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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Stick it in yer ear.
Message-ID: <3@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 1-Oct-85 12:56:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.3
Posted: Tue Oct  1 12:56:12 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Oct-85 04:45:04 EDT
References: <502@decwrl.UUCP> <-1988576@sysvis>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 30

> There is a *lot* more to American History than just Indians and Christians.

No argument on that.

> If you are interested in finding out just what that might be, read the 
>books (3)
> written by Barry Fell.  Mr. Fell (A Harvard professor, I think it was) wrote
> three books (from memory only)  America, B.C., Bronze Age America, and Saga
> America.  Those who actually wish to look for the "real" history of America
> should use these books as a guide to further study.  They are well written and
> properly sourced.  If you don't want to know the truth, blather on.

These books are interesting, and *probably* sheer fantasy.  They are well 
written.  "Properly sourced" is stretching things though.  As for the truth,
I wonder how it is that you know that Mr. Fell is correct beyond a shadow
of a doubt (barring, for the sake of argument, divine revelation)?

It's been a while since I read his stuff (and I didn't get too far), but
I seem to recall that he claimed that various tribes were descended from
some European groups.  This is inconsistent with evidence based on
physical anthropology (including molecular evidence).  I am not competent
to judge his linguistic evidence.  I note that he is in a minority of one
on many of his claims.  Finally, his evidence for cultural contact is
inconclusive (which doesn't prove it didn't happen).
-- 
"Superior firepower is an      Ethan Vishniac
 important asset when          {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
 entering into                 ethan@astro.UTEXAS.EDU
    negotiations"              Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas