<HTML>I agree totally that artifacts are the key.
The Roman head found west of Mexico City found buried in situe dating to about 300 BC.
The Olemca Stone heads that cleariy portray Negroid-African physical influence. Interestingly enough The Olmeca areas seem to pre- date Egypt.
The picture of marble figures in July/August Archaeology magazine which seem to have African characteristics.
I've qualified that possibility based on on posters interpetation as Toltec which upon review also seems possible.
My viewing the ritual of the Tlingit Indians greeting a Japanese visitor. The local chief interviewed by me prior to the arrival indicated that they had many overseas visitors. This view obviously is not an artifact but I offer it anyway.
My viewing a very large cylindrical stelae shown to me by a Mayan guide at Ceibal in Guatemala. The Mayan chieftan in full regalia is greeting a visitor (hand outstretched). The visitor was wearing a conical (rice) hat and a long beard with Pajamas like clothing. I don't have a picture but I'm sure it is still there.
The style of the basic village house. (vertical poles and thatch outer covering) found all over Southeast Asia. That house is represented on most Mayan pyramids at their top and at Cahokia.
Jomon pottery styles found in Ecuador and Peru.
A long ago Archaeology today article about the chieftans shawl illustrating plongi tie-die technique from Indonesia.
My viewing the statuette of a woman displayed in San Jose Museum circa dated 1000 AD that clearly shows corn rows in her hair from Africa. Again no picture but I'm sure it is still there.
Lets make clear what is being discussed. The view of mainstream is that diffusion was not operable period. That goes so far as to maintain diffusion among indian groups also did not take place. Isolation was the only operative. Everybody developed intellectually and physically separatel
It is my view based upon the above that that no longer holds. There was contact sometimes intermittent and sometimes sustained. Ideas as well as goods were shared. Too often the mainstream raises the straw man that says diffusion or isolation. As I've indicated it was probably both.
In September Gavin Menzies will publish his thoughts as to what might have been the ultimate diffusion but now in reality a diffusion failure. The Chinese journeys were completed in 1423. One can only speculte what language this article would be written in if the emporer had not ordered the voyages to stop. The Chines ships could hve hedl a Spanish Caravel in their toilet at the time. it doe demonstrate that the race does not always go to the first or the best.
To close I would mention again it is my view that the line between diffusion and isolation is a not black and white. Most important is that BOTH existed and need to be investigate to know the whole historical story.</HTML>
