Who Really Discovered America? - History Channel

Who Really Discovered America? Did a number of explorers discover the New World long before Christopher Columbus staked his claim in 1492? No less than a dozen cultures have tales of these adventurers woven into their histories, but they are noticeably absent in American history books. This documentary explores the possibility that the Chinese, Japanese, Polynesians, Norse, Welsh, Irish, Ancient Hebrews and the Solutreans all made it to the Americas earlier than Columbus. Rebuild the ships, trace the routes, test the artifacts and analyze blood evidence to finally learn the answer to one of the greatest mysteries of all time--who really discovered America?

This program presents a series of archaeological ‘case studies’ that explore the evidence for a number of alternative ‘discoveries’ of America from 22000 BCE to 1492.

There is an opportunity to use this program in various ways in the classroom because of its structure. The evidence for each theory is presented, discussed and critiqued. Many experts are involved in these discussions and many archaeological techniques are used and explained.

This program would be very useful in any classroom where students study archaeology. It has application also for teaching about hypothesis, theory and evidence in archaeology and History. It could be used cumulatively for skills development across a semester or a year.

Denis Mootz

STAYING FOCUSED.

This is the data collection stage of the activity.

The detailed questioning is designed to ensure that students decode the visual and aural materials presented to them in the video.

The video programs can be stopped at the end of each section. This will allow students to share and discuss answers.

NOTEMAKING.

This is the collation stage of the activity. Students need to organise the field of information and begin to explore its context.

Directions and /or Inquiry questions are provided for notemaking / summary exercises that will follow the viewing of the video. The materials / data for the summaries have been collected above.

The activity could be done in teams, groups, or by individuals, or as a class with teacher direction.

1. Draw up a timeline / chronological chart of the events described and discussed in this program.

2. Note details of the evidence for the Native American arrival in America.

3. Note details of the evidence for the Solutrean ‘discovery’ of America.

4. Note details of the evidence for the Japanese ‘discovery’ of America.

5. Note details of the evidence for the Hebrew ‘discovery’ of America.

6. Note details of the evidence for the Chinese ‘discovery (ies)’ of America.

7. Note details of the evidence for the Irish ‘discovery’ of America.

8. Note details of the evidence for the Polynesian ‘discovery’ of America.

9. Note details of the evidence for the Viking ‘discovery’ of America.

10. Note details of the evidence for the Welsh ‘discovery’ of America.

11. Note the various archaeological techniques used to support or investigate each ‘discovery’.

ISSUES & INQUIRY.

Key issues and inquiry questions that have been raised by the video are addressed at this stage for discussion and research.

1. Why do Native Americans object to the “Bering Strait’ theory?

2. Why do so many archaeologists resist the suggestions that question the accepted theories?

3. What value is the theory of ‘ocean drift’ in this debate?

PROBLEMS of EVIDENCE.

Questions of reliability and validity of the perspectives, evidence and sources presented in the video program need to be considered, tested and researched.

1. What criteria do archaeologists use to make decisions about new theories?

2. For each ‘discovery’ draw up a table of significant evidence for and against the theory.

3. Which of these theories has ‘solid’ evidence to support it?

COMMUNICATING.

The key issues and inquiry questions are potential topics for debate, essay writing, reports, historical recount and explanation.

1. Write a REPORT on the Polynesian discovery of America.

2. Write a REPORT on L’Anse aux Meadows.

3. Draw up an annotated timeline of the discovery of America with details of the evidence to support each of the various theories.

4. Explain why there is continuing discussion of the ‘discovery’ of America.

5. Assess the various theories for the ‘discovery’ of America.