How about an ice sheet from Ireland to Greenland. Some scientists believe that Europeans came to America 15,000 years ago by way of fishing boats and huge ice sheets. A new "Little Ice Age" for Europe? The last cold spell was from 1350 to 1850, or thereabouts. Maybe Ian will be able to snowshoe across the pond for a spot of Bordeaux. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,3605,1654803,00.html?gusrc=rss The Gulf Stream is real.
I would come closer to believing there would be one between the USSR an Alaska. This is the path that the native americans took when traveling from the larger continent of Eur-asia, long time ago. Or so they tell me, and a not of the natives believe this story.
I agree with quick dog about the land bridge idea. I have read over the years that fossil evidence has been found indicating this but it goes against the simpler story that is told. Just look at the North East Native Americans. They are much larger then the plains indians and are giants compared to the indians of today's latin america. Also look at the Northeast Native American Indians woodern houses and villages. They are nearly the same in size, scope and purpose, Long house, as the ones built by the Scandinavians of northern europe. OldDan if I read you correctly I have also have read over the years that fossil evidence had found a large migration by boat and not land to some of the American contintent from the islands off of asia. But one simple story, instead of a factor of events, seems to be the political correct thing to do and the easiest to teach.
I think underwater archeology is going to answer many questions in the coming years as it comes into it's own. It's also going to throw out a lot of accepted theories about the migrations of various populations. Bone
The Asian "Indians" of North america have a lot invested in the concept that they were the first people here. reservations, casinos, bragging rights, etc. Unfortunately, it is all oral history, and nobody still believes that the world is actually the back of a big turtle. Recent genetic investigations are very interesting. I have always believed that the Siberian land-bridge theory was overworked by anthropologists. It was just too simple and unlikely. There is just too much variation in physical feeatures and culture of native Americans. I have been in the camp that believes that North and South America were populated from several directions. Look at the tribes. They are dramatically different. I would not be surprised if Asians, Africans, Polynesians, Middle Easterners, and Europeans sailed to America or accidentally rafted over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Atlantic ice-sheet theory is supported by hard evidence. Spear points, structures, and more importantly, DNA. If my faulty memory serves me correctly, something like 25 percent of the DNA of Northeastern Indians appears to be European. As Bone said, some of the eastern Indians are remarkably taller and bigger than western Indians. I read many years ago that the Algonquin language has 200 words of Grecian origin. There is allegedly an Indian tribe in British Columbia that uses a Celtic language. Some archeologists believe that the Hawaiian Islands were discovered by a Phoenician sailor named Maui. The Kennewick Man controversy is facinating and further supports widespread early movement of "caucasian" people. It also demonstrates how political correctness and medling do-gooder bureaucrats (sic, Democrats) can and will destroy irreplacable scientific evidence to maintain their version of the world. Read the book! http://www.kennewick-man.com/ I think we are missing out on some casino money.
I've always loved this little enigma... http://www.ca.blm.gov/barstow/calico.html Calico Early Man Site is located about 15 miles northeast of Barstow, California, off Interstate 15. From the Minneola Road exit, follow the signs north about two miles on graded dirt roads to the site. The history of this site dates back to 1942, when amateur archaeologists discovered what they believed to be primitive stone tools in this area. Fragments were embedded in the sediments of the shoreline of an ancient Pleistocene Era lake, called Lake Manix. This was the only New World archaeology project undertaken by the renowned archaeologist-paleontologist, Dr. Louis S.B. Leakey. Leakey, and his son, Richard, are well known for their Early Man discoveries at Olduvai Gorge in east Africa. Dr. Leakey first visited the area in 1963. He came to examine artifacts discovered in a commercial excavation by Ruth Dee Simpson, a San Bernardino County archaeologist. Leakey continued to act as Project Director until his death in 1972. Ruth Dee Simpson died in 2000. ??????????????????????????????????????????????? Now having the "Old Man" there might lead one to believe there is irrefutable evidence but LSBL was not above "salting" a site to ensure funding for the future. Was this case in Barstow? Bone Digger
My understanding on this is that what we call Native Americans are in no way related to ancient Americans. Native Americans are Asian. Soon they will prove this genetically. It is not like Australia where the aboriginal people are long time residents.
I have a personal friend who is a retired Professor Emeritus of PaleoAnthropology. He belongs to a rock hound club I'm a member of and we've chatted over more than a few brews about Raymond Dart's "Taung Child", the duties of Robert Broom and how he influenced Dart's "Killer Ape" theory, LOL. Broom was a madman One of our wandering discussions was the very real possibility of more than one bridge/route to the Americas. With the earths moisture all concentrated at the poles (Ice Age) 50,000-30,000 years ago the levels of the oceans would have been much lower possibly exposing a narrow path. There even has been a theory proposed the Mediterranean sea was created during the cataclysm which is mentioned in rock art and lore of all indigenous peoples around the world. The supposedly took place around 11,000 years ago with the flooding occuring at the Rock of Gibralter and the Pillars of Hercules. On a side note, together we placed an auction on Ebay featuring a "Cat Monkey Skull." Chuckle, shades of "Piltdown Man: it was for sure. Oh you should have seen the questions asked and the final price of this treasure was paid $340.00
I have done a lot of geologic field work in that area. That site has always been "interesting". It is not the only case where questionable activities have taken place. Did I tell you guys about the pre-dynastic Egyptian artifacts that I purchased from a Sacramento kid for a few bucks?
Here is aome interesting news! Study treads on footprint claim Footprints of 'first Americans' Impressions in volcanic ash hailed as footprints made by the earliest known human settlers in the Americas may not be what they seem, Nature journal says. If confirmed, the 40,000-year-old marks would have debunked accepted theories of human migration into the Americas. But the ash has now been dated to 1.3 million years ago - more than a million years before modern humans evolved. Relatives of our species living at this time were not capable of making the journey to the Americas, experts say. One of the Nature paper's authors even suggests the supposed footprints could have been made by picks used to quarry the site. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4488490.stm
I have heard of theorys that our native americans wiped out the orginal native americans but that goes against the simple one mindset story that our schools hold so dear.
Indeed, the current scientific dogma is so rooted it would take a virtual "Roseta Stone" in English to debunk it. Sad Indeed Bone
