The Mystery of the Phoenicians and People of the North in the Americas
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Celts in Peru? Phoenicians in the Americas? Vikings crossing the Atlantic?
Yesterday I saw a documentary by a respected company (Timeline/PBS) where they talked about the possible presence of Europeans from the “old world” in the Americas well before the historically known dates (link at the end of the article).
The story may not seem all that new to those who are already initiated into the controversial circles of theories that hover: From runes in North America to mysterious inscriptions and manuscripts in Brazil. In my opinion, what caught the most attention in the video was the amount of research and studies that are being developed in order to follow clues that have become more and more evidence of pre-Columbian journeys to the “new continent”.
In this article we will present some theories, with an exploratory effect for curious people, researchers and adventurers who intend to weave with the threads of knowledge from different sources in time. We will start from the most accepted theories to the most “absurd”, understanding that knowledge is free and the intelligence of each one is its judge.
Vikings in the Americas
This theory is already openly known and discussed in recent years. Studies and research through dating of natural events indicate that the Norse settled in what is now northern Canada approximately a millennium ago.
Furthermore, excavations have found evidence of houses that had been erected by the Vikings. The angular and precise cutting of wood, something that could only have been done with axes or other metal tools, contradicts the theory of construction through native natives who were ignorant of metallurgy. [1]
Written tradition (the sagas), prior to research, tells the story of Leif Erikson, who led an expedition westward from Greenland. He sailed through unknown seas, in search of land and resources to supply the needs in the colony of Greenland and would have found a land of forests and prairies, with creeks full of salmon. Because he found vines of wild grapes, he called the new territory Vinland. [2]
There are also reports of discoveries of runes in more inland locations in North America, signaling an incursion by these peoples and even interaction with the natives. If you live in the US, you can visit this location, which is posted on the website [3][4]:
“The 55 acre park is the home of a large sandstone that contains 8 runic markings believed to have been a boundary marker created by Vikings between 600 and 800AD. This park offers a little over 2 miles of hiking trails, a scenic overlook, tent camping sites, a few sites with electrical hook-ups, secluded primitive campsites, limited RV hook-ups, playground, seasonal waterfall, picnic areas, amphitheater, event center and gift shop. This park allows dogs but they are required to be on a leash at all times and owners are expected to clean up after them.”
The Chachapoyas and the Celts in the Amazon
Here we begin to enter more nebulous and unknown territory. Perhaps many still do not know about the Chachapoya civilization that inhabited the north of Peru and is still a great mystery, in a territory that was widely known by the Inca domain. Chachapoya is an indigenous word, which means “Men of the Mist” or “Warriors of the Clouds”.
The Chachapoyas were a small group compared to their countrymen. They lived in places of difficult access in the canyons and mountains close to the border of the Peruvian Amazon. They were also known as “white Indians” and Pedro Cieza de Léon emphasizes their exotic appearance in his descriptions of Peruvian history. The last records of civilization date back to the end of the 15th century, when they were dominated by the Inca empire.
The great mystery begins especially with its phenotypic characteristics with blond hair and blue/green eyes. Furthermore, as reported in the documentary itself, these people had habits, constructions and technology very similar to what is observed in the Europeans of Galicia and even the Celts.
It is curious to remember that in the same way that Avalon, the mythical island that populates the druidic imagination, was known as the “island of mists”, this people also has its very similar nickname of “men of the mist” linking their origins to the peoples of the north.
Other traits to note are mummies showing remnants of light hair and cranial trepanations that were very common on the other side of the Atlantic. In addition, the presence of funerary masks with light-colored eyes, rare in the original peoples, are found here in this region of Peru, a rather strange fact.
Many question that the original peoples were influenced by these visitors, but I have no doubt that the great Peruvian and Mesoamerican civilizations had advanced knowledge about engineering, agriculture, astronomy and the military even before these visits.
The point here is that based on these new clues, a series of paradigms can be questioned: Who knows if European civilizations, some still in the dark ages, would not have also been influenced by these natives with their ancient knowledge?
Manuscript 512 and Inscriptions in Northeast Brazil
Let's turn things up a notch here as this story could be considered alternative science or fraud by some. However, in view of the clues we have presented, it has been gaining importance over time. The reports and findings are simply impressive, if true.
Manuscript 512 is a mysterious document that exists in the National Library of Rio de Janeiro and dates back to colonial Brazil. The document, of an expeditionary nature, consists of a report by a group of Bandeirantes (Imperial Explorers), although the name of its author is unknown.
Access to the original document is currently extremely restricted, although a digitized version of it has recently been made available with the National Library's digital update. [5]
Basically, Manuscript 512 reports the discovery of an ancient civilization in the middle of the Brazilian Badlands through ruins and unknown inscriptions that are copied in the document.
In the expedition's account, the bandeirantes sighted a large city, which at first they confused with an existing settlement. However, when inspecting it, they found a list of oddities, in addition to the fact that it was completely ruined, and totally empty. Its buildings, many of them with more than one floor, lay abandoned and without any trace of human presence, such as furniture or other artifacts.
Entry into the city was possible only through a single ornate path at the entrance with three arches, the main and largest one in the center, and two smaller ones at the sides; the author of the expeditionary text observes that all of them had inscriptions in an indecipherable letter at the top, which it was impossible for them to read given the height of the arches, and even less to recognize.
The aspect of the city narrated in Manuscript 512, mixes characters similar to those of ancient civilizations, but it also brings other elements that are not identified or without recent association.
The identity of the Bandeirantes’ group was apparently lost, leaving only the manuscript. The location of the supposedly visited city became a mystery that would attract the attention of renowned historical figures such as D. Pedro II.
The only object mentioned by the bandeirantes expedition, which was found by chance and carefully described in the letter, consists of a large coin made of gold. This object, whose existence and destiny are unknown, bore emblems on its surface: engraved on one side was a drawing of a kneeling boy, and on the reverse, combined images of a bow, a crown, and an arrow remained.
In addition to the incredible account of Manuscrito 512, there are also discoveries such as the inscriptions at Pedra do Ingá, in Paraíba (Brazil), which has been the subject of increasing national and international research. Some claim that their petroglyphs resemble other symbols identified in overseas civilizations such as Phoenicians and Celts.
Still in Brazilian territory, the inscriptions of Pouso Alto and Pedra Lavrada in Paraíba supposedly record the passage of ancient civilizations through the Phoenicians, who would have been present in the Americas long before the existence of the continent was even known, according to maps and historians' reports. of the time.
“We are children of Canaan, of Sidon, the king's city. Trade has brought us to this distant shore, a land of mountains. We sacrificed a youth to the exalted gods and goddesses in the 19th year of Hiram, our mighty king. We embarked at Ezion-Geber on the Red Sea and traveled with 10 ships. We stayed at sea together for two years, around the land belonging to Ham (Africa), but were separated by a storm, separated from our companions, and thus landed here, 12 men and 3 women. On a new beach that I, the Admiral, control. But auspiciously pass the exalted gods and goddesses to intercede on our behalf.”
Pedra da Gávea and the Phoenicians
This theory is the most contested of all, considering some level of flexibility that is needed to understand and decipher the petroglyphs that are allegedly present at Pedra da Gávea, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ludwing Schwennhagen and Bernardo Ramos defended the idea of inscriptions at the beginning of the 20th century. XX. Although the official current believes that the marks are just signs of natural erosion, others assume that, in fact, the coming of the Phoenicians to Brazil is true and credit these marks on the rock to them.
The phrase “Jethbaal, Phoenician of Tyre, eldest son of Badezir” would be a posthumous tribute from King Badezir to his eldest son. In addition, the shape of the mountain resembling a sphinx was carved in honor of him, on one of the faces of Pedra da Gávea.
Currently, scientists argue that both the "human face" and the inscriptions were formed through natural processes. In this sense, the human face that we see would just be the result of a psychological phenomenon known as pareidolia. We remind you that Pedra da Gávea is a place of curious formations, caves and curious people who seek the place for mystical purposes.
Conclusions
A veritable myriad of clues and evidence open up new panoramas that could seal the presence of European peoples in the Americas even earlier than imagined. This fact, even new to history and science, is well known by the oral tradition of many peoples around the world.
From the “Sea Peoples” of the Egyptians to the semi-divine figures of Viracocha and Quetzalcoatl, we are officially unaware of many stories of travelers from afar who waged war or brought about great revolutions and were handed down from the bonfires and halls of great empires.
We must, obviously, be careful with absurd and false theories that can question the seriousness of a new knowledge, and with that delay its development even more. But, once again, we seek refuge in ancient knowledge and reports, which, although spectacular in their lines, can provide important pieces to understand what we have not yet revealed.
Folklore is a fundamental tool that motivates exploration, and with it, new discoveries. We're hot on their heels because, once again, the truth is out there!
[2] https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-46899791
[3] https://www.heavenerrunestonepark.com/
[4] https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221030-the-mysterious-viking-runes-found-in-a-landlocked-us-state
[5] https://www.bn.gov.br/explore/curiosidades/documento-512-mapa-uma-cidade-perdida
[6] https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teoria_da_presen%C3%A7a_de_fen%C3%ADcios_no_Brasil