In this episode, Matt takes a closer look at one of southern Illinois’ most unusual stories: the mystery of Burrows Cave near Olney, Illinois. Retired Army officer and experienced caver Russell E. Burrows claimed he stumbled onto an underground chamber packed with carved stones, gold artifacts, and signs that ancient Old World travelers may have reached North America long before Columbus.
Matt walks through Burrows’ impressive military background, the details of what he said he found, and why most archaeologists remain convinced the whole thing was a hoax. But not everyone is ready to dismiss it. Some researchers — including Book of Mormon Heartland investigator Brian Nettles — believe the artifacts deserve another look and might even be genuine.
Is Burrows' Cave the ultimate secret history of the world, or one of the greatest hoaxes in American archaeology? This episode dives into the life of the man behind the story, the controversial evidence he brought out of the cave, and the enduring questions that keep this mystery unsolved.
[00:01] The Hook: The Man Who Fell into History
[00:01] Introduction of Russell Burrows: a highly decorated Korean War veteran and experienced caver.
[00:28] The moment he stepped on a flat slab of rock and the ground dropped out from under him.
[00:41] How Burrows used his combat instinct to survive the collapse of the man-made trap.
[01:03] The carvings and the massive, ancient-looking stone face that suggested he had found an "entryway into something far bigger."
[02:16] Welcome & Update on Zachary Carey's case
[02:16] Welcome to River City Mystery and invitation to the Discord server.
[03:00] Case Update: The tragic conclusion to the Zachary Carey disappearance (disappeared May 2023).
[03:32] Confirmation of Zachary's remains being found near Lynville, Indiana, and information on the GoFundMe link for final expenses.
[03:58] The Man Behind the Story: Russell Burrows
[04:06] Why understanding Russell Burrows' credibility is essential to the story.
[04:30] His military background: Born 1935, enlisted in the Army, received a battlefield commission in the Korean War.
[04:47] His awards: Two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star, a Legion of Merit, and Two Purple Hearts.
[04:55] His academic interest: He attended West Virginia University and majored in archaeology.
[05:18] He resigned his commission as a full Colonel (O-6) in 1963.
[05:39] Update on his health: Burrows suffered a stroke a few years ago that affects his memory.
[06:09] His steadfast conviction: He has never, not once, backed down from his story.
[06:39] The Discovery and Artifact Claims
[06:45] A quick aside: Olney, Illinois is famous for its rare population of albino squirrels.
[07:19] What he claimed to find: A vast, man-made chamber containing sarcophagi, gold, bronze, and copper weapons, and thousands of carved stone tablets.
[07:37] The historical claim: Evidence of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern peoples in North America centuries before Columbus.
[07:59] The book that launched the legend: The Mystery Cave of Many Faces by Burrows and Fred Rydholm.
[08:37] The book is out of print, but a free version is linked in the show notes.
[09:00] The Evidence: The Controversial Stones
[09:00] The core problem: The cave location is unverified, making the artifacts the only tangible evidence.
[09:18] The mix of scripts: The stones feature Egyptian-like hieroglyphs, ancient Greek characters, Phoenician symbols, and more.
[09:50] The believers' argument: The "hodgepodge" makes sense if the group was a multicultural blend of travelers.
[10:19] The skeptics' counter: The mix of styles suggests a confused forgery.
[10:35] The supporters' response: The difference in quality is due to trained scribes vs. illiterate soldiers making the carvings.
[11:15] The Controversy and Hoax Theory Problems
[11:15] The dealbreaker for mainstream archaeology: Burrows never allowed independent experts to document or verify the location.
[12:03] Problems with the hoax theory: No financial motive (he never made millions).
[12:30] His consistency: Burrows stuck to the same story for 40 years.
[12:50] The decorated veteran does not fit the profile of a typical con artist.
[13:15] Artifact Patina: Some experts claim the aging and patina on certain artifacts are difficult to fake.
[13:42] Interview with Russell Burrows
[13:42] Introduction to Brian Nettles, who conducted the interview, and his work comparing Burrows' Cave artifacts to the Michigan artifacts (1910).
[15:08] INTERVIEW CLIP BEGINS (Brian Nettles introduces himself and his research interests).
[16:05] Russell Burrows introduces himself: "I had the misfortune of finding a cave back in 1982..."
[16:47] Burrows confirms his recent stroke and the effect on his memory; he advises listeners to "go with the book."
[17:41] Burrows confirms he found the cave and believes the artifacts are ancient (approx. 2,000 years old).
[18:14] Burrows attests he never manufactured any of the artifacts.
[18:37] Burrows names "Harry Hard" as a person who manufactured some items but confirms his core artifacts are genuine.
[19:14] Burrows confirms a man who owned a foundry in St. Louis (Mr. Black) manufactured lead replicas coated with gold.
[20:13] Burrows confirms he took out about 4,000 artifacts, most of which had writings on them.
[20:46] Burrows attests he did not create the writing system.
[21:03] INTERVIEW CLIP ENDS (The hosts comments on why the rest of the visual comparison is better suited for video).
[21:23] Conclusion & Final Thoughts
[21:23] The final question: Are the stones ancient or modern? The mystery remains unsolved.
[21:48] Invitation to join the Discord server to share thoughts on the Tri-State Mystery.
Links referenced in the episode:
GoFundMe for Zachary Carey - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-gina-with-zacharys-burial-costs?attribution_id=sl:20099a5c-2e12-4f18-9038-9efe044288df&lang=en_US&ts=1763859567&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_td&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook
Brian Nettles' interview with Russell Burrows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMj8VfDXG5w&t=232s
Brian Nettle's Book of Mormon Heartland website - https://bookofmormonheartland.com/
Photos of Burrows Cave stones - https://bookofmormonheartland.com/burrows-cave-stones/
The Mystery Cave of Many Faces - https://burrowscave.io/books/the-mystery-cave-of-many-faces/
Join the River City Mystery Discord server to meet others from the tri-state area who are into true crime and the paranormal.
https://www.rivercitymystery.com/discord
