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IN AMERICA Erich Fred
Legner Please CLICK on highlighted sections for detail:
This site records efforts and recent findings in the quest for traces
of the earliest human colonizers in America and to determine whether one of
our distant ancestors, Homo erectus, also dispersed into America.
Estimates of the earliest dates of human colonization in America area
have traditionally varied between 12,000-16,000 BP, the latter occurring at Monte Verde, Chile. These have been based
largely on the presence of a unique American invention, the Clovis
Point. However, recent mitochondrial
DNA data point to much earlier dates being possible, e.g., 40,000 BP. These data reveal three or four distinct
migrations of humans to the Americas, and a fifth mysterious migration
indicated from data collected among the Ojibwa Amerindian group in the Great
Lakes region of North America. This
group, called “X” had obtained genetic variation that is found in certain
areas of northern Europe, which may have been contributed by copper-seeking
Scandinavians at the end of the Bronze Age (see Bronze).
Although archeological evidence and remains of prehuman Homo
erectus are known from Eurasia, Africa and Asia, none has been verified
in The Americas. This may be due in part
because specific searches for such evidence are few in America. Nevertheless, recent findings are
revealing the possible existence of tools and other artifacts left by Homo
erectus. One site in San
Bernardino County, California, The Calico Dig, has come up with suspicious
findings, albeit they are difficult to verify (Dr. D. Simpson, personal
communication).
There are ongoing discoveries in Midwestern and Eastern North America
of Homo sapiens occurrence that are of great interest. For example, a site in Indiana contains obvious points, and
flaked chips, some so-called “microchips” and a couple of axe heads, many
with stylized patterns and consistent markings and carvings that do not seem
to be attributable to natural causes [see Indiana
Site]. There are many stones with 1-2 cm. carved
shapes of humans, animals and possibly some primitive writings. Numerous carvings of the American Lion (see Lions), the American horse and cameloids point to an
early Pre-Classic date for this site.
Yet these animals were all presumed to have become extinct by the end
of the Pleistocene around 9,000 B.C.! [see Extinct]. A site
along the Savannah River of southern United States is producing dates that
exceed 40,000 BC as well as other sites in South America (see Savannah). There is conclusive evidence for the hunting by humans during the
Pleistocene (See: Mammoths, Camelids, & Lions).
It is now well known that “Stick Writings,” some called Ogam, appear
all over the North American Continent.
The works of Barry Fell have been well documented (See Report) and the recent translation
of the Horse Creek Petroglyph in West Virginia by Edo Nyland (See Report) attest to the literacy of
people traveling in America during the past several thousand years. Yet these translations are restricted to
stationary sites such as petroglyphs appearing on rock faces. There has been no translation of stick
writings on smaller stone objects. [Also see Ogam Script] Bischoff, J. C., M. Ikeya
& F. E. Budinger. 1984. TL/ESR study of the hearth feature of the
Calico archeological site, California.
Amer.Antiquity, Wash., DC. 49(4): 764-774. Tech. Rept.,
Wash., D.C. Relands,
CA. Vol. 36, No. 3. |