Sources
About migrations, origins, oral histories, evidence, Mali, Abubakari, Olmecs, Zulu elder, Hawaiian elder and more below:
African Sources: Oral histories from West African griots; metallurgical studies on West African alloys.
American Sources: Archaeological studies on Olmec heads and Mayan hieroglyphics; indigenous oral traditions.
European Sources: Accounts by Columbus, Balboa, and Rodrigo de Colmenares; records from the Portuguese crown.
Scientific Sources: Carbon dating of artifacts; metallurgical and linguistic analyses.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sources: Discoveries of African skeletons in the Caribbean; comparative studies of architectural and artistic motifs.
Oral Histories: Narratives passed down by indigenous and African-descended communities in the Americas.
This evidence reshapes our understanding of the Americas as a vibrant intersection of diverse civilizations long before 1492...
Additional Sources;
1. Malian Inscriptions and Artifacts in Brazil:
The "Brazil Tablet" or "Brazilian Statuette" is discussed in detail, highlighting its potential connections to Malian explorers. https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/did-early-transatlantic-explorers-drop-mysterious-tablet-brazilian-jungle-021497?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Further insights into the inscriptions and their possible interpretations are provided, suggesting a link to Malian colonists.
https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-writings/does-mysterious-manuscript-describe-forgotten-malian-mausoleum-brazil-021528?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) Migration:
Evidence of the Anasazi migrating southward into regions of Arizona and New Mexico is presented, indicating a swift movement.
The University of Arizona's State Museum provides information on the migration patterns of Ancestral Pueblo groups into southern Arizona.
The Utah History Encyclopedia discusses the southward movement of the Anasazi into the Little Colorado and Rio Grande river areas.
3. Cultural Connections and Theories:
The Santa Fe Institute explores various theories regarding the Anasazi's migration and potential cultural influences.
DesertUSA delves into the mysterious migration patterns of the Ancient Puebloans, providing insights into their movements.
Unveiling Pre-Columbian History: The African Influence on the Americas
On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew reached the Bahamas, an event often celebrated as a transformative moment in history. However, the dominant narrative surrounding this voyage omits critical details that reshape our understanding of pre-Columbian American history. Evidence from archaeology, anthropology, oral traditions, and various historical sources reveals significant African influence in the Americas long before Columbus's arrival.
African Contributions to Transatlantic Exploration
European seafaring advancements were not achieved in isolation. The Portuguese, for instance, sought the expertise of West African navigators to improve their ship designs and navigational techniques. Africans were not just consulted; they actively participated in these voyages. Pedro Nunes, the pilot for Columbus's ship, the Santa Maria, was of African descent. Tragically, despite his contributions, Nunes faced imprisonment and death upon returning to Europe after one of his expeditions.
Evidence of African Presence in Pre-Columbian America
Archaeological and historical records suggest Africans were present in the Americas centuries before Columbus. The Vikings, known to have reached North America by the early second millennium, were not the first outsiders to interact with Mesoamerican civilizations. Multiple forms of evidence point to African influence, including:
1. Artifacts and Metallurgy:
Columbus's second voyage uncovered gold-tipped spears in present-day Haiti, reportedly traded by black-skinned people from the southeast. Tests revealed these spearheads contained a unique alloy—18 parts gold, six parts silver, and eight parts copper—identical to West African metallurgy.
2. Linguistic Connections:
The indigenous term for these spears, guanin, matches the West African word for a similar alloy. Such linguistic parallels indicate cross-cultural interactions.
3. Iconographic Evidence:
The colossal Olmec heads, dated to around 800 BCE, depict distinctly African features, including broad noses, full lips, and even hairstyles resembling Ethiopian braids. Scholars like Dr. Ivan Van Sertima and Dr. Matthew Stirling have highlighted these sculptures' unmistakable Africoid characteristics.
4. Skeletal Discoveries:
The Smithsonian Institute unearthed African male skeletons in the U.S. Virgin Islands dating back to 1250 AD. Dental mutilations, a common African cultural practice, further validated their origins.
5. Historical Accounts:
European explorers, including Columbus and Vasco Núñez de Balboa, recorded interactions with African-descended populations in the Americas. Rodrigo de Colmenares, a captain under Balboa, noted the presence of black-skinned individuals east of the Gulf of San Miguel.
Cultural Parallels Between Africa and the Americas
The influence of African civilizations extended beyond physical presence, deeply impacting Mesoamerican culture.
1. Architecture and Engineering:
The dimensions of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan and the Great Pyramid of Giza are strikingly similar, both featuring a base of 230 meters. These architectural feats suggest shared knowledge of engineering principles.
2. Religious and Spiritual Systems:
Both Egyptian and Mesoamerican societies worshipped a sun deity and had texts comparable to Egypt’s Book of the Dead. Rituals, calendrical systems, and funerary practices bear uncanny similarities, including cranial deformation, a practice observed among elites in both regions.
3. Hieroglyphic Scripts:
French missionary Pierre Maillard documented glyphs used by the Mi’kmaq people in Canada. Comparative studies by Barry Fell in the 1970s revealed striking parallels with Egyptian hieroglyphics, supporting the theory of cross-Atlantic cultural exchanges.
Reverse Influence: Mesoamerican Impact on Africa
Evidence also suggests that cultural influences traveled from the Americas to Africa. Botanical exchanges, such as the transfer of maize and tobacco to Africa, highlight this bidirectional exchange.
Loan Words Found Among the Garifuna
Loan words from African and Indigenous languages appear in Garifuna, an Arawakan language spoken by descendants of the Garinagu people. These linguistic borrowings provide evidence of cultural exchanges that enriched both societies.
Mexican and South American Sources and Connections
Connections to Mexican and South American Indigenous cultures further enrich this narrative. Indigenous trade networks, shared agricultural practices (e.g., the cultivation of maize and beans), and spiritual beliefs resonate with the heritage of Southeastern Native tribes, emphasizing broader pan-Indigenous ties across the Americas.
The Calabash Gourds as Evidence
Calabash gourds were used across various Indigenous cultures as tools, containers, and ceremonial objects. Among the Skarure Woccon people, these gourds symbolize cultural continuity, embodying ancestral traditions tied to the land and its people.
Scientific and Historical Validation
This growing body of evidence challenges mainstream historical narratives. Carbon dating, metallurgical analysis, iconography, and oral histories corroborate the presence of Africans in the Americas before Columbus. Scholars like Dr. Ivan Van Sertima have championed these findings, despite resistance from Eurocentric perspectives.
Additional Resources
NPR: "The Khoisan Once Were Kings of the Planet"
New Scientist: "Humanity's Forgotten Return to Africa"
NY Times: "A Single Migration From Africa Populated the World"
ResearchGate: "Spread of Salutrean Culture From Africa to North America"
With all of this evidence, it is impossible to dismiss these findings as mere coincidence, especially given the precise alignment of timelines and historical events. The pre-Columbian history of the Americas is far richer and more interconnected than traditionally acknowledged. Africans played a crucial role in shaping the cultural and technological landscapes of the Americas, as evidenced by artifacts, architecture, and shared traditions. Recognizing this history not only honors the contributions of African civilizations but also fosters a more inclusive understanding of global heritage.
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Mainstream scholarship often hesitates to recognize connections like those between the Dogon and Mesoamerican cultures due to several factors:
1. Eurocentric Historical Framework
For centuries, Western academia has focused on narratives that emphasize European primacy in global exploration and innovation. This bias often minimizes or dismisses evidence of transcontinental interactions involving non-European civilizations, especially African and Indigenous American cultures.
2. Lack of "Concrete" Evidence
While linguistic, cultural, and symbolic parallels are compelling, mainstream historians and archaeologists prioritize physical artifacts and incontrovertible evidence, such as documented trade routes, genetic studies, or inscriptions. Without direct proof of Dogon-Mesoamerican interactions, these connections remain speculative.
3. Fragmented Evidence
The evidence for such connections—artifacts, oral traditions, linguistic parallels, and symbolic overlaps—is often scattered across disciplines like anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. Mainstream academics tend to silo these fields, making it harder to build interdisciplinary arguments for direct links.
4. Resistance to Paradigm Shifts
Acknowledging African or other non-European influences in the Americas prior to Columbus would require rethinking established historical narratives. This challenges deeply ingrained academic traditions and could undermine careers built on existing frameworks, leading to resistance.
5. Colonial Legacy
The colonial project depended on the idea of Indigenous isolation to justify conquest and exploitation. Acknowledging transcontinental links predating Columbus undermines these colonial narratives, so such evidence has historically been marginalized.
6. Oral Histories Are Devalued
Indigenous and African oral traditions are often dismissed as unreliable or "unscientific" in favor of written records. This Eurocentric bias leads to the erasure of non-Western contributions to history.
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7. Controversial Proponents
Scholars like Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, who argued for pre-Columbian African influences in the Americas, faced criticism not only for their conclusions but also for their methodologies. Mainstream academics often dismiss their work as pseudoscientific, even when it includes valid points.
8. Political Implications
Recognizing African influence in pre-Columbian America has significant cultural and political implications. It challenges narratives of European supremacy and reinforces the contributions of African and Indigenous peoples to global history, which can be seen as threatening to some established power structures.
9. Complexity of Validation
Proving ancient transoceanic contact requires interdisciplinary collaboration, advanced technology (e.g., DNA analysis), and significant funding. Such resources are not always allocated to these kinds of studies, further delaying validation.
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