Visitors to ancient America : the evidence for European and Asian presence in America prior to Columbus / William F. McNeil.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McNeil, William F.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Explorers.

History.

Asians.

Europeans.

America--Discovery and exploration--Pre-Columbian.

America.

Discoveries in geography.

America--History--To 1810.

America--Antiquities.

Antiquities.

Europeans--America--History--To 1500.

Asians--America--History--To 1500.

Explorers--America--History--To 1500.

Physical Description:

xii, 306 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2005]

Summary:

Many discoveries in American anthropology and archaeology, from the late seventeenth century to the present, point to the conclusion that America was visited by Europeans and Asians well before the time of Christopher Columbus.

This work examines the evidence for ancient visitors to the area that became the United States. The first part of the book is an historical overview of the external evidence, including a review of ancient ships, a discussion of the currents in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, a look at the experiences of early seagoing peoples (such as Polynesians and Vikings), and a consideration of ancient transoceanic stories.

The second half focuses on sites within the United States-from mammoth stone chambers of New York and New England to inscribed stones found in ancient graves from Minnesota to West Virginia-that support the theory of early visitations.

Contents:

Part I The Intercontinental Connections

1 The Sun Sets on American Archaeology 7

2 Making the Impossible Possible 15

3 Vikings: The People and the Legend 41

4 Vikings: The American Evidence 64

5 The Ancient Writers 89

6 Legendary Travelers of the Ocean 99

7 The Ancient Mariners 115

Interlude 139

Part II Exploring Ancient America

8 America's Stonehenge at Mystery Hill 145

9 The Great Stone Chamber Mystery 159

10 Ancient Stone Monuments of America 188

11 Inscriptions: Ancient Messages or Modern Frauds? 202

12 Ancient Artifacts in North America 236

13 Mound Builders and the American Indian: Where Do They Fit In? 246

14 The Secret of Ancient America 271.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-296) and index.

ISBN:

0786419172

OCLC:

56809793