The Inca empire once stretched over thousands of miles along the mountainous western South American coast. Perhaps the greatest empire of the ancient American world, learn more about it in the current issue of National Geographic.
Author Archives: Darrick Dean
Ancient Texans
Archaeological finds in Texas add to the growing evidence that human habitation in the America’s is older than many have suspected. The longer they were here, the larger and more complex the populations may have been. Much of the history has been lost to us since 1492. Slowly, piece by piece, we are learning more.
Atlantis Found?
Researchers announced today a possible location for the fabled Atlantis in Spain. This region, either off the coast or on land, has long been a frontrunner in Atlantis locations. Among others, E.M. Whishaw’s Atlantis in Spain argued for it in 1928. I haven’t read it, but I bet it will be selling out soon. As with any ancient legend, there’s probably bits of truth in it. Since so many fringe and mystical folks have co-opted Atlantis, many scholars won’t touch it with a ten foot pole. Perhaps in Spain the truth will finally be uncovered.
Should we Destroy the Past for Energy’s Sake?
I don’t think so. Read more here.
Categories: Ancient America, Ancient Sites, Native Americans
Tags: Native Americans, sacred sites, solar energy
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Humans, Well, Were Always Like Us
We often hear about theories of lost advanced civilizations. Ironically, evidence continues to pile up showing that humans have always been like we are now, physically and mentally. There seems to be less and less room for the dumb caveman stereotype. So was man set back a few times by disaster? Science and history seem to indicate that. Of course, the sudden appearance of humans who weren’t so dumb 80,000 – 200,000 years ago (depending on who’s counting) goes contrary to evolutionary theory. Read the latest here. Adding to the discussions and debates is the problem of mixing non-human hominids, or ones similar to us, to studies and datings. Ultimately, however, mankind still reaches back further than most have ever imagined. Read more on the origins of man in Who was Adam?.
Where was Jesus?
The Bible is silent on most of Jesus’ years before he began his ministry. Many theories, including more than a few strange ones, have been floated about the “missing years.” These include travels to just about everywhere in the world. Some apocryphal accounts claim to have details of his childhood, though they date long after his time (Anne Rice did conjure up an interesting novel that was in part based on these stories). One of the more plausible legends has Jesus visiting Britain with his “uncle” Joseph of Arimathea. Local legends claim Jesus was there, but the debate centers around how old those legends are and if they were created to attract pilgrims. Nevertheless, it is an interesting possibility. See Glyn S. Lewis’ book for more (even he wanders into some strange speculations at times).
Disasters: Could you Survive?
Ancient history is full of disaster accounts: Floods, comets, volcanoes. Cities wiped out. Earth seemed much more chaotic back in the day. Have we simply been lucky or just have been in a dry spell? Check out these possibilities: California Superstorm, Poison Clouds From Space and America’s Potentially Most Dangerous Earthquake Zone.
Maybe being prepared for something other than the next snow storm is not such a bad idea? Would today’s pampered, unprepared people survive “biblical” disasters? Or are you going to wait for the government to come save you? Perhaps you could take control of your own future: Ready.gov & Prepare.org.
Lost Worlds
Even here in the 21st Century, we are still finding lost or forgotten worlds. It’s amazing that these giant cave systems have survived countless ages of geologic activity. Funny, though, how many lack any significant remains of human activity. On the other hand, there are legends like those in South America that claim there are many hundreds of miles of subterranean tunnels once used by the Incas to hide from their enemies and stockpile gold.
Did the Chinese Beat Columbus?
A few years back the book 1421 created a bit of a controversy in that it suggested the Chinese had discovered North America before Columbus. While people were arguing over the book’s details, others asked a simple question. Is it so hard to believe that an advanced empire with established seafaring skills couldn’t end up in the Americas? Many came out and supported the theory with their own evidences. It was almost like a taboo subject that scholars secretly pondered until 1421 changed things. Still, most don’t think it’s a slam-dunk case for Chinese visitors. Is it simply the resistance to new ideas? Or is the evidence not strong enough? In either case, another fascinating book on the subject is The Island of Seven Cities. It puts forth the case for a Chinese settlement in Canada. Perhaps there was.
Lost in the Jungle
British explorer Percy Fawcett was one of the last of the era that inspired Hollywood’s swashbucklers like Indiana Jones. Fawcett also became one of the 20th Century’s most famous disappearances when he vanished into the Amazon jungle in 1925. He was searching for a lost city he named “City of Z.” Perhaps the fabled El Dorado, a lost Inca stronghold or an outpost of Atlantis refugees. He seemed to think he knew where it was. Eighty-five years later, the details of his demise are still unclear. The book The Lost City of Z has brought back this forgotten explorer back to life for modern readers. Exploration Fawcett is a reprint of Fawcett’s own journals from his adventures in South America up until his final trek. These are fascinating windows into the lost era of explorations and the wild and dangerous southern continent of those days.
Darrick Dean 