Stone Age Columbus

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PeterH P
PeterH Nov 9, 2005 19:36:25
Replying to GordonP

Yes and look at all those Bronze Age Scandinavian rock paintings http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=15855&orderby=dateD - high prows just have to mean sea going. That doesn't make the case for trans-Atlantic voyages though.

It's now universally accepted that the Norse were the first Europeans to reach North America, but their legends already told of a land far to the west. When they made contact with the natives, they learned of other white men further to the west who dressed in white robes. Just stories or an echo of something real?

G GordonP
GordonP Nov 9, 2005 19:53:28
Replying to PeterH

Pity it doesn't show a mast or sail, but the high bow and stern suggests sea going ability.

I'm still amazed at the craftmanship of stone-age people, to build boats without steel tools is nothing short of amazing. They did have one advantage over us though, access to good timber, massive oak trees with long knot-free trunks.

We have been around for perhaps 150,000 years, if sea-going boats could have been built 4000 years ago, then they could have been built at any time during that period.

B BigSweetie
BigSweetie Nov 10, 2005 12:07:17
Replying to PeterH

as I think I've said on here before, when the Black Watch went to North America in the 18th century, they were welcomed by the Native Americans as "cousins"

I've seen it suggested that the skraelings the Norse encountered were descendents of Pictish mariners, although I find that hard to believe! (they were described as being red - the thought being they had red hair rather than red skin) there is a suggestion though that the Norse were following a route that had already been taken by Pictish (and other?) sailors previously

Cheers
Andy