Whom else did discover the America's before Columbus

[Dodge]

All right So far I have read about the Vikings, the Chinese, the Portugese, The Egyptians and the Basques whom are said to have discovered the New world before 1492. And altough I do not believe 'em all I am curious whom are also said to have been there before them.

[therussian]

The Egyptians? Never heard of that theory.


Though I know for a fact that the natives of Siberia were the first to discover the Americas.

[antaeus]

i remember a national georgraphic story about people crossing the atlantic in an egyptian reed boat to prove it was possible, of course its possible that i could have eaten a bird eathing trantula but that never means i actually did it. (for want of another random analogy)

theres also evidence suggesting that polynesians crossed the pacific to somewhere in the equador/peru area... certainly they could have done it technologically - their ships survived journies across the pacific as far as hawaii, new zealand and in the extreme - easter island, and it would explain the fact that they had a lot of root vegetables that are seemingly native to south america. if it happened, it would have been some time in the early middle ages.

i would also imagine that peoples of north eastern siberia would have been familiar with northwestern america too...

[therussian]

theres also evidence suggesting that polynesians crossed the pacific to somewhere in the equador/peru area... certainly they could have done it technologically - their ships survived journies across the pacific as far as hawaii, new zealand and in the extreme - easter island, and it would explain the fact that they had a lot of root vegetables that are seemingly native to south america. if it happened, it would have been some time in the early middle ages.

Ah, yeah, ever read "Kon-Tiki" by Thor Heyerdahl? Great book

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

i remember a national georgraphic story about people crossing the atlantic in an egyptian reed boat to prove it was possible, of course its possible that i could have eaten a bird eathing trantula but that never means i actually did it. (for want of another random analogy)

I remember watching a documentary on Discovery that showed a group of Irish Monks crossing the Atlantic and ultimately reaching North America.

There is, however, no hard evidence backing it up. Similarly, the presence of the same type of opium found in ancient Central and South American sites as well as the Mediterranean suggests ancient trade links between those ancient civilizations but again, there's a lack of really strong evidence to make it acceptable as fact in the archeological/history communities are concerned.

[antaeus]

I remember watching a documentary on Discovery that showed a group of Irish Monks crossing the Atlantic and ultimately reaching North America.

There is, however, no hard evidence backing it up. Similarly, the presence of the same type of opium found in ancient Central and South American sites as well as the Mediterranean suggests ancient trade links between those ancient civilizations but again, there's a lack of really strong evidence to make it acceptable as fact in the archeological/history communities.

yep, but it certainly has a little romance about it...

[Tabell]

I watched a documentary claiming that europeans from southern france got to america first by sailing the atlantic in small boats from iceberg to iceberg. But native americans dislike this theory as a part of their culture is centred on an asian route.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

I watched a documentary claiming that europeans from southern france got to america first by sailing the atlantic in small boats from iceberg to iceberg. But native americans dislike this theory as a part of their culture is centred on an asian route.

Hmm, that's what I saw about the Irish Monks, who described ice-bergs in their writings. But I don't get the part about the native Americans not liking it ...

[shylence]

Ermmmm well the people who first dsicovered the america's are native americans who moved in over the bearing land bridge at the end of the last ice age.... **** Columbus all he brought was europe to america

[Tabell]

nah, these were paleolithic types. Although I can see how you can mistake the irish for cavemen! I think they were kin to the beaker people.

[Blau&Gruen]

nah, these were paleolithic types. Although I can see how you can mistake the irish for cavemen! I think they were kin to the beaker people.

I have seen that documentation, too. If I remember correctely the producers had Upper Paleolitic in mind, people that belonged to groups which are classified according to their stone tools as the Solutrean (or Solutréen) Industry (about 22 000 to 17 000 BC).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solutrean

"Beaker people", better beaker ceramic groups are neolithic (about 2800 to1900 BC, around 15'000 years after Solutréen. "Beakers" are rather close to us).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaker_People

Whether Solutréen findings in North America prove the presence of people coming from Europe during the said period, is possible but not necessary. There might be other explanations. What could speak for are datas from genetic studies, but I have no idea how far they are actually. One aspect not to forget is maybe that the inhabitants of "Europe" in the Upper Paleolitic are not identical with the current inhabitants.

Solutréen tool from Wiki:

[Black Francis]

There is a Welsh legend that in the 12th Century a Prince called Madoc (actually a real person, born of Owain Gwynedd) set off across the sea with Viking ships and crews (who most likely knew of the land across the sea).. It is said he then came back to Wales to pick up yet more people to serve as settlers!

There are then several later reports in the 17th century onwards of explorers meeting a white tribe of Indians who spoke a dialect of Welsh!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madoc

[Alatar]

There is a Welsh legend that in the 12th Century a Prince called Madoc (actually a real person, born of Owain Gwynedd) set off across the sea with Viking ships and crews (who most likely knew of the land across the sea).. It is said he then came back to pick up more people to serve as settlers!

There are then several later reports in the 17th century onwards of explorers meeting a white tribe of Indians who spoke a dialect of Welsh!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madoc

You could imagine what they thought "I tole you we should have stayed right, we're in *****ing wales!"

The Native americans are most likely related to eastern asian people, for one thing they look similar.



And the fact that the egyptian could have made the journey does not mean they did, I mean they din't know what they were aiming for.

[killerchinchilla]

There was a thing that 'Atlanteans' had traveled to Central America and they were the bases for the God(s?) that the Aztecs thought that Cortes (was it Cortes?) was. This was based on some pictures of the God(s?) having beards and looking European, or something along those lines. I should say this was on a documentary about Atlantis. The people in question could have been any of the Mediterranean civilizations and I'm not making the claim they where really from Atlantis (though its possible).

I also think its possible more people traveled to the Americas before Colombo ( ) because there is an account of a Carthagian Admiral who described something exactly like the Sargasso Sea, so its not a hugh stretch to think vessels could have reached there by accident.

[Jubal_Barca]

Carthage did. I believe they've even found Carthagininan coins/shipwrecks in America, but you'll have to wait till tomorrow if you want a reference.

[Last Roman]

Carthage did. I believe they've even found Carthagininan coins/shipwrecks in America, but you'll have to wait till tomorrow if you want a reference.

I never heard of anything like that, and I can only imagine that would stir up some pretty big news if it were proved.


Anyhoo,

besides the original inhabitants (ie, those who came over from Siberia), the Vikings made a journey to Vinland (current day Newfoundland), setting up some settlements there. Though, according to wiki:

The Viking activities are often erroneously described as the Viking colonization of North America, but there are few findings that support this idea. Their settlements only grew to a small size and never fully developed into permanent colonies, partly because of hostile relations with Native Americans, whom the Norse referred to as Skrælings. The situation is better described as Viking exploitation of natural resources such as furs and lumber. Lumber, in particular, was in short supply in Norse Greenland, due to deforestation.[1]

so it would seem that the vikings were there more the resources rather than permanent settlement. But, it is wiki, so I would take that with a large grain of salt.

[Markas]

Carthage did. I believe they've even found Carthagininan coins/shipwrecks in America, but you'll have to wait till tomorrow if you want a reference.

A Roman ship with amphorae I believe was said to be found off the coast of Brazil. However, the authorities refused to allow an excavation as it might 'Impair the reputation of Christopher Columbus'. Or so I heard.

[LSJ]

Its always possible that ancient Romans or Carthaginians found the Americas, likely by accident. They could have been sailing off the coast of Iberia and been blown way off course all the way across the sea, perhaps shipwrecked. But we would never know if they survived... if you died before you got there it doesn't really count as discovering. If they were merchants and never made it back then it would make sense why there is no record. Although I think any Roman/Carthaginian objects found near the Americas were likely on Renaissance era ships that went through a storm, not actual Roman/Carthaginian ships.

So far I know the Portuguese (1490-ish), Vikings(900-ish), Siberians/Mongolians-30000BC-ish), and possibly the Polynesians(????-ish) got there. The first three being confirmed.

[Jubal_Barca]

Has anyone read the links I posted yet?

[SigniferOne]

Yes a few references would be great on that one.