman standing on the rock circa 1903.

The Indian Head Rock was used as a carving stones for individuals from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. Others would swim out to the rock to have their picture taken with it. In the 1920s the Ohio River was dammed and 16 feet of water submerged it; it was not until recently that the rock has been seen.^[3]

[edit] Dispute

Indian Head Rock.
(Note the name carvings) Taken 2008.

Recently Steve Shaffer removed the rock from the bottom of the Ohio River. The Army Corps of Engineers said the rock belongs to Kentucky, and when it was removed, the group from Ohio violated the Federal Rivers and Harborment Act of 1899.^[4] In addition, Greenup County, Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Duvall has stated that the Shaffer's removal of the rock from the river may violate Kentucky’s Antiquity Act, which is a Class D felony and carries a sentence of one to five years in state prison. Duvall is currently presenting evidence in the case to the Greenup County grand jury.^[5]

The removal of the rock has also led to the states of Kentucky and Ohio fighting a legislative battle.^[6] It has even been suggested by a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives that a raiding party be sent to Portsmouth, where the rock is currently held, to move the rock back to Kentucky. On January 8, 2008, Representative Reginald Meeks introduced House Resolution 12 in the Kentucky General Assembly. The Resolution reads, "Condemn the removal of Indian Head Rock to the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, and urge the city of Portsmouth to return the rock to its original location". On January 22, 2008, House Resolution 12 was adopted by a voice vote.^[7]

In May, 2008, Ohio Representative Todd Book, along with sixty-six cosponsors, introduced and adopted House Resolution No. 137 in the 127th Ohio General Assembly Regular Session. It was resolved, "That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 127th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, declare that the Portsmouth Indian Head Rock is and has always been inextricably linked to the history of the City of Portsmouth, Ohio, and that it represents an important facet of Ohio's historical connection to the Ohio River, and be it further, That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 127th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, call upon the Commonwealth of Kentucky to abandon any claims of ownership to the Portsmouth Indian Head Rock and to work with Ohio officials to jointly care for, preserve, and educate the public about the history of the Portsmouth Indian Head Rock and, through such joint action, promote our shared and common history, and be it further, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Ohio Historical Society, the Kentucky Historical Society, and the news media of Ohio and Kentucky". ^[8]