Who Discovered America? Historical Perspectives and Evidence

Christopher Columbus

Explored New World four times, 1492-1502.

Fourth race theory

Belief in pre-Adamite people unaffected by the Flood.

Carthaginian merchants

Proposed as lost travelers to the Americas.

Lost Tribes of Israel

Theories connecting Jews and Indigenous Americans.

Bering Land Bridge

Land connection between Asia and North America.

Pleistocene epoch

Period when sea levels dropped, exposing land.

Ice-free corridor

Route for early migrants in North America.

José de Acosta

Proposed migration theories in 1590 about the Americas.

Oldest Historical sites found

12,000-40,000 years old

Indigenous similarities

Observed resemblances between Indigenous Americans and Asians (teeth aka morphology)

Long ice intervals

Periods of extended ice cover, 18,000-10,000 years ago.

Short ice intervals

Brief periods of ice melting, allowing migration.

Clovis Culture

Stone tool culture, 13,200 to 11,900 years ago.

Genetic analysis

Study linking ancient remains to Northeast Asians.

First Americans

Migrants entering North America around 16,000 years ago.

Vikings

Norse explorers reaching America before Columbus.

La Isabela

Columbus' settlement attempt in Dominican Republic.

Cultural transition

Shift from Indigenous to European artifacts in New England.

Ivan Van Sertima

Author suggesting pre-Columbian African presence.

Black Indians

References to Africans in Columbus' writings.

African Metal

Supposed presence in pre-Columbian America.

Pre-Columbian Skeletons

Skeletal remains with African characteristics.

Slave Cemeteries

Possible origin for some pre-Columbian skeletons.

17 Heads Found

Olmec sculptures from Mesoamerica, skulls resemble Indigenous American's facial features (epicanthic folds)

Brendan's Routes

Speculative Irish monk voyages in the 6th century.

Prince Madoc

Wales' prince linked to early American visits, not really English propaganda

William Goldman

Purchased America's Stonehenge in 1935, claims ancient European settlement

Human Sacrifice Evidence

Investigating claims of sacrificial practices, alleged sacrificial stone

Danby's Folly

Fake site with a fabricated sacrificial table, reinforcing mystery hill table

America's Stonehenge aka Mystery Hill

Site in New Hampshire with ancient stone structures, 19th century root cellars most likely

Apple Cider Press

Device for extracting juice from crushed apples, not sacrificial table = misidentified

Norse Sagas

Historical tales of Viking explorations and adventures.

Vinland

Area explored by Vikings, known for resources.

L'Anse aux Meadows

Site of Norse settlement in Newfoundland, Canada.

Newport Tower

Structure claimed to be Viking, built in 1665.

Kensington Runestone

Alleged Viking artifact found in Minnesota.

Heavener Rune Stone

Runestone found in Oklahoma, dated to 1923.

Los Lunas Decalogue Stone

Inscribed stone in New Mexico with Hebrew writing.

Davenport Tablet

Artifact in Iowa, claimed to show ancient visitors.

Grave Creek Stone

Inscribed stone in West Virginia, debated authenticity.

When did the first human settlers enter the far northwestern corner of the New World?

Around 20,000 years ago

From where did the first human settlers of the New World migrate?

Northeastern Asia

When did the first human settlers begin to spread into North America?

About 16,000 years ago

Misinterpretation of Mystery Hill

no historical context, reconstruction skewing historical record, no physical evidence (artifacts)