So who did discover America ?

[bojit]

Toddy , i think your theory about a trailer/teaser for a book might be right .

http://www.amazon.com/Across-Atlantic-Ice-Americas-Culture/dp/0520227832

Craig..........

 

[Toddy]

We need a book club There are already a few doing the rounds, but maybe a bit less ad hoc arrangement ?

Probably too much work

cheers,
M

 

[santaman2000]

Typology is a hotly debated topic at times. Basically it's fashion. Tools made in the fashion of a certain area, of a certain time, are considered to be associated with certain people (or rather the culture of a certain peoples)
So those who interpret the finds reckon that the type = the people, sometimes, even if found where there is no other record of those people. It's a bit subjective.
It's not a definitive kind of thing; it's more a good diagnostic bit of the puzzle, iimmc. But, and it's an important but, it's only part of the story and can only be part of the interpretation...

But it makes for good telivision.

 

[santaman2000]

There was also the theory that Clovis people hunted their way west across the sea ice, and only had to use boats for short crossings.

Cheers, Michael.

LOL. In other words, maybe the Clovis people discovered Europe.

 

[Hoodoo]

Nah, redheads apparantly, with blue eyes...........makes you wonder a bit, doesn't it

M

Ah, so my ancestors then!

 

[boatman]

To throw another group into the mix try the Alban Quest or, in America, The Farfarers. Gripping book that may have a kernel of truth. Walrus hunters moving across Atlantic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farfarers

Much later than any Clovis people but the real point is that the Atlantic is a highway when you have seaworthy boats. I expect there were French or British cod fishers who were interested to see the Cabots arrive on the Western Atlantic coast. Doubt if the Americas ever needed discovering as they were never really lost.

The Brendan Voyage is another good read and his vessel can be seen in Ireland at a sort of history theme park. It was terrific to visit Brendan's Creek and see currachs actually in use.

http://www.myspace.com/craggaunowen/photos/664839

Then there is the suggestion that Columbus had the use of an earlier map and the efforts of the Chinese from the other side of America plus the existence of Japanese slaves amongst the North-East fishermen. Not to mention the Carthaginians and the legends of this lot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Gods

 

[Toddy]

There's the travel from the other way too.
The Western Isles have tales of selkies. Sea people who when they shed their skins are unable to sail away and are kept landbased. Lots of stories of them marrying and having children, but they always long for the sea and their own people.

How if they were kayakers, dressed in sealskins ? Take away their 'skins' and they are people from across the waters, strayed too far from home. Without those skins they cannot sail away.
Then explain the folk tales through three or four different languages and an awful lot of years

cheers,
Toddy

 

[John Fenna]

America was "discovered" many times and by many people before C Columbus made the trip - it is just that it was all covered up by colluding governments before then.
If you look at the picture of CC's landing there is a definate grassy knoll in the background!
Columbus set out not knowing where he was going, when he got there he did not know where he was, when he got back he did not know where he had been, he did it all on borowed money and then blabbed his story to his equivalent of the tabloids to get more money!

 

[bojit]

America was "discovered" many times and by many people before C Columbus made the trip - it is just that it was all covered up by colluding governments before then.
If you look at the picture of CC's landing there is a definate grassy knoll in the background!
Columbus set out not knowing where he was going, when he got there he did not know where he was, when he got back he did not know where he had been, he did it all on borowed money and then blabbed his story to his equivalent of the tabloids to get more money!

Thats a bit like the TV ads for Northern Ireland , the ones with people going out discovering different parts of the country .

Well i'm off to discover Asda and i will be back with stories of wild natives and some strange new foods to feed the family.

Craig...........

 

[boatman]

There's the travel from the other way too.
The Western Isles have tales of selkies. Sea people who when they shed their skins are unable to sail away and are kept landbased. Lots of stories of them marrying and having children, but they always long for the sea and their own people.

How if they were kayakers, dressed in sealskins ? Take away their 'skins' and they are people from across the waters, strayed too far from home. Without those skins they cannot sail away.
Then explain the folk tales through three or four different languages and an awful lot of years

cheers,
Toddy

Indeed, have you read Seal Folk and Ocean paddlers by John Macaulay where he explores this theme. Myself and a friend once built a Bronze Age kayak based on finds from an excavation in Dalgety, Fife.
[h=1][/h]

 

[Tengu]

Just about everyone who had a boat

 

[bb07]

Just about everyone who had a boat

Now that's funny