In the following series of copies, we observe progressively greater detail recorded from one copy to another. Paradoxically, as the engravings continued to weather over the centuries, the copies became more complete in detail. If we were to superimpose these copies, one upon another, we would obtain a composite of all the lines which make up the engravings carved by Miguel Corte Real, in 1511.
Click on each photo for a larger view
(TOP)
Danforths drawing 1680
(BOTTOM) Mr. Stephen Sewell's 1768
(TOP) Mr. James Winthrop 1788
(BOTTOM) Baylies & Mr. Goodwin's 1790
(TOP) Mr. Kendall's 1807
(BOTTOM) Rhode Island Historical Society 1830
First photograph of Dighton Rock, by Capt. Seth Eastman (1853)
Hathaway photo on which Delabarre first saw the date 1511 (Dec 2 1918)
Delabarre's sole drawing of Dighton Rock (1919)
The complete Corte Real inscriptions (da Silva 1959)