An Epic Battle Over A Rock

(CBS)  Steve Shaffer is an upholsterer most-known not for recovering chairs and pillows, but for recovering a long-lost piece of history, CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports.

"I think I just wanted to reach out through the mist of time and touch it, to be real honest with you, and to see if it was still there," he said.

He's talking about Indian Head Rock, an eight-ton boulder that used to sit in the middle of the Ohio River near the town of Portsmouth, Ohio.

As boulders go, it was a fairly popular one. Back in the 1800s, people used to come out to see the face, carved there by Indians, some people said. A few visitors did a little carving of their own - until about 100 years ago, when the river got dammed and the rock got flooded.

Shaffer said when he first heard that story as a boy, it planted a seed in his mind, "that someday it might be found."

For three summers, Shaffer and some dive buddies scoured the rocks on the river's bottom - to no avail.

Until out of the murk …. "I swam around the rock and there it was."

The face. "Then you start to see initials," Schaffer said.

No doubt, Schaffer had found Indian Head Rock.

"It was in beautiful shape," he said.

And that's where this story could have easily - some say should have definitely - ended. But Shaffer was so excited about finally finding this rock, he wanted to share that joy with others. So he did what a lot of people would do when they find a particularly interesting rock: He picked it up.

"At that point did it ever cross your mind there could be jail time in this?" Hartman asked.

"Absolutely not," Schaffer said. "Absolutely not."

Unfortunately for him, "Ohio" is just the name of the river. At least along one side it actually belongs to Kentucky.

Kentucky state Rep. Reginald Meeks said: "Yeah, I'm mad!"

"First of all, I couldn't believe that individuals from one state could brazenly come across the border and basically invade another sovereign state," he said.

He even wrote a resolution, which passed unanimously.

"We would ask that they return the property," the resolution said.

Ohio immediately fired back.

"If they're going to introduce a resolution then I want to introduce a resolution!" said Ohio state Rep. Todd Book, who represents the people of Portsmouth.

"We have the right to this rock. If they knew where it was, why didn't they go get it?" he said. "I mean, didn't they in essence abandon this rock?"

For now, Indian rock sits in the Portsmouth Municipal Garage, enjoying the spotlight once again, waiting for the courts to sort it all out.

If Kentucky wins, not only could Shaffer be sent upriver for felony theft, the rock could be sent downriver - back to where it was before all this started: back to forgotten.

[jessallgood]

The issue that seems to be getting lost in this story is that the man trespassed on federal property, as navigable waters are under the jurisdiction of the US Army corps of Engineers, and did irreparable damage to a known and protected archaeological site by removing it's main contributing element. What he did was in violation of state and federal law. Period. He is no champion for history. The site was under the care and protection of professionals with the state, who preserve sites such as this for posterity. When he removed the boulder, he did not do so with the care and cautious recording of data that professional archaeologists do. No care has been made for the long-term preservation of this artifact. Sandstone needs to be preserved or it will deteriorate. While submerged, it was protected. Unless professionals correctly stabilize it, it will deteriorate and be gone. What he did was wrong, and Kentucky has every right to regain possession of it's antiquity, and do whatever the state archaeologists deem necessary to preserve it.

[bluegill557]

It seems the Kentucky legislators would be more cautious as to how they are spending money. There has been a recent cutback in funding for some very much needed services in KY due to the state deficit snd taxes are being increased to cover this. The Governor himself is pushing for Casinos to help bring in more money. Put the rock back on KY soil with a plaque giving the Ohio resident credit for finding it. Case closed.

[bbp9857]

KY should get its rock back, but jail time is ludicrous.

[victorseq]

If you ever needed an example of "The best government is an idle government" this is it!!! I guess crime, education, homelessness, race relations, etc are all on the back-burner while these legislators do this important work. Throw the bums out !!!

[ralan40]

No mention made of the people from KY "invading Ohio" that "steal jobs" on the Ohio side. Perhaps KY should enforce their borders better when it comes to more important things than rocks.

[kmcgraw51]

You can purchase the Indian Rock t-shirts at HopeWorks in Portsmouth, Ohio. The address is 816-4th St. and the phone number 740-353-0441.

[gunownerdan]

I have lots of rocks from both Ohio AND Kentucky.
And no, you can''t have them back.
Finders keepers.

[ladyoamerica]

LadyoAmerica

Umm I was referring to Mexico, not Kentucky. Go back and reread my post. Then you might understand better to what I was saying. OK?

Posted by slim1h2o at 05:02 PM : Mar 29, 2008
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slim1h20,
my post was like a letter t the kentucky rep in the story, I wasn''t talking to any other posters. Sorry that you thought my message was directed towards you.

[linfinster]

I agree with earlier comments that this issue is not as important as the health and well being of the constituents of both states. What a waste of time and money.
If Kentucky had moved the rock when the river was damed and the water rose to cover the rock, then perhaps they could make a claim of ownership.
But they left it there hidden.

[dkdc1976]

Forget the Kentucky-Ohio controversy. I want to know how I can get one of the t-shirts with the image of the "indian head" that the kid was wearing on the CBS Sunday Morning story! Anyone know who has them?