A buried wall of pale sandstone slabs runs through Rockwall County, Texas, with segments uncovered across the area. A reconstruction stands outside the Rockwall courthouse. The formation's origin was investigated in 1901 by a geologist who determined it was not an igneous occurrence but a rare natural geologic formation known as a "clastic sand dike."
Rockwall formation: buried stone wall spanning 20 square miles in Texas
Site mentioned
📍 Rockwall
Key facts
- The rock wall is composed of pale sandstone slabs stacked in courses similar to bricks in a masonry wall
- The formation extends dozens of feet deep in some places, comparable to a seven-story building
- Various segments have been found across approximately 20 square miles
- The wall runs roughly east to west, aligning with the sun's path
- The limestone composition invites comparison to known prehistoric building traditions
- The wall appears to trace a roughly rectangular shape enclosing an area approaching 19 square miles
- A reconstruction is displayed in front of the Rockwall courthouse
Sources
The Rock Wall | Rockwall County Historical Foundation & Museumrockwallcountymuseum.com
The rock wall is excavated under the direction of the county on land located near present-day FM. 549 and Cornelius Road.
The Rock Wall of Texas - Skeptoid Podcastskeptoid.com
This buried rock wall found throughout Rockwall County has people wondering about its origin.
Mysterious Rock Wall of Rockwall - Roadside Americaroadsideamerica.com
First uncovered in 1852, the rock wall that runs beneath this part of Texas was so baffling and well-known that both the county and town were named for it.
The Geomythology of the "Rock Wall" of Rockwall, Texasstorymaps.arcgis.com
The wall was determined in 1901 not to be an igneous occurrence, but a rare geologic formation known as a “clastic sand dike” by the geologist ...
The 'Rock Wall' Of Rockwall, Texas - CBS Newscbsnews.com
Beneath the city of Rockwall is a narrow row of hard mineral stones that appears to be stacked on top of one another, forming what looks a lot like a rock wall.
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