KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — There's no shortage of mysteries and folklore in West Virginia. Unexplained cryptids such as Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster have fascinated and entertained us for years.

Historical events of Native Americans and early European settlements have their place in Mountain State lore, and are well-documented in books and documentaries.

Is there anything new to add to the long list of the unexplained?

Earl Fridley of Kanawha County certainly thinks so. Fridley is a historian and researcher who concentrates on the early history of Kanawha County with a focus on the Elk River watershed.

His passion has inspired his popular Facebook group called Elk River Muskrat.

"What really got me started were some odd things my father had found, researching old routes, mounds and native paths and trails," Fridley said.

"Muskrat" spends a great amount of time searching the woods for clues and evidence of the past, but nothing prepared him for what he discovered in the spring of 2024 on a remote ridgetop in Kanawha County.

"I was sitting on an adjacent hillside when I looked across this run and saw this out of place structure, I said to myself no that can't be," Fridley remembered.

After bushwhacking his way through the dense woods to the structure, Fridley couldn't believe his eyes. Stretching more than 70 feet along this remote ridgetop was a series of perfectly-spaced rock walls, each about 3 feet tall, made entirely of flat sandstone rocks.

At first glance they appeared to be a series of large steps or some sort of amphitheater built into the hillside.

Traveling West Virginia was invited by Fridley earlier this month to hike to the remote location, along with West Virginia Explorer Magazine editor David Sibray.

"When Earl said, ‘We've got a rock wall - a mysterious rock wall - you need to come and see,’ I said, ‘Sign me up!’" Sibray recalled. "We're out in the middle of nowhere. Why would something so elaborate be located in such a remote area?"

Remote indeed. There are no roads or trails nearby.

More than once during our rigorous, hour-long hike, Fridley said, "Listen, no road noise, no nothing."

After seeing these mysterious walls for the first time, the obvious question becomes who built this and why?

Fridley and Sibray have possible theories, but the true origin and purpose remains unknown.

"The original intent of this structure is not really known," Fridley said. "The people of Mount Carbon, the original Kanawha Valley people in this area, were really right over the hill from there as a bird flies."

Sibray expanded on that thought.

"We do know that Native Americans did live in these hills for 1,000 years before Europeans got here so there's that possibility," Sibray added. "I'm a historian, but I'm no archeologist so whether or not the origin is prehistoric, protohistoric or just historic I can't say, but I would love to see an archeologist come out here with us and take a look at this."

Fridley's discovery is impressive, mysterious and quite intriguing. That sentiment isn't lost on him.

"This is one of the remaining structures that is left, to me it's a rarity and a gift that it's still here." Fridley said.

So what do you think?

You can follow Earl Fridley on his Elk River Muskrat Facebook group and David Sibray on his West Virginia Explorer Magazine Facebook page.