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Roots of Mesoamerican Writing
Science Magazine, Academic Press Daily "Inscight" ^
| Posted 5 December 2002, 5 pm PST
| ERIK STOKSTAD
Posted on 12/07/2002 4:54:13 AM PST by jimtorr
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It appears that the Olmec civilization is much older than I thought.
1
posted on
12/07/2002 4:54:13 AM PST
by
jimtorr
To: jimtorr
I wonder if this was found in or near La Venta.
2
posted on
12/07/2002 5:06:15 AM PST
by
Catspaw
To: jimtorr; blam
There was an Olmec exhibition at the National Gallery here in D.C. a few years ago. I understand that some experts were struck by the similarities between Olmec writing and the earliest surviving version of Chinese characters, those on the oracle bones of the Shang dynasty.
To: aristeides
similarities between Olmec writing and the earliest surviving version of Chinese charactersOn another thread Blam posted pictures of Olmec statues with facial hair and Oriental features. Myself, being an ignorant peasant and having no authority or expertise of which to speak still has the opinion, for what it's worth that Chinese or Japanese contact was the brains behind pre-columbian indigenous American achievements.
4
posted on
12/07/2002 6:22:10 AM PST
by
u-89
To: jimtorr
What's particularly interesting is the similarity between the writing of the Olmec and the Gao'uld.
5
posted on
12/07/2002 6:40:28 AM PST
by
pabianice
To: u-89; cardinal4
For an interesting, very imaginative take on this fascinating subject, try reading "Serpent," by Clive Cussler.
6
posted on
12/07/2002 6:49:14 AM PST
by
Ax
To: jimtorr
Bump
7
posted on
12/07/2002 6:53:08 AM PST
by
Fiddlstix
To: u-89
the opinion.........that Chinese or Japanese contact was the brains behind pre-columbian indigenous American achievements. In my opinion, early people got around better and farther than they are generally given credit for. One for instance was the find some years back of Roman ships off the mouth of the Amazon River.
Another is the fact that fishermen from Northern Europe were fishing the Great Banks off Newfoundland for at least centuries before Columbus, and perhaps much longer.
One of the Gaullish tribes that Julius Caeser conquered were using ships (witch had sail power alone) that were much larger than anything the Romans had ever seen. Historians have said that the descriptions of these Gaulish ships sound much like the carracks built in Europe 1,000 year later.
My questions are, where did the Gauls sail with these large ships, how long had they been doing it, and when, where and from whom did they learn to build and sail that type of ship?
8
posted on
12/07/2002 6:56:15 AM PST
by
jimtorr
To: Ax
For an interesting, very imaginative take on this fascinating subject, try reading "Serpent," by Clive Cussler. Yes, I have the book, very interesting. I'll say this for Cussler, that while he takes great liberties with historical possibilities, he hardly distorts known history at all.
9
posted on
12/07/2002 6:58:40 AM PST
by
jimtorr
To: jimtorr
No doubt there was contact from Europe and the mid-east to the Americas I am just not certain why the views are not more main stream. There are anecdotes like cocoa and nicotine found in Egyptian mummies which would date the contact long before the Vikings. Somehow I missed the Roman ships in the Amazon, thanks for mentioning it. Will have to search out more about that one.
10
posted on
12/07/2002 7:20:27 AM PST
by
u-89
To: u-89
The Egyptian mummies contained cocaine and marijuana. Which just goes to show, there is nothing new under the sun.
To: Eternal_Bear
there is nothing new under the sun. And the man who coined that phrase did so almost 3000 years ago.
12
posted on
12/07/2002 7:42:04 AM PST
by
u-89
To: Eternal_Bear
"The Egyptian mummies contained cocaine and marijuana." Cocaine and nicotine, haven't heard about marijuana.
13
posted on
12/07/2002 7:45:47 AM PST
by
blam
To: u-89; jimtorr; Eternal_Bear
14
posted on
12/07/2002 7:51:10 AM PST
by
blam
To: aristeides
15
posted on
12/07/2002 8:08:39 AM PST
by
blam
To: aristeides
16
posted on
12/07/2002 8:12:16 AM PST
by
blam
To: jimtorr
17
posted on
12/07/2002 8:15:49 AM PST
by
blam
To: jimtorr
While traveling throughout the Yucatan peninsula, and visiting every site except the state of Chiapas, I couldn't help but wonder at each site, the buildings etc., being the work of great stone masonry. (And, you don't go from living in modern settings, sanitation, running water, condo type living, to mud huts and shacks.) I was reminded of the Roman Empire, and of the Greeks. I wish I could post some photos of examples, and especially the great observatory! (I just haven't figured out how yet)
Best wishes...
18
posted on
12/07/2002 9:11:04 AM PST
by
Terridan
To: u-89
I missed the Roman ships in the Amazon, Maybe the New World was their Chestnut Tree Cafe'?
19
posted on
12/07/2002 12:07:06 PM PST
by
watcher1
To: jimtorr
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