Who Settled America First?

Peter “Rough” Hurech, Staffordshire, England, is thought to have visited the Mustang Mountains in Southeast Arizona and died there. His body may have been buried in a cave and a memorial rock left behind carved in Old English letters and runes. This is thought to have occurred around 1250 AD. This account was shared with the public in a cable network show entitled America Unearthed, and hosted by Scott Wolter.

The purpose of the cable series is to broaden the historical record of America to include early settlers and visitors to the North American continent that counters the history story we were taught in school as kids. You know the script: Magellan, Columbus, et.al. and when they visited and explored the land that eventually became America.

We have been raised to believe European white settlers with a nearly unanimous Christian heritage discovered America and settled it. That is patently not true. Native Americans were here long before Europeans arrived on our shores. But what is the full story of the Native Americans? Were they alone in their residency here? When did they arrive on the scene, and from where?

Also, what movement of early American continent denizens roamed the North, Central and South American land masses? Did they always reside where we think they did? Or did they move about, exploring and for a time taking up residency in North America?

The Mayans inhabited Central America. Always? Or did they come from South America, or offshore from another continent? Did they ever venture north into North America?

Scott Wolter has evidence Mayans ventured to what is now the state of Georgia in the US. They may have come here for 50 years or more, or even less. But they left behind evidence of their residency in North America. This may explain why they disappeared from Central America so mysteriously – either because of drought, illness, or whatever – and set up the roots of their civilization in the rain soaked clime of North America. This would have occurred somewhere around 1100 AD or so.

Is their any genomic evidence to suggest Native Americans in the north are a combination of Mayan, Hispanic natives from South America, or any other peoples from parts unknown?

The big question from all of this is this: “What is the true, big picture history of America?” A derivative question hauntingly exists as well: “Are Native Americans and Hispanics related and comprise the true native population of America prior to the European settlers?”

These questions pose an interesting challenge to those in Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona who claim illegal immigrants do not belong in America.  One wonders if it is the European settler stock that truly doesn't belong here!

For a nation that was settled by immigrants in the first place, the illegal immigrant discussion is a sour note in our history. It certainly is an inhospitable sour note!

I think Americans need to broaden their perspective on immigration. Who is allowed into our nation and who is excluded? And why? Indeed, do any of us have the right to exclude anyone else in the first place?

I think we all have some research to do. And some serious thinking.

July 9, 2014