The Diffusionist-Inventionist Controversy

Paper Summary:

It is now known that people first came to the New World from Siberia to Alaska during an ice age when eastern Siberia and Alaska formed one land mass known as "Beringia," and that the Norse came to America well before Columbus. The scientists also agree that prehistoric and ancient peoples were capable of incredible feats of engineering and social engineering. However, that is largely where the agreement ends and the controversy begins. Scientists challenge the validity of conclusions and the authenticity of artifacts, relics and cultural similarities as the mysteries of antiquity are interpreted by the various schools of thought. This paper provides a background of diffusionist and inventionist theory, followed by an overview of these theories as presented in "Experts Argue" by Eugene Fingerhut, as well as an individual interpretation of the research in the conclusion.

From the Paper:

"The diffusionists argue that Native Americans were visited by prehistoric and ancient peoples from overseas. "They marvel at the seamanship of these primitive peoples and argue that contacts with the Americas were maintained by ancient Celts, Libyans, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, and Northern Europeans. Most of these claims rest on circumstantial evidence" (p. 11). However, no physical evidence of any transoceanic travelers has survived in America. "The artifacts that seem to be products of prehistoric and ancient oceanic travelers are either fakes, frauds or chimera." The critics say the diffusionist interpretation of some of the data is subject to whimsical flights of imagination by these scientists who passionately want to believe in their version of the world's history. For example, the addition of Erich von Daniken's version of alien contact and diffusionism, combined with the other "lunatic fringe," have not helped the diffusionist efforts to appear credible to the scientific community. The critics of the diffusionist school of thought point to the fraudulent efforts of Barry Fell, as well as the validity of many of the artifacts alleged to support their claims such as the Kensington Stone ("the most controversial of all runic inscribed rocks"), the Vinland Map, Davenport Stone, and Newport Tower (p. 47). While there is agreement that prehistoric and ancient cultures produced people of great imagination and accomplishment, "The issue is whether these cultures were carried across the ocean" (p. 12)."

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