We learn as we go. The length of the PHOENICIA is 66 feet and from keel to deck it is as high as 40 feet. There are thousands of board feet of timbers and about 40 tons of total weight. Each panel and each timber must be handled dozens of times. As the pieces come together the tolerances of the joints are measured within one 1/16″ of an inch. The pieces must be gently controlled when the timber and the planks are aligned to the tenons and the dowels. The weight of one section can be from one hundred to five hundred pounds.
The exact control of the movement of timbers is a serious challenge even for a team of five strong men. You can see from the attached photos how workers struggled with the pieces as they went higher and higher on the sides of the hull. The handling of the ship’s timbers at these heights creates greater risks for the workers as well as increased likelihood of damage to the integrity of the ship.
Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, today we found what we think is a good solution for the higher places where we have to place more timbers and align more joints. Our volunteers have located a used Stevedore 4000 Grove Hydraulic Crane that is well suited for the assembly of the PHOENICIA. The price is right and after refurbishing the equipment will be able to do the job of handling the timbers.
Today we made a down payment and have asked for a qualified mechanic to go over the crane and bring it to good working condition. We expect to take delivery of the crane in April 2023. The crane will have a clear safety benefit for our workers. The crane will help us bring together the parts of the world’s oldest ship replica that has crossed the Atlantic.
Once again we acknowledge the Hand of God as we move forward with this important project. We appreciate the hundreds of people who are supporting the ship’s restoration.
On Friday we honor Captain Philip Beale as the hero of the PHOENICIA at a dinner at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.
Ery'j Sassi, Heartland Research's partner in the ancient Port of Carthage, arranged a video conference with leading experts in the Old World and a University President from the New World were able to see a live stream from the Phoenicia Ship Museum in Montrose, Iowa.
Could there be a connection between the Bible and ancient America from that time of trouble in 600 BC? We believe there is. Come to Montrose, Iowa, and see how the PHOENICIA is the connecting point for the Sticks of Joseph and Judah.
We have America's largest collection of Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) logs at the Phoenicia Workshop in Iowa. We have distilled and formulated an ancient scent from the essential oil that comes from our Cedar of Lebanon. The perfume provides a source of funding for the restoration of our ship…
Heartland Research has been studying ancient connections between the Old and New Worlds for over eight years. It has always been obvious to us that our resources are limited when compared to the size of the field of study. The support of our donors has been invaluable to us over…
With today’s technology, we connected a busload of tourists at the Phoenicia Ship Museum with our Tunisian partners in Carthage. The world’s oldest replica ship, which sailed on two oceans and two seas, was the reason for the live connection.
Mike and Betty LaFontaine The Native American couple will be at the Heartland Research Booth at the FIRM Foundation Expo, which will feature the 33rd International Book of Mormon Evidence Conference.
From Betty, More attended that evening about 100 people; once again we asked for raised hands who had heard of the Phoenicia again maybe 3! Once again Rod Meldrum presented both Mike and I did also all about The Phoenicia! Many were touched. Again Roger Cook and others traveled to…
"History is always being rewritten. But few people have the imagination and sheer guts of Philip Beale and his crew to demonstrate the seemingly impossible. This book is the most interesting and inspiring I have read in a long time" --Sir Ranulph Fiennes, OBE
International Seminar to be held on January 13, 2024 at Northampton College. Speakers include Yri and Veri Sanada, Ery'j B. Sassi Trimech, Blaise Colasante, Adam Stokes, Brian Nettles, Mike LaFontaine, and Betty LaFontaine.
The Ambassador’s Reception on February 16th, 2024, at the Tunisian Embassy in Washington DC near the White House. Connecting the ancient people of Tunisia with the ancient people of America.
The Heartland Research Group is a grassroots, boots-on-the-ground organization that believes that the historical
narrative of the Book of Mormon took place in the Heartland of North America. The HRG is active in archaeological
research and in the acquisition, restoration and display of ancient American artifacts. The HRG is currently
preparing an ancient ship replica called the "Phoenicia" for display. The ships construction design is patterned
after a shipwreck dating to 600 BC. The Phoenicia ship made modern voyages, first around Africa and then also from
the Middle East to Florida in 2019 – proving that voyages around Africa or from Sidon to North America were
feasible anciently.
Heartland Research Inc is a 501c3 private operating foundation for archaeological research and to complete preparations for the Phoenicia display. Current plans are for a museum large enough to house the Phoenicia
ship and many other ancient artifacts and exhibits from North America. The location of the museum is planned to be
in Zarahemla which is Lee County Iowa, near the Mississippi river and east of Nauvoo, Illinois.
Our activities are too many to list, but some recent major expeditions are listed below. Many of these expeditions
are open-ended and we expect to continue research in these and other similar activities as time, resources, and
volunteers become available. We have dozens of volunteers and hundreds of donors, large and small, but we need many
more. Check out the websites listed below for details of Heartland Research Group projects. Our current project is
is our biggest yet: to refurbish the Phoenicia ship for display.
We invite you to support our efforts so we can complete these worthy goals!
If you have skills or knowledge to contribute to our research and discovery projects, please contact us directly to volunteer.
What: Sonar scanning of Mississippi between Nauvoo and Keokuk. The purpose of the expedition was to
discover a crossing route that ancient people could have taken.
Who: Heartland Research Inc volunteers.
Where: Between Keokuk and Nauvoo, Iowa.
How: Private donations of money, time and equipment.
What: Magnetic scanning of 221 acres of farmland near Montrose, Iowa. The purpose of the expedition
was the discovery of fire-pits and other evidence of ancient occupation.
Who: Members of the Heartland Research Inc, local farmers, volunteers, plus technicians from German
company SYNSYS. Signs of habitation were found
with magnetometery scanning and then C14 dating.
Where: Near Montrose Iowa and between Montrose and Fort Madison Iowa.
How: Large and small donations of money, time and equipment.
What: A one week seminar in Fort Madison, Iowa with 25+ participants. Included visits to the Putnam
museum in Davenport, Iowa. There were twelve presentations on the ancient history and written languages of the
upper Mississippi.
Who: Members of Heartland Research Inc plus presenters and interested attendees.
Where: Fort Madison, Iowa.
How: Private donations for space, time and lodging.
What: Ground penetrating electrical resistivity scanning for building foundations using electrical
resistivity equipment from LandVisor.
Who: Members of Heartland Research Inc and volunteers.
Where: Zarahemla in Lee County, Iowa.
How: Private donations and ground support.
What: Metal analysis for alloy content. Ancient arrow and spearhead found in Wisconsin stream of cast
bronze.
Who: Heartland Research Group
Where: Sample found in Wisconsin stream by scuba diver.
How: Private donations for lab analysis.
What: High resolution LiDAR scanning by supporter Air Data Solutions of 34,000 acres in Lee County, Iowa and also part of Illinois. The
focus was to create high quality digital maps showing the terrain of the land, especially in the foothill
areas where large earthworks are found. Discovery of 5-10 miles of ancient earthworks from LiDAR using QGIS
and ArcGIS visualization software.
Who: Members of Heartland Research Inc plus AirData Solutions Inc.
Where: Lee County, Iowa and also part of Illinois, covering the much of Nauvoo.
How: Private donations for services, data processing, and analysis.
What: Commence process of restoring the world's oldest ship replica from 600BC, which has
circumnavigated Africa and crossed the Atlantic ocean from the Middle East to America.
Who: Members of Heartland Research Inc plus volunteers.
Where: Lee County, Iowa between Montrose and Fort Madison.
How: Private donations for materials, space, and equipment plus donations in labor.
Mission Statement
The Heartland Research Group researches archaeological evidence of the ancient civilizations of America. Heartland Research Group activities include:
Field Research Uses archeological techniques and scanning technologies to reveal the remains of ancient civilizations.
Ancient Artifacts Encourages and facilitate study of ancient North American artifacts, including tablets, tools, weapons, metal works, and other items.
Geography Research and develop maps, using scanning technologies and other means, to identify the locations and activities of ancient civilizations.
Linguistics Analyze and translate ancient writings found in North America, especially those relating to other civilizations world wide.
Preservation and Display Collect, restore, preserve, catalog and exhibit ancient artifacts and replicas, and make them readily available to researchers and viewable to the public.
Archaeology, Geology, and History Study and research into all aspects archaeology, geology, and history that shed light on ancient North American peoples and cultures.
Promotion and Support Raise awareness of our activities. Work directly with and support individuals and groups in activities that share our same goals.
The Heartland Research Group welcomes researchers and interested parties of all backgrounds to share their analysis and findings of ancient American heartland civilizations.
