The Mystery Grave In Arkansas Has Spurred Some Of The South’s Most Intriguing Legends
It’s quite possible that no unidentified grave has caused as much of a stir as the Mystery Grave in Arkansas. The occupant’s identity has been a mystery for years. And while there’s still no definite answer as to who is buried in the mysterious gravesite, there are lots of interesting theories.
The Mystery Grave is in Van Buren’s Fairview Cemetery.
It’s the final resting place of hundreds of Confederate soldiers as well as some of Van Buren’s first settlers and prominent leaders from the Arkansas River Valley.
Of all the gravesites in Fairview Cemetery, none are quite as intriguing as the Mystery Grave.
Eye-catching to say the least, it’s made of four stones, which have been strategically placed to form a rectangle. At one time, a fifth stone sat atop the other four, forming a roof, but it’s since been removed.
Over the years, there have been several theories regarding the occupant’s identity.
The Viking theory came about in the 1970s, and was, in part, based on the fact that one of the Mystery Grave’s stones looks similar to the runestones used by Vikings between the 4th and 12th centuries.
A more recent theory says that the grave isn’t that mysterious at all.
The Mystery Grave's stone structure might seem strange now but it was actually pretty common around the early 1800s. Back then, people used durable items, like stones and logs, to build enclosures to protect graves from wild animals. Also, the grave is positioned in a traditional East-West manner AND is aligned with other graves in the plot of the Thompson family, a pioneer family of Van Buren.
So, what do you think? Does the Mystery Grave belong to a 14th century Viking, a 16th century Spanish explorer, or a 19th century frontiersman?
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
