I'm just wondering if anybody has heard/read about the vast extrapolation from the Zeno Narrative that has a Scottish nobleman (though not a Prince!) visiting America in 1398 - and if so, what do you make of it?

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That's a hoot, mon!

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There are quite a few stories about various people making it to the New World (fill in pre-Columbian time here). I think the record lends weight to very few of them. I'll grant you Norsemen; I think that's pretty well established. Other than that? I've not seen anything convincing.

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

Yes, I think the Iceland/Greenlander presence is extremely well established and is now universally accepted - and there are indeed many others who've been put forward as early visitors (Brennan, etc..).

The theory I was talking about is apparently popular in Nova Scotia, and with certain groups in the north of Scotland and the Orkney Islands. Some people seem to actually believe it is true - although, as we well know, people are capable of believing all manner of things.

I'd been hoping for a North American perspective on this, and on the physical "evidence" that these people talk about (Westford Knight, Newport Tower, etc..). I am very familiar with the story from a Scottish perspective, and have seen the entire thing comprehensively pulled apart by a historian friend of mine.

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I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, was in no way fair comment and was motivated purely by malice. I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.

The records are pretty clear that the Newport Tower was built in the 17th Century, though people have been claiming for quite some time that it was "obviously" built earlier than that because it looks medieval to them. (Then, of course, they go back to their faux-Tudor homes . . . .)

In all honesty, most Americans aren't aware that anyone was here before Columbus; a lot of them, in my experience, kind of have to be reminded that Columbus did meet people here! Those who are agree on the Norse, and we're willing, most of us, to be persuaded about others, but few of us go looking for the evidence.

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

Our educational sytem leaves much to be desired. As I recall, we got about two sentences on Columbus before moving on to how to fold a flag (no kidding).

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