The Burrows Cave Mystery
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.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[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: Bu
