NationStates Jolt Archive

I am an amature historian of sorts on the America's. I briefly studied it in college. Since then I have a extensive library at home of the ancient world. I am particulary interested in the connection of the America's and the ancient cultures of the old world. I have recently come by this article on the net. It details the possible connection of King Solomons mines to Peru. Is the America's home to the biblical Ophir? Anyone else interested in this type of history? I have heard of findings in the past and documented discoveries of ancient artifacts in the America's including coins, statues, inscriptions and the refference in this article to heiroglyphs. What do you think of this article. Somewhat of a long read.

http://hope-of-israel.org/hebinusa.htm

I am an amature historian of sorts on the America's. I briefly studied it in college. Since then I have a extensive library at home of the ancient world. I am particulary interested in the connection of the America's and the ancient cultures of the old world. I have recently come by this article on the net. It details the possible connection of King Solomons mines to Peru. Is the America's home to the biblical Ophir? Anyone else interested in this type of history? I have heard of findings in the past and documented discoveries of ancient artifacts in the America's including coins, statues, inscriptions and the refference in this article to heiroglyphs. What do you think of this article. Somewhat of a long read.

http://hope-of-israel.org/hebinusa.htm

This era of history is fascinating... but the article... well, I think you need to be verrrrrrry cautious of internet articles, particularly unreferenced ones.

This reminds me of that Nazi hogwash that is often published about how the Atlanteans were indeed the predecessors of the Aryans, and upon the collapse of the Atlantean Empire, retreated into the North and came out as the purer Germanic race. Good myth? Yeah. Factually correct? Ummm, right. :p

Im always wary of the internet. But it is an interesting read to say the least.

I am an amature historian of sorts on the America's. I briefly studied it in college. Since then I have a extensive library at home of the ancient world. I am particulary interested in the connection of the America's and the ancient cultures of the old world. I have recently come by this article on the net. It details the possible connection of King Solomons mines to Peru. Is the America's home to the biblical Ophir? Anyone else interested in this type of history? I have heard of findings in the past and documented discoveries of ancient artifacts in the America's including coins, statues, inscriptions and the refference in this article to heiroglyphs. What do you think of this article. Somewhat of a long read.

http://hope-of-israel.org/hebinusa.htm

As far as I'm aware, I'm one of the very few professional archaeologists on NS.

My immediate cynical response is to dismiss this with a "what a load of b*ll*cks".

But given that you're genuinely interested in the topic, I'll at least provide you with a reference to a book that debunks many of the 'theories' of what's usually termed "fantastic archaeology" or "cult archaeology":

Fantastic Archaeology: The Wild Side of North American Prehistory
Williams, Stephen
University of Pennsylvania Press: Philadelphia 1991

Read that, and you'll at least have access to an opposing viewpoint.

As far as I can remember, Williams doesn't specifically deal with Israelites in the Americas, but he does touch on similar issues relating to the Book of Mormon. He also discusses the evidence regarding the myriad less direectly related trans-oceanic theories that occasionally pop up in discussions on the American past.

Now, I think you'll find that if you catch us in a contemplative moment, you'll find that most archaeologists familiar with the Atlantic world aren't necessarily entirely closed to the idea that someone might have crossed the Atlantic before Columbus or the Vikings (depending on where you want to place your frame of reference), just that we demand a much higher standard of proof than a few random coincidences in cultural traditions of the sort mentioned in the article you link to.

snip....


Great, will have to check it out. I know your aware of the huge amount of misinformation out there on the subject of Pre-Columbus America. I'm always reading with a bit of skepticism on this subject. But still open to all theories.

To me, hoax.

The oldest recorded Hebrew piece was the walls of Jericho, 7500 BC, that I know of. Apparently 1,000 BC is simply not cutting it. Also, the oldest monument ever is in eastern Canada, 32,000 (I'm pretty sure this is wrong, but somewhere in that figure) years old.

So I doubt Solomon's aware of the Americas, and the Hebrews as well.

King Solomon's mines were far more likely to be in Ethiopia, where Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and Ancient Egyptians could all garner riches from the region at one time or another.

This goes a long way to explain the presence of Jewish Ethiopians and their Ark of the Covenant folklore history.

King Solomon's mines were far more likely to be in Ethiopia, where Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and Ancient Egyptians could all garner riches from the region at one time or another.

This goes a long way to explain the presence of Jewish Ethiopians and their Ark of the Covenant folklore history.

Hmm...perhaps the knight's templar found the mines. Could explain their immediate and fabulous wealth when they arrives.