Original subtitles

>> male narrator: IF YOU ASK MANY AMERICANS:

MANY AMERICANS: WHO DISCOVERED AMERICA?

WHO DISCOVERED AMERICA? THEY'LL TELL YOU IT WAS

THEY'LL TELL YOU IT WAS CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. FOR GENERATIONS, THAT'S WHAT

FOR GENERATIONS, THAT'S WHAT THE HISTORY BOOKS SAID,

THE HISTORY BOOKS SAID, BUT THE HISTORY BOOKS

BUT THE HISTORY BOOKS WERE WRONG.

WERE WRONG. A JOURNEY INTO THE FAR REACHES

A JOURNEY INTO THE FAR REACHES OF ANTIQUITY TURNS UP TALES

OF ANTIQUITY TURNS UP TALES OF EXPLORERS WHO ARRIVED

OF EXPLORERS WHO ARRIVED IN THE NEW WORLD

IN THE NEW WORLD THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. CHARTED ON A MAP, THEIR VOYAGES

CHARTED ON A MAP, THEIR VOYAGES LOOK LIKE A MARITIME INVASION,

LOOK LIKE A MARITIME INVASION, ONE THAT STARTED

ONE THAT STARTED NOT JUST BEFORE COLUMBUS

NOT JUST BEFORE COLUMBUS BUT BEFORE CHRIST.

BUT BEFORE CHRIST. >> WHY ARE PEOPLE SO FIXED ON

>> WHY ARE PEOPLE SO FIXED ON COLUMBUS DISCOVERING

COLUMBUS DISCOVERING THE NEW WORLD?

THE NEW WORLD? IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT. >> IN THE PAST, TRANSPACIFIC

>> IN THE PAST, TRANSPACIFIC AND TRANSATLANTIC VOYAGING

AND TRANSATLANTIC VOYAGING WAS EASIER THAN PEOPLE THINK.

WAS EASIER THAN PEOPLE THINK. HUMAN BEINGS ARE RESTLESS.

HUMAN BEINGS ARE RESTLESS. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO'S

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO'S LOOKING OVER THE HORIZON.

LOOKING OVER THE HORIZON. >> narrator: NOW WE REBUILD

>> narrator: NOW WE REBUILD THE SHIPS, TRACE THE ROUTES,

THE SHIPS, TRACE THE ROUTES, TEST THE ARTIFACTS, AND ANALYZE

TEST THE ARTIFACTS, AND ANALYZE BLOOD EVIDENCE TO FINALLY LEARN

BLOOD EVIDENCE TO FINALLY LEARN THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THE

THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THE GREATEST MYSTERIES OF ALL TIME:

GREATEST MYSTERIES OF ALL TIME: WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA?

IN 1492, COLUMBUS SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE.

THE OCEAN BLUE. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS VERSES IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

VERSES IN AMERICAN HISTORY. BUT WE ARE STARTING TO CHALLENGE

BUT WE ARE STARTING TO CHALLENGE THE IDEA HE WAS THE FIRST TO

THE IDEA HE WAS THE FIRST TO DISCOVER THE NEW WORLD.

DISCOVER THE NEW WORLD. NEW EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT

NEW EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT AMERICA WAS A VERITABLE

AMERICA WAS A VERITABLE GRAND CENTRAL STATION FOR

GRAND CENTRAL STATION FOR THE WORLD'S PEOPLE

THE WORLD'S PEOPLE WELL BEFORE HIS TIME.

WELL BEFORE HIS TIME. >> THE IDEA THAT COLUMBUS

>> THE IDEA THAT COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA,

DISCOVERED AMERICA, THAT'S A MYTH LIKE OTHER MYTHS.

THAT'S A MYTH LIKE OTHER MYTHS. >> TO DISBELIEVE THAT, IT'S

>> TO DISBELIEVE THAT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE BELIEVING THE EARTH

ALMOST LIKE BELIEVING THE EARTH HAS TO BE FLAT IN THE FACE OF

HAS TO BE FLAT IN THE FACE OF ALL THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE.

ALL THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE. >> narrator: THERE'S NO DOUBT

>> narrator: THERE'S NO DOUBT NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ALREADY

NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ALREADY HERE WHEN COLUMBUS ARRIVED.

HERE WHEN COLUMBUS ARRIVED. THE BERING STRAIT LAND BRIDGE

THE BERING STRAIT LAND BRIDGE THEORY SUGGESTS THEIR ANCESTORS

THEORY SUGGESTS THEIR ANCESTORS CROSSED FROM ASIA TO NORTH

CROSSED FROM ASIA TO NORTH AMERICA 18,000 YEARS AGO DURING

AMERICA 18,000 YEARS AGO DURING THE LAST ICE AGE WHEN A STRIP

THE LAST ICE AGE WHEN A STRIP OF LAND CONNECTED THE TWO

OF LAND CONNECTED THE TWO CONTINENTS.

CONTINENTS. COLUMBUS ONLY GOT CREDIT FOR

COLUMBUS ONLY GOT CREDIT FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE NEW WORLD

THE DISCOVERY OF THE NEW WORLD BECAUSE, IN EUROPE'S EYES,

BECAUSE, IN EUROPE'S EYES, THE LAND WAS RIPE

THE LAND WAS RIPE FOR THE TAKING.

FOR THE TAKING. >> COLUMBUS OPENED A NEW ERA

>> COLUMBUS OPENED A NEW ERA OF ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION.

OF ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION. AND THAT'S WHAT MADE IT

AND THAT'S WHAT MADE IT SIGNIFICANT--WERE THE ECONOMIC

SIGNIFICANT--WERE THE ECONOMIC MARKETS THAT WERE OPENED UP

MARKETS THAT WERE OPENED UP IN EUROPE BECAUSE OF WHAT

IN EUROPE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE NEW WORLD HAD TO OFFER.

THE NEW WORLD HAD TO OFFER. >> narrator: EUROPE WAS

>> narrator: EUROPE WAS AWESTRUCK, AND COLUMBUS

AWESTRUCK, AND COLUMBUS WAS REVERED.

WAS REVERED. HISTORIANS CREDITED HIM WITH

HISTORIANS CREDITED HIM WITH THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. BUT TODAY A NEW HISTORY BEGINS,

BUT TODAY A NEW HISTORY BEGINS, AND IT STARTS ON THE OTHER SIDE

AND IT STARTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE.

OF THE GLOBE. CHINA, 1421,

CHINA, 1421, 71 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

71 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, IT'S THE RISE OF THE AZTEC

IT'S THE RISE OF THE AZTEC EMPIRE IN CENTRAL AMERICA,

EMPIRE IN CENTRAL AMERICA, AND JOAN OF ARC WILL SOON

AND JOAN OF ARC WILL SOON LEAD THE FRENCH IN THE

LEAD THE FRENCH IN THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR.

HUNDRED YEARS' WAR. IN CHINA, IT'S THE MING DYNASTY

IN CHINA, IT'S THE MING DYNASTY UNDER EMPEROR ZHU DI.

UNDER EMPEROR ZHU DI. ADMIRAL ZHENG HE IS IN COMMAND

ADMIRAL ZHENG HE IS IN COMMAND OF WHAT WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST

OF WHAT WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST MARITIME FLEET IN THE WORLD.

MARITIME FLEET IN THE WORLD. >> THE CHINESE, AROUND THE YEAR

>> THE CHINESE, AROUND THE YEAR 1400, WERE THE WORLD'S GREATEST

1400, WERE THE WORLD'S GREATEST MARITIME POWER WITH THE WORLD'S

MARITIME POWER WITH THE WORLD'S MOST IMPRESSIVE AND MAGNIFICENT

MOST IMPRESSIVE AND MAGNIFICENT SHIPS.

SHIPS. THESE SHIPS HAD WATERTIGHT

THESE SHIPS HAD WATERTIGHT BULKHEADS WHICH MADE THEM

BULKHEADS WHICH MADE THEM PRACTICALLY UNSINKABLE.

PRACTICALLY UNSINKABLE. >> narrator: THE LARGEST OF

>> narrator: THE LARGEST OF ZHENG HE'S SHIPS WERE SAID TO BE

ZHENG HE'S SHIPS WERE SAID TO BE 400 FEET LONG AND ABLE TO CARRY

400 FEET LONG AND ABLE TO CARRY 1,500 TONS AND A CREW

1,500 TONS AND A CREW OF 500 MEN.

OF 500 MEN. FLANKED BY DOZENS OF

FLANKED BY DOZENS OF SMALLER SHIPS CARRYING WATER,

SMALLER SHIPS CARRYING WATER, FOOD, AND SUPPLIES,

FOOD, AND SUPPLIES, EVEN HIS ENTOURAGE

EVEN HIS ENTOURAGE WAS WORTHY OF ENVY.

WAS WORTHY OF ENVY. >> THEY HAD HULLS IN WHICH

>> THEY HAD HULLS IN WHICH THEY HAD LIVE FISH.

THEY HAD LIVE FISH. THEY HAD COOPS OF CHICKENS.

THEY HAD COOPS OF CHICKENS. THEY HAD RICE GROWING IN TUBS.

THEY HAD RICE GROWING IN TUBS. THEY HAD BEAN SHOOTS

THEY HAD BEAN SHOOTS FOR VITAMINS.

FOR VITAMINS. >> HAD THEY SET THEIR MIND

>> HAD THEY SET THEIR MIND TO IT, I THINK THEY

TO IT, I THINK THEY COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE.

>> narrator: THERE IS NO QUESTION ZHENG HE'S FLEET

QUESTION ZHENG HE'S FLEET TRAVELED FROM NANJING, CHINA,

TRAVELED FROM NANJING, CHINA, TO SUMATRA, INDIA, IRAN,

TO SUMATRA, INDIA, IRAN, AND THE COAST OF AFRICA,

AND THE COAST OF AFRICA, ESTABLISHING FOREIGN RELATIONS

ESTABLISHING FOREIGN RELATIONS AND EXPANDING TRADE.

AND EXPANDING TRADE. BUT WHY STOP THERE?

BUT WHY STOP THERE? THIS STRANGE MAP DRAWN BY

THIS STRANGE MAP DRAWN BY RENOWNED CARTOGRAPHER

RENOWNED CARTOGRAPHER FATHER MAURO IN 1459 COULD BE

FATHER MAURO IN 1459 COULD BE THE KEY TO PROVING THEY DIDN'T.

THE KEY TO PROVING THEY DIDN'T. >> IT SHOWED ME THAT THE CHINESE

>> IT SHOWED ME THAT THE CHINESE HAD BEEN SAILING AROUND AFRICA

HAD BEEN SAILING AROUND AFRICA CERTAINLY LONG, LONG BEFORE

CERTAINLY LONG, LONG BEFORE COLUMBUS, BECAUSE THEY SHOW

COLUMBUS, BECAUSE THEY SHOW THE ATLANTIC.

THE ATLANTIC. >> narrator: THOUGH THE MAP

>> narrator: THOUGH THE MAP LOOKS UPSIDE DOWN TO US,

LOOKS UPSIDE DOWN TO US, IT SHOWS WHAT LOOKS LIKE

IT SHOWS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A CHINESE JUNK ROUNDING THE TIP

A CHINESE JUNK ROUNDING THE TIP OF AFRICA AROUND 1420.

OF AFRICA AROUND 1420. THE SHIP WAS SAID TO HAVE

THE SHIP WAS SAID TO HAVE FOUR MASTS AND AN ASTROLOGER

FOUR MASTS AND AN ASTROLOGER WHO USED THE SUN AND STARS TO

WHO USED THE SUN AND STARS TO TELL THE NAVIGATOR WHERE TO GO.

TELL THE NAVIGATOR WHERE TO GO. IT'S A NEAR-PERFECT DESCRIPTION

IT'S A NEAR-PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF ZHENG HE'S SHIPS,

OF ONE OF ZHENG HE'S SHIPS, A REPLICA OF WHICH CAN BE SEEN

A REPLICA OF WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN NANJING, CHINA,

IN NANJING, CHINA, WHERE ZHENG HE ORIGINALLY

WHERE ZHENG HE ORIGINALLY SET SAIL.

SET SAIL. >> AS WE KNOW FROM THE RECORDS

>> AS WE KNOW FROM THE RECORDS IN CHINA, HE WAS SENT ACROSS

IN CHINA, HE WAS SENT ACROSS THE WORLD TO THE AMERICAS,

THE WORLD TO THE AMERICAS, TO AFRICA, EVERYWHERE.

TO AFRICA, EVERYWHERE. >> narrator: THE MAP SAYS

>> narrator: THE MAP SAYS THE SHIP WENT 2,000 MILES

THE SHIP WENT 2,000 MILES INTO THE ATLANTIC.

INTO THE ATLANTIC. WHERE TO, IT DOESN'T SAY.

WHERE TO, IT DOESN'T SAY. BUT COULD ZHENG HE HAVE WRITTEN

BUT COULD ZHENG HE HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT FINDING AMERICA IN

ABOUT FINDING AMERICA IN HIS OWN ACCOUNT?

100,000 LI IS ABOUT 30,000 MILES, ROUGHLY

30,000 MILES, ROUGHLY THE DISTANCE FROM THE PORT

THE DISTANCE FROM THE PORT IN NANJING TO THE AMERICAS

IN NANJING TO THE AMERICAS AND BACK.

AND BACK. AUTHOR GAVIN MENZIES BELIEVES

AUTHOR GAVIN MENZIES BELIEVES THERE IS PROOF OF THE VOYAGE

THERE IS PROOF OF THE VOYAGE JUST OFF BIMINI ISLAND

JUST OFF BIMINI ISLAND IN THE BAHAMAS.

IN THE BAHAMAS. >> SOMEBODY WAS THERE A HELL

>> SOMEBODY WAS THERE A HELL OF A LONG TIME AGO AND BUILT

OF A LONG TIME AGO AND BUILT THIS ROAD, AND I SAY

THIS ROAD, AND I SAY IT WAS A BREAKWATER

IT WAS A BREAKWATER AND A SLIPWAY.

AND A SLIPWAY. >> narrator: SUBMERGED

>> narrator: SUBMERGED LIMESTONE BLOCKS SIT PERFECTLY

LIMESTONE BLOCKS SIT PERFECTLY ALIGNED FOR 1/2 MILE,

ALIGNED FOR 1/2 MILE, MAKING UP WHAT'S CALLED

MAKING UP WHAT'S CALLED THE BIMINI ROAD.

THE BIMINI ROAD. MOST GEOLOGISTS SAY

MOST GEOLOGISTS SAY IT'S JUST A NATURALLY OCCURRING

IT'S JUST A NATURALLY OCCURRING CONFIGURATION OF BEACH ROCK,

CONFIGURATION OF BEACH ROCK, PROOF OF NOTHING MORE THAN

PROOF OF NOTHING MORE THAN THE POWER OF MOTHER NATURE.

THE POWER OF MOTHER NATURE. BUT GAVIN MENZIES SUSPECTS

BUT GAVIN MENZIES SUSPECTS IT WAS BUILT BY THE CHINESE AS

IT WAS BUILT BY THE CHINESE AS A DRY DOCK SLIP, WHERE THEY

A DRY DOCK SLIP, WHERE THEY COULD DOCK A SHIP FOR REPAIRS.

COULD DOCK A SHIP FOR REPAIRS. >> I SAY IF YOU TOOK 100 PEOPLE

>> I SAY IF YOU TOOK 100 PEOPLE TO BIMINI AND SWAM OVER

TO BIMINI AND SWAM OVER THAT THING, 99--AT LEAST 99

THAT THING, 99--AT LEAST 99 OF THE 100 WOULD SAY

OF THE 100 WOULD SAY OF COURSE IT'S MAN-MADE.

OF COURSE IT'S MAN-MADE. IF I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG,

IF I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG, IT WOULDN'T REALLY AFFECT

IT WOULDN'T REALLY AFFECT THE OVERALL STORY, BECAUSE WE'VE

THE OVERALL STORY, BECAUSE WE'VE FOUND OUT SO MUCH SINCE THEN.

FOUND OUT SO MUCH SINCE THEN. >> narrator: IT TURNS OUT

>> narrator: IT TURNS OUT THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE THAT

THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE THAT ZHENG HE MADE IT TO AMERICA

ZHENG HE MADE IT TO AMERICA EVEN EARLIER THAN 1421.

EVEN EARLIER THAN 1421. >> I WAS CERTAIN THAT WE WOULD

>> I WAS CERTAIN THAT WE WOULD FIND ONE DAY THE MASTER MAP OF

FIND ONE DAY THE MASTER MAP OF THE WORLD, THE CHINESE MAP.

THE WORLD, THE CHINESE MAP. AND HERE IT IS.

AND HERE IT IS. IT SHOWED THE WHOLE WORLD,

IT SHOWED THE WHOLE WORLD, AS YOU CAN SEE, ACCURATELY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, ACCURATELY. THIS MAP WAS PRODUCED AS

THIS MAP WAS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THE VOYAGES OF

A RESULT OF THE VOYAGES OF ZHENG HE, HIS VOYAGES

ZHENG HE, HIS VOYAGES TO THE BARBARIANS.

TO THE BARBARIANS. >> narrator: THE PERSON WHO

>> narrator: THE PERSON WHO MADE THIS MAP IN 1763

MADE THIS MAP IN 1763 WROTE ON THE MAP THAT

WROTE ON THE MAP THAT HE COPIED IT FROM ONE DRAWN

HE COPIED IT FROM ONE DRAWN CENTURIES EARLIER IN 1418.

CENTURIES EARLIER IN 1418. AT THAT TIME, CHINESE RECORDS

AT THAT TIME, CHINESE RECORDS SHOW ZHENG HE'S FLEET

SHOW ZHENG HE'S FLEET WAS ALREADY TRAVELING

WAS ALREADY TRAVELING AS FAR AS AFRICA.

AS FAR AS AFRICA. THOUGH THE MAP'S PROVENANCE

THOUGH THE MAP'S PROVENANCE ISN'T PROVEN, IF AUTHENTIC,

ISN'T PROVEN, IF AUTHENTIC, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST MAP

IT WOULD BE THE FIRST MAP OF THE WORLD,

OF THE WORLD, AND IT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN

AND IT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN MADE IF SOMEONE TRAVELED ALONG

MADE IF SOMEONE TRAVELED ALONG THE AMERICAN COASTLINE,

THE AMERICAN COASTLINE, SOMEONE WHO WAS

SOMEONE WHO WAS AN EXPERT NAVIGATOR.

AN EXPERT NAVIGATOR. >> THE CHINESE COULD PREDICT

>> THE CHINESE COULD PREDICT THE POSITION OF STARS, PLANETS,

THE POSITION OF STARS, PLANETS, SUN, AND MOON WHEN THEY ROSE

SUN, AND MOON WHEN THEY ROSE ON THE EASTERN HORIZON,

ON THE EASTERN HORIZON, WHEN THEY SET.

WHEN THEY SET. THEY COULD PREDICT THEIR

THEY COULD PREDICT THEIR ACCURACY WITHIN SECONDS.

ACCURACY WITHIN SECONDS. >> narrator: USING ASTRONOMY

>> narrator: USING ASTRONOMY TO NAVIGATE THE SEAS WAS

TO NAVIGATE THE SEAS WAS A TECHNIQUE ZHENG HE READILY

A TECHNIQUE ZHENG HE READILY EMPLOYED, BUT COULD

EMPLOYED, BUT COULD A BUDDHIST MONK HAVE USED

A BUDDHIST MONK HAVE USED THE SAME TECHNIQUE TO MAKE

THE SAME TECHNIQUE TO MAKE HIS OWN JOURNEY TO AMERICA

HIS OWN JOURNEY TO AMERICA 1,000 YEARS EARLIER?

CHINA, 455 A.D., 1,037 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

1,037 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, ATTILA THE HUN'S REIGN

ATTILA THE HUN'S REIGN OF TERROR IN THE BALTIC

OF TERROR IN THE BALTIC HAS JUST ENDED,

HAS JUST ENDED, AND THE MYSTERIOUS NAZCA LINES

AND THE MYSTERIOUS NAZCA LINES ARE ETCHED INTO THE ARID

ARE ETCHED INTO THE ARID PERUVIAN LANDSCAPE.

PERUVIAN LANDSCAPE. IN CHINA, A BUDDHIST MONK NAMED

IN CHINA, A BUDDHIST MONK NAMED HUI SHEN SETS SAIL

HUI SHEN SETS SAIL FROM THE COAST, TRAVELING

FROM THE COAST, TRAVELING TO A LAND HE CALLS FUSANG,

TO A LAND HE CALLS FUSANG, WHAT SOME BELIEVE IS AMERICA.

WHAT SOME BELIEVE IS AMERICA. UPON HIS RETURN TO CHINA,

UPON HIS RETURN TO CHINA, HUI SHEN VIVIDLY DESCRIBED

HUI SHEN VIVIDLY DESCRIBED FUSANG, GIVING DETAILS

FUSANG, GIVING DETAILS OF PLANTS AND PEOPLE

OF PLANTS AND PEOPLE WITH REMARKABLE SIMILARITY

WITH REMARKABLE SIMILARITY TO SPECIES NATIVE TO MEXICO.

TO SPECIES NATIVE TO MEXICO. HUI SHEN'S JOURNEY IS RECORDED

HUI SHEN'S JOURNEY IS RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF LIANG

IN THE BOOK OF LIANG AS 20,000 LI ACROSS THE SEA.

AS 20,000 LI ACROSS THE SEA. THAT'S ROUGHLY THE DISTANCE

THAT'S ROUGHLY THE DISTANCE FROM CHINA TO, OF ALL PLACES,

FROM CHINA TO, OF ALL PLACES, CALIFORNIA, SOME 6,000 OR 7,000

CALIFORNIA, SOME 6,000 OR 7,000 MILES ACROSS OPEN SEA.

MILES ACROSS OPEN SEA. IT MAY SEEM FAR FOR A VOYAGER

IT MAY SEEM FAR FOR A VOYAGER IN 455 A.D., BUT NEW SCIENCE

IN 455 A.D., BUT NEW SCIENCE SHOWS IT WAS POSSIBLE

SHOWS IT WAS POSSIBLE IF HUI SHEN TOOK ADVANTAGE

IF HUI SHEN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OCEAN CURRENTS.

OF OCEAN CURRENTS. >> THERE ARE STRONG CURRENTS

>> THERE ARE STRONG CURRENTS IN THE WESTERN SIDE OF OCEANS

IN THE WESTERN SIDE OF OCEANS AND ON THE EQUATOR THAT

AND ON THE EQUATOR THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY PEOPLE

HAVE BEEN USED BY PEOPLE WHO KNEW ABOUT THEM

WHO KNEW ABOUT THEM IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.

IN THE ANCIENT WORLD. >> narrator: DR. PETER NIILER

>> narrator: DR. PETER NIILER KNOWS A LOT ABOUT

KNOWS A LOT ABOUT OCEAN CURRENTS.

OCEAN CURRENTS. HE'S THE ONE WHO INVENTED

HE'S THE ONE WHO INVENTED THE OCEAN DRIFTERS WE USE

THE OCEAN DRIFTERS WE USE TO MEASURE THEM TODAY.

TO MEASURE THEM TODAY. >> THIS PART STAYS ON THE

>> THIS PART STAYS ON THE OCEAN SURFACE AND COMMUNICATES

OCEAN SURFACE AND COMMUNICATES WITH A SATELLITE, AND THE PART

WITH A SATELLITE, AND THE PART OVER HERE IS A DROGUE.

OVER HERE IS A DROGUE. THAT'S DOWN AT A DEPTH

THAT'S DOWN AT A DEPTH OF 45 FEET, AND IT HOLDS ON TO

OF 45 FEET, AND IT HOLDS ON TO THE WATER VERY STRONGLY.

THE WATER VERY STRONGLY. AND SO THE MOVEMENT OF THE

AND SO THE MOVEMENT OF THE WATER AT 45 FEET DOWN IS THEN

WATER AT 45 FEET DOWN IS THEN MIRRORED BY THIS SURFACE FLOAT

MIRRORED BY THIS SURFACE FLOAT THAT TALKS TO THE SATELLITE.

THAT TALKS TO THE SATELLITE. >> narrator: THERE ARE 1,300

>> narrator: THERE ARE 1,300 OF THESE OCEAN DRIFTERS

OF THESE OCEAN DRIFTERS IN THE WORLD'S OCEANS TODAY,

IN THE WORLD'S OCEANS TODAY, PROVIDING PRECISE DATA

PROVIDING PRECISE DATA ON CURRENTS AND PHENOMENA

ON CURRENTS AND PHENOMENA LIKE GYRES, OCEAN WHIRLWINDS

LIKE GYRES, OCEAN WHIRLWINDS THAT TRAP THE WORLD'S JUNK

THAT TRAP THE WORLD'S JUNK BUT THAT ALSO HELP PROPEL SHIPS.

BUT THAT ALSO HELP PROPEL SHIPS. FOR THE FIRST TIME,

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THESE DRIFTERS ARE GOING TO BE

THESE DRIFTERS ARE GOING TO BE USED TO TACKLE THE QUESTION OF

USED TO TACKLE THE QUESTION OF WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA.

WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA. DR. NIKOLAI MAXIMENKO

DR. NIKOLAI MAXIMENKO IS A PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHER

IS A PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHER WHO'S USING NIILER'S DRIFTERS

WHO'S USING NIILER'S DRIFTERS TO CALCULATE THE MOST LIKELY

TO CALCULATE THE MOST LIKELY ROUTES OF TRAVEL FOR SAILORS

ROUTES OF TRAVEL FOR SAILORS SAID TO HAVE DISCOVERED AMERICA

SAID TO HAVE DISCOVERED AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS,

BEFORE COLUMBUS, SAILORS LIKE HUI SHEN.

SAILORS LIKE HUI SHEN. MAXIMENKO SAYS HIS VOYAGE

MAXIMENKO SAYS HIS VOYAGE WOULD HAVE TAKEN 270 DAYS.

WOULD HAVE TAKEN 270 DAYS. >> FASTEST POSSIBLE PATHS

>> FASTEST POSSIBLE PATHS ARE SHOWN HERE.

ARE SHOWN HERE. THIS IS FROM CHINA TO

THIS IS FROM CHINA TO CALIFORNIA, AND THIS IS BACK

CALIFORNIA, AND THIS IS BACK FROM CALIFORNIA TO CHINA.

FROM CALIFORNIA TO CHINA. IF THE CHINESE SAILOR TOOK

IF THE CHINESE SAILOR TOOK THAT PATH, HE RECEIVED

THAT PATH, HE RECEIVED PRETTY GOOD HELP FROM

PRETTY GOOD HELP FROM OCEAN CURRENTS.

OCEAN CURRENTS. >> narrator: BUT WHAT ABOUT

>> narrator: BUT WHAT ABOUT PHYSICAL PROOF OF THE TRIP?

PHYSICAL PROOF OF THE TRIP? COULD IT BE FOUND NEAR

COULD IT BE FOUND NEAR LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA? >> WELL, WE FOUND THESE ROCKS

>> WELL, WE FOUND THESE ROCKS OUT HERE, AND I WAS JUST

OUT HERE, AND I WAS JUST INQUISITIVE.

INQUISITIVE. I THOUGHT, "WHY WOULD IT HAVE

I THOUGHT, "WHY WOULD IT HAVE A PERFECT HOLE IN IT LIKE THAT?"

A PERFECT HOLE IN IT LIKE THAT?" >> narrator: IN 1972,

>> narrator: IN 1972, BOB MEISTRELL WAS DIVING OFF

BOB MEISTRELL WAS DIVING OFF PALOS VERDES IN SOUTHERN

PALOS VERDES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, 50 MILES FROM L.A.,

CALIFORNIA, 50 MILES FROM L.A., WHEN HE DISCOVERED A BED OF

WHEN HE DISCOVERED A BED OF UNUSUAL STONES ON THE SEAFLOOR.

UNUSUAL STONES ON THE SEAFLOOR. >> I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT

>> I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE BEFORE I DIE.

WHAT THEY ARE BEFORE I DIE. >> narrator: WHAT ARE THESE

>> narrator: WHAT ARE THESE STONES, AND COULD THEY PROVE

STONES, AND COULD THEY PROVE HUI SHEN MADE IT TO AMERICA

HUI SHEN MADE IT TO AMERICA 1,500 YEARS AGO?

1,500 YEARS AGO? SCIENCE SETS OUT TO ANSWER

SCIENCE SETS OUT TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE:

THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE: WHETHER A PRINCE ARRIVED HERE

WHETHER A PRINCE ARRIVED HERE IN 1170 OR A PROPHET

IN 1170 OR A PROPHET IN 600 B.C., WHETHER

IN 600 B.C., WHETHER MOBILE, ALABAMA, WAS AN ANCIENT

MOBILE, ALABAMA, WAS AN ANCIENT PORT CITY, AND WHETHER EUROPEANS

PORT CITY, AND WHETHER EUROPEANS DID FIND THE NEW WORLD

DID FIND THE NEW WORLD MORE THAN 20,000 YEARS

MORE THAN 20,000 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

>> narrator: AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA LIES A MARITIME MYSTERY.

THE SEA LIES A MARITIME MYSTERY. THESE LARGE ROUND STONES,

THESE LARGE ROUND STONES, SOME WEIGHING NEARLY 300 POUNDS,

SOME WEIGHING NEARLY 300 POUNDS, BEAR A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE

BEAR A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO STONE ANCHORS USED ON

TO STONE ANCHORS USED ON CHINESE SHIPS AS EARLY AS

CHINESE SHIPS AS EARLY AS THE TIME OF CHRIST.

THE TIME OF CHRIST. BOB MEISTRELL, AN AVID DIVER

BOB MEISTRELL, AN AVID DIVER AND COFOUNDER OF BODY GLOVE,

AND COFOUNDER OF BODY GLOVE, WAS THE FIRST TO FIND THE STONES

WAS THE FIRST TO FIND THE STONES BACK IN 1972.

BACK IN 1972. >> I HOPE IN MY LIFETIME THAT WE

>> I HOPE IN MY LIFETIME THAT WE FIND OUT WHAT THESE ANCHORS ARE.

FIND OUT WHAT THESE ANCHORS ARE. THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS

THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS INTERVIEW.

INTERVIEW. THESE ARE A COUPLE OF

THESE ARE A COUPLE OF STONE ANCHORS.

STONE ANCHORS. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL ONE

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL ONE I FOUND.

I FOUND. IT WEIGHED 280 POUNDS.

IT WEIGHED 280 POUNDS. WE BROUGHT THIS ONE UP,

WE BROUGHT THIS ONE UP, AND THEN WE STARTED LOOKING

AND THEN WE STARTED LOOKING AROUND, AND WE FOUND MORE,

AROUND, AND WE FOUND MORE, AND THERE'S A TOTAL OF 35 OR 40

AND THERE'S A TOTAL OF 35 OR 40 STONES OUT THERE.

STONES OUT THERE. >> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT

>> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE STONES IN PALOS VERDES,

THE STONES IN PALOS VERDES, THE MEISTRELL STONES,

THE MEISTRELL STONES, ARE IN FACT ANCHORS

ARE IN FACT ANCHORS OF VARIOUS FORMS,

OF VARIOUS FORMS, BOTH WEIGHT ANCHORS

BOTH WEIGHT ANCHORS AND COMPOUND ANCHORS.

AND COMPOUND ANCHORS. >> narrator: ARCHAEOLOGIST

>> narrator: ARCHAEOLOGIST LARRY PIERSON WAS AMONG

LARRY PIERSON WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO EXAMINE THE STONES

THE FIRST TO EXAMINE THE STONES AND PERFORM WHAT'S CALLED

AND PERFORM WHAT'S CALLED A LITHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS.

A LITHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS. >> IT'S A COMPARISON OF

>> IT'S A COMPARISON OF MICROFOSSILS FROM KNOWN SOURCES

MICROFOSSILS FROM KNOWN SOURCES WITH THE MICROFOSSILS IN THE

WITH THE MICROFOSSILS IN THE STONE SAMPLES FROM THE ANCHORS

STONE SAMPLES FROM THE ANCHORS THEMSELVES.

THEMSELVES. WE WERE TRYING TO IDENTIFY

WE WERE TRYING TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC QUARRIES THAT

SPECIFIC QUARRIES THAT THE STONES MAY HAVE COME FROM.

THE STONES MAY HAVE COME FROM. THE RESULTS WERE THAT THESE

THE RESULTS WERE THAT THESE STONES CAME FROM THE COAST

STONES CAME FROM THE COAST OF CHINA.

OF CHINA. WE WERE NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISED

WE WERE NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISED ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE STONES.

ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE STONES. THE STYLE EXTENDED BACK TO

THE STYLE EXTENDED BACK TO AN EARLY PERIOD, PERHAPS AS

AN EARLY PERIOD, PERHAPS AS EARLY AS THE HAN DYNASTY,

EARLY AS THE HAN DYNASTY, ABOUT THE TIME OF CHRIST.

ABOUT THE TIME OF CHRIST. >> narrator: ANCHORS THAT LOOKED

>> narrator: ANCHORS THAT LOOKED LIKE THE STONES MEISTRELL FOUND

LIKE THE STONES MEISTRELL FOUND WERE USED DURING THE TIME

WERE USED DURING THE TIME OF HUI SHEN, BUT THEY WERE

OF HUI SHEN, BUT THEY WERE ALSO USED ON CHINESE JUNKS

ALSO USED ON CHINESE JUNKS FROM THE 19TH CENTURY.

FROM THE 19TH CENTURY. NOW THERE MAY FINALLY BE A WAY

NOW THERE MAY FINALLY BE A WAY TO LEARN IF THESE ARE ANCIENT

TO LEARN IF THESE ARE ANCIENT CHINESE ANCHORS OR MODERN ONES,

CHINESE ANCHORS OR MODERN ONES, THANKS TO A SCIENCE CALLED

THANKS TO A SCIENCE CALLED FORENSIC PETROGRAPHY.

FORENSIC PETROGRAPHY. FORENSIC PETROGRAPHERS LIKE

FORENSIC PETROGRAPHERS LIKE SCOTT WOLTER ARE GEOLOGISTS

SCOTT WOLTER ARE GEOLOGISTS WHO DO AUTOPSIES ON ROCKS.

WHO DO AUTOPSIES ON ROCKS. >> HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE

>> HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING,

TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING, BUT IT STARTS BY TAKING A LOOK

BUT IT STARTS BY TAKING A LOOK AT IT.

AT IT. >> WE'RE GONNA DROP DOWN

>> WE'RE GONNA DROP DOWN THE ANCHOR LINE AND SEE

THE ANCHOR LINE AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME OF THESE

IF WE CAN FIND SOME OF THESE STONE ANCHORS.

STONE ANCHORS. >> narrator: RAY ORTIZ HAS SEEN

>> narrator: RAY ORTIZ HAS SEEN AND FILMED THE STONES BEFORE,

AND FILMED THE STONES BEFORE, BUT IN RECENT YEARS, KELP HAS

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, KELP HAS BEEN TAKING OVER THE AREA.

BEEN TAKING OVER THE AREA. WHETHER OR NOT HE'LL BE ABLE

WHETHER OR NOT HE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WELL ENOUGH TO GET

TO SEE WELL ENOUGH TO GET ANOTHER ANCHOR IS UNCERTAIN.

ANOTHER ANCHOR IS UNCERTAIN. >> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,

>> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BASICALLY, I GUESS,

BASICALLY, I GUESS, WOULD BE THE HOLE

WOULD BE THE HOLE WHERE THEY RUN THE ROPES THROUGH

WHERE THEY RUN THE ROPES THROUGH AND STUFF.

AND STUFF. >> narrator: NONBELIEVERS

>> narrator: NONBELIEVERS IN THE CHINESE ANCHOR THEORY

IN THE CHINESE ANCHOR THEORY INSIST THE HOLES IN THE ROCKS

INSIST THE HOLES IN THE ROCKS ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING

ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING AND COULD HAVE COME FROM

AND COULD HAVE COME FROM SEA URCHINS.

SEA URCHINS. >> PEOPLE LOOK AT IT,

>> PEOPLE LOOK AT IT, AND THEY SAY, "WELL, MAYBE

AND THEY SAY, "WELL, MAYBE A SEA URCHIN DID IT."

A SEA URCHIN DID IT." A SEA URCHIN DID NOT DO THAT.

A SEA URCHIN DID NOT DO THAT. THIS IS WHAT A SEA URCHIN DOES.

THIS IS WHAT A SEA URCHIN DOES. AND SEA URCHINS LIVE TO BE

AND SEA URCHINS LIVE TO BE 100 YEARS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT

100 YEARS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT AS DEEP AS I'VE SEEN

AS DEEP AS I'VE SEEN ANY OF THEM GO.

ANY OF THEM GO. >> THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE PALOS VERDES STONES

THAT THE PALOS VERDES STONES ARE ANCHORS

ARE ANCHORS AND THAT THEY'RE CHINESE.

AND THAT THEY'RE CHINESE. >> narrator: BUT HOW OLD

>> narrator: BUT HOW OLD ARE THEY?

ARE THEY? BACK ON THE BOAT,

BACK ON THE BOAT, ORTIZ DIVES DOWN.

ORTIZ DIVES DOWN. THE OCEAN IS STIRRED UP FROM

THE OCEAN IS STIRRED UP FROM A RECENT STORM.

A RECENT STORM. THAT PLUS THE FOREST OF KELP

THAT PLUS THE FOREST OF KELP RISING HIGH ABOVE THE SEAFLOOR

RISING HIGH ABOVE THE SEAFLOOR MAKES THE DIVE DIFFICULT.

>> OH, MAN. YOU COULDN'T FIND A STONE ANCHOR

YOU COULDN'T FIND A STONE ANCHOR DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW

DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW WITH HEADLIGHTS.

WITH HEADLIGHTS. AS SOON AS I GOT TO THE BOTTOM,

AS SOON AS I GOT TO THE BOTTOM, IT WAS PITCH-BLACK, PITCH-BLACK.

IT WAS PITCH-BLACK, PITCH-BLACK. >> YOU DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH

>> YOU DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH GOING DOWN AGAIN, HUH?

GOING DOWN AGAIN, HUH? >> THE SURGE IS REALLY STRONG,

>> THE SURGE IS REALLY STRONG, AND THE DIRT IS JUST SLOSHING

AND THE DIRT IS JUST SLOSHING BACK AND FORTH.

BACK AND FORTH. NO ANCHORS TODAY, GENTLEMEN.

NO ANCHORS TODAY, GENTLEMEN. >> narrator: IT'S

>> narrator: IT'S A DISAPPOINTMENT, BUT WOLTER

A DISAPPOINTMENT, BUT WOLTER WILL TRY TESTING ONE OF

WILL TRY TESTING ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ANCHORS PULLED OUT

THE ORIGINAL ANCHORS PULLED OUT YEARS AGO.

YEARS AGO. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE SAMPLES

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE SAMPLES THAT WE PREPARED OF

THAT WE PREPARED OF THE SHIP ANCHOR.

THE SHIP ANCHOR. AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE

AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE WOULD BE THE OUTSIDE SURFACE

WOULD BE THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE ANCHOR, AND THIS CURVED

OF THE ANCHOR, AND THIS CURVED SURFACE HERE IS THE INSIDE.

SURFACE HERE IS THE INSIDE. >> narrator: THE STONE

>> narrator: THE STONE IS DOLOMITE.

IS DOLOMITE. SHELLS LEFT EMBEDDED IN THE ROCK

SHELLS LEFT EMBEDDED IN THE ROCK PROVE THESE SMALL HOLES

PROVE THESE SMALL HOLES WERE MADE BY SEA CREATURES.

WERE MADE BY SEA CREATURES. WHAT OR WHO MADE THE INTERIOR

WHAT OR WHO MADE THE INTERIOR HOLE OF THE DOUGHNUT-SHAPED

HOLE OF THE DOUGHNUT-SHAPED STONE IS LESS CLEAR.

STONE IS LESS CLEAR. >> I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HERE

>> I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HERE THAT INDICATES A MAN-MADE

THAT INDICATES A MAN-MADE ORIGIN DEFINITIVELY.

ORIGIN DEFINITIVELY. THERE'S NO WEATHERING PROFILE.

THERE'S NO WEATHERING PROFILE. IT DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO SAY

IT DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE AGE.

ANYTHING ABOUT THE AGE. I CAN ONLY DEDUCE THAT

I CAN ONLY DEDUCE THAT THEY WERE MAN-MADE.

THEY WERE MAN-MADE. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING DIRECTLY.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING DIRECTLY. I CAN'T IMAGINE A NATURAL

I CAN'T IMAGINE A NATURAL OCCURRENCE LIKE THAT.

OCCURRENCE LIKE THAT. MAYBE--MAYBE ONE OR TWO MIGHT

MAYBE--MAYBE ONE OR TWO MIGHT SHOW UP IN SOME NATURAL

SHOW UP IN SOME NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, BUT BASED ON WHAT

ENVIRONMENT, BUT BASED ON WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S DOZENS

I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S DOZENS OF THESE THINGS ALL IN A LOCAL

OF THESE THINGS ALL IN A LOCAL AREA THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY

AREA THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDIGENOUS TO WHERE THEY WERE

INDIGENOUS TO WHERE THEY WERE FOUND.

FOUND. THAT IMPLIES A MAN-MADE ORIGIN

THAT IMPLIES A MAN-MADE ORIGIN TO ME.

TO ME. THE BURDEN OF PROOF, I GUESS,

THE BURDEN OF PROOF, I GUESS, IS ON SOMEBODY WHO WANTS

IS ON SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO TRY TO PROVE THAT

TO TRY TO PROVE THAT THAT'S NOT MAN-MADE.

>> narrator: MAN-MADE OR NOT, NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST

NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST JAMES DELGADO SAYS THERE'S

JAMES DELGADO SAYS THERE'S NO WAY THESE ARE ANCHORS FROM

NO WAY THESE ARE ANCHORS FROM ANY FIFTH-CENTURY CHINESE SHIP.

ANY FIFTH-CENTURY CHINESE SHIP. >> AT THE TIME THE HUI SHEN

>> AT THE TIME THE HUI SHEN VOYAGES WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE

VOYAGES WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE HAPPENED, THE ONLY WAY HE COULD

HAPPENED, THE ONLY WAY HE COULD HAVE SAILED TO THE NEW WORLD

HAVE SAILED TO THE NEW WORLD WAS TO HAVE HITCHED A RIDE ON

WAS TO HAVE HITCHED A RIDE ON AN ARAB BOAT.

AN ARAB BOAT. THE ANCIENT CHINESE BUILT

THE ANCIENT CHINESE BUILT MAGNIFICENT VESSELS THAT

MAGNIFICENT VESSELS THAT NAVIGATED ON THE RIVERS,

NAVIGATED ON THE RIVERS, BUT THEY DIDN'T BUILD

BUT THEY DIDN'T BUILD SEAGOING CRAFT.

SEAGOING CRAFT. THE ARABS WERE THE GREAT

THE ARABS WERE THE GREAT SEAFARING POWER OF THAT TIME.

SEAFARING POWER OF THAT TIME. >> narrator: AND YOU WOULDN'T

>> narrator: AND YOU WOULDN'T FIND CHINESE-STYLE SHIP ANCHORS

FIND CHINESE-STYLE SHIP ANCHORS ON AN ARAB BOAT, IF THAT IS WHAT

ON AN ARAB BOAT, IF THAT IS WHAT HUI SHEN TOOK TO GET TO AMERICA.

HUI SHEN TOOK TO GET TO AMERICA. >> THE ARAB DHOW IS A LONG

>> THE ARAB DHOW IS A LONG SLEEK VESSEL BUILT OF WOOD

SLEEK VESSEL BUILT OF WOOD THAT CARRIES LATEEN SAILS

THAT CARRIES LATEEN SAILS THAT SWING AND ARE MORE

THAT SWING AND ARE MORE MANEUVERABLE, SO THEY CAN

MANEUVERABLE, SO THEY CAN CATCH A WIND.

CATCH A WIND. THEY CAN MOVE.

THEY CAN MOVE. THEY CAN TACK.

THEY CAN TACK. THEY CAN FOLLOW A COAST,

THEY CAN FOLLOW A COAST, AND THEY CAN ALSO SAIL

AND THEY CAN ALSO SAIL OVER LARGE BODIES OF WATER.

OVER LARGE BODIES OF WATER. >> narrator: ARAB DHOWS COULD

>> narrator: ARAB DHOWS COULD REACH SPEEDS OF 8 OR 9 KNOTS

REACH SPEEDS OF 8 OR 9 KNOTS AND WERE FIXTURES IN AND AROUND

AND WERE FIXTURES IN AND AROUND THE INDIAN OCEAN IN MEDIEVAL

THE INDIAN OCEAN IN MEDIEVAL TIMES AND BEYOND.

TIMES AND BEYOND. SO IF THESE ARE CHINESE SHIP

SO IF THESE ARE CHINESE SHIP ANCHORS AND THEY'RE NOT FROM

ANCHORS AND THEY'RE NOT FROM HUI SHEN'S VOYAGE,

HUI SHEN'S VOYAGE, WHEN WERE THEY LOST?

WHEN WERE THEY LOST? >> THE PALOS VERDES STONES

>> THE PALOS VERDES STONES PROBABLY REPRESENT ACCIDENTAL

PROBABLY REPRESENT ACCIDENTAL ANCHOR LOSS FROM 19TH-CENTURY

ANCHOR LOSS FROM 19TH-CENTURY CHINESE FISHING VESSELS.

CHINESE FISHING VESSELS. >> narrator: IN THE SECOND HALF

>> narrator: IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY,

OF THE 19TH CENTURY, CHINESE JUNKS DID FISH

CHINESE JUNKS DID FISH OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA,

OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA, OFFERING A REASONABLE

OFFERING A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE DOZENS OF

EXPLANATION FOR THE DOZENS OF DOUGHNUT-LIKE STONES LEFT

DOUGHNUT-LIKE STONES LEFT ON THE SEAFLOOR.

ON THE SEAFLOOR. THERE IS EVIDENCE

THERE IS EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST THE THEORY THAT

FOR AND AGAINST THE THEORY THAT THE CHINESE REACHED

THE CHINESE REACHED THE NEW WORLD BEFORE COLUMBUS,

THE NEW WORLD BEFORE COLUMBUS, BUT THE SEARCH GOES ON FOR WHO

BUT THE SEARCH GOES ON FOR WHO COULD HAVE DISCOVERED AMERICA

COULD HAVE DISCOVERED AMERICA EVEN EARLIER.

EVEN EARLIER. DOTTING THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE,

DOTTING THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE, CLUES THAT COLONIZATION OF

CLUES THAT COLONIZATION OF THE COUNTRY BEGAN NOT HUNDREDS

THE COUNTRY BEGAN NOT HUNDREDS BUT THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

BUT THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. FROM THE EAST AND THE WEST,

FROM THE EAST AND THE WEST, IN ALL MANNER OF CRAFT,

IN ALL MANNER OF CRAFT, WHO CAME, WHO WENT,

WHO CAME, WHO WENT, AND WHO STAYED?

>> narrator: WALES, 1150 A.D., 342 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

342 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, THE TEMPLE OF ANGKOR WAT

THE TEMPLE OF ANGKOR WAT IS COMPLETED IN CAMBODIA,

IS COMPLETED IN CAMBODIA, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS IS FOUNDED IN FRANCE.

IS FOUNDED IN FRANCE. IN SNOWDONIA, WALES,

IN SNOWDONIA, WALES, PRINCE MADOC AB OWAIN GWYNEDD

PRINCE MADOC AB OWAIN GWYNEDD IS BORN.

IS BORN. LEGEND SAYS, 20 YEARS LATER,

LEGEND SAYS, 20 YEARS LATER, HE SET SAIL FROM RHOS-ON-SEA

HE SET SAIL FROM RHOS-ON-SEA IN SEARCH OF LAND

IN SEARCH OF LAND TO CALL HIS OWN.

TO CALL HIS OWN. >> THE LEGEND OF HIM LEAVING

>> THE LEGEND OF HIM LEAVING FROM HERE TO GO TO AMERICA

FROM HERE TO GO TO AMERICA ORIGINATED IN MYTHOLOGY.

ORIGINATED IN MYTHOLOGY. IN A WAY, THE STORY

IN A WAY, THE STORY WAS HANDED DOWN FROM

WAS HANDED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

GENERATION TO GENERATION. >> MOST OF THE ANCIENT POETRY

>> MOST OF THE ANCIENT POETRY IN WALES WHICH REFERS TO IT,

IN WALES WHICH REFERS TO IT, CERTAINLY PRIOR TO COLUMBUS'S

CERTAINLY PRIOR TO COLUMBUS'S TIME, HAS REFERENCES NOT OF

TIME, HAS REFERENCES NOT OF MADOC GOING TO AMERICA, SINCE

MADOC GOING TO AMERICA, SINCE PEOPLE HAD NO PERCEPTION OF

PEOPLE HAD NO PERCEPTION OF AMERICA, JUST THAT HE WAS

AMERICA, JUST THAT HE WAS A BOLD AND COURAGEOUS SAILOR WHO

A BOLD AND COURAGEOUS SAILOR WHO WENT SOMEWHERE A LONG DISTANCE

WENT SOMEWHERE A LONG DISTANCE AWAY ACROSS THE GREAT SEA.

AWAY ACROSS THE GREAT SEA. >> narrator: THE IDEA THAT MADOC

>> narrator: THE IDEA THAT MADOC DISCOVERED AMERICA DIDN'T BECOME

DISCOVERED AMERICA DIDN'T BECOME PART OF THE LEGEND UNTIL

PART OF THE LEGEND UNTIL THE MID-1500s.

THE MID-1500s. ITS SUDDEN INCLUSION CAME

ITS SUDDEN INCLUSION CAME AT A TIME WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH

AT A TIME WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH WAS TRYING TO PROVE THE BRITISH,

WAS TRYING TO PROVE THE BRITISH, NOT THE SPANISH,

NOT THE SPANISH, MADE IT TO AMERICA FIRST.

MADE IT TO AMERICA FIRST. >> AS THINGS ARE PASSED ON

>> AS THINGS ARE PASSED ON THROUGH THE GENERATIONS,

THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THERE WILL

THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THERE WILL BE EMBELLISHMENT AND CHANGE.

BE EMBELLISHMENT AND CHANGE. >> narrator: TODAY THE LEGEND

>> narrator: TODAY THE LEGEND HAS GROWN EVEN MORE.

HAS GROWN EVEN MORE. SOME BELIEVE MADOC AND A PARTY

SOME BELIEVE MADOC AND A PARTY OF COLONISTS LEFT WALES IN 1170

OF COLONISTS LEFT WALES IN 1170 ON A SHIP CALLED THE GWENAN GORN

ON A SHIP CALLED THE GWENAN GORN AND SAILED ALL THE WAY TO

AND SAILED ALL THE WAY TO MOBILE BAY, ALABAMA.

MOBILE BAY, ALABAMA. >> WHAT TYPE OF VESSEL

>> WHAT TYPE OF VESSEL WOULD MADOC HAVE USED

WOULD MADOC HAVE USED IF HE HAD DONE THIS?

IF HE HAD DONE THIS? MOST LIKELY A SAXON SHIP,

MOST LIKELY A SAXON SHIP, VERY MUCH LIKE A VIKING SHIP,

VERY MUCH LIKE A VIKING SHIP, A LARGE ROWBOAT,

A LARGE ROWBOAT, HEAVILY FASTENED AND BUILT.

HEAVILY FASTENED AND BUILT. >> narrator: SAXON SHIPS WERE

>> narrator: SAXON SHIPS WERE CLINKER BUILT, MEANING

CLINKER BUILT, MEANING BUILT WITH HEAVY WOOD PLANKS

BUILT WITH HEAVY WOOD PLANKS OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER.

OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER. THOUGH THE LEGEND SUGGESTS

THOUGH THE LEGEND SUGGESTS MADOC USED STAG HORNS FOR NAILS,

MADOC USED STAG HORNS FOR NAILS, IRON RIVETS WOULD HAVE BEEN

IRON RIVETS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONVENTIONAL.

MORE CONVENTIONAL. A SAXON SHIP WOULD HAVE HAD

A SAXON SHIP WOULD HAVE HAD A STEERING OAR AND AN ESTIMATED

A STEERING OAR AND AN ESTIMATED 15 SETS OF ROWLOCKS

15 SETS OF ROWLOCKS AND 30 OARS TO HELP BATTLE

AND 30 OARS TO HELP BATTLE AN UNFAVORABLE WIND.

AN UNFAVORABLE WIND. IN THE 1950s, THE DAUGHTERS

IN THE 1950s, THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION PLACED A PLAQUE IN MOBILE

PLACED A PLAQUE IN MOBILE COMMEMORATING MADOC'S DISCOVERY

COMMEMORATING MADOC'S DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

OF AMERICA. IT'S SINCE BEEN REMOVED

IT'S SINCE BEEN REMOVED TO THE CHAGRIN OF THE ALABAMA

TO THE CHAGRIN OF THE ALABAMA WELSH ASSOCIATION.

WELSH ASSOCIATION. >> WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY

>> WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

FROM CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERING AMERICA IN 1492,

DISCOVERING AMERICA IN 1492, BUT WE DO WANT TO KNOW

BUT WE DO WANT TO KNOW OUR REAL HERITAGE.

OUR REAL HERITAGE. >> THEY BEGAN THEIR TREK INLAND

>> THEY BEGAN THEIR TREK INLAND ALONG THE ALABAMA RIVER

ALONG THE ALABAMA RIVER TO THE COOSA RIVER,

TO THE COOSA RIVER, UP TO THIS LOCATION HERE,

UP TO THIS LOCATION HERE, DESOTO FALLS.

DESOTO FALLS. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE THE WELSH BUILT

WHERE THE WELSH BUILT A FORTIFICATION.

A FORTIFICATION. >> narrator: THESE HALF-BURIED

>> narrator: THESE HALF-BURIED STONES ABOVE WHAT'S NICKNAMED

STONES ABOVE WHAT'S NICKNAMED THE WELSH CAVES ARE ALL THAT ARE

THE WELSH CAVES ARE ALL THAT ARE LEFT OF ONE OF MADOC'S

LEFT OF ONE OF MADOC'S ALLEGED FORTS.

ALLEGED FORTS. BELIEVERS SAY ITS LAYOUT

BELIEVERS SAY ITS LAYOUT BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE

BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO THE FOOTPRINT OF DOLWYDDELAN

TO THE FOOTPRINT OF DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE WHERE MADOC WAS

CASTLE WHERE MADOC WAS SUPPOSEDLY BORN.

SUPPOSEDLY BORN. TODAY THERE'S NO WAY

TODAY THERE'S NO WAY TO COMPARE.

TO COMPARE. >> THE ORIGINAL CASTLE IS

>> THE ORIGINAL CASTLE IS PROBABLY LOST IN THE FOUNDATIONS

PROBABLY LOST IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF THIS ONE.

OF THIS ONE. >> narrator: DOLWYDDELAN WAS

>> narrator: DOLWYDDELAN WAS REBUILT, MAKING A COMPARISON

REBUILT, MAKING A COMPARISON IMPOSSIBLE.

IMPOSSIBLE. THAT'S ONE PROBLEM.

THAT'S ONE PROBLEM. THE OTHER IS WHY AMERICANS

THE OTHER IS WHY AMERICANS THINK MADOC WAS BORN AT

THINK MADOC WAS BORN AT DOLWYDDELAN AT ALL.

DOLWYDDELAN AT ALL. >> THERE IS NO EARLY EVIDENCE

>> THERE IS NO EARLY EVIDENCE OR LOCAL TRADITION THAT MADOC

OR LOCAL TRADITION THAT MADOC WAS BORN IN DOLWYDDELAN.

WAS BORN IN DOLWYDDELAN. THERE IS A LOCAL TRADITION THAT

THERE IS A LOCAL TRADITION THAT HIS NEPHEW LLYWELYN FAWR WAS

HIS NEPHEW LLYWELYN FAWR WAS BORN HERE,

BORN HERE, CERTAINLY NOT IN THIS CASTLE

CERTAINLY NOT IN THIS CASTLE BECAUSE LLYWELYN FAWR

BECAUSE LLYWELYN FAWR BUILT THIS.

BUILT THIS. IF HE WAS BORN ANYWHERE,

IF HE WAS BORN ANYWHERE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE SMALL

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE SMALL HILLOCK IN THE VALLEY BOTTOM

HILLOCK IN THE VALLEY BOTTOM THERE WHERE THERE WAS

THERE WHERE THERE WAS A SMALL TOWER.

A SMALL TOWER. >> narrator: MADOC ALSO GETS

>> narrator: MADOC ALSO GETS CREDIT FROM THE LOCALS FOR THIS

CREDIT FROM THE LOCALS FOR THIS SITE IN FORT MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA.

SITE IN FORT MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA. LEGENDS OF THE CHEROKEE NATIVES

LEGENDS OF THE CHEROKEE NATIVES IN THE AREA SAY BLONDE-HAIRED,

IN THE AREA SAY BLONDE-HAIRED, MOON-EYED PEOPLE BUILT IT,

MOON-EYED PEOPLE BUILT IT, ALTHOUGH ACCEPTED ARCHAEOLOGY

ALTHOUGH ACCEPTED ARCHAEOLOGY SUGGESTS THE NATIVES THEMSELVES

SUGGESTS THE NATIVES THEMSELVES ARE RESPONSIBLE.

ARE RESPONSIBLE. WHETHER OR NOT MADOC MADE

WHETHER OR NOT MADOC MADE CONTACT WITH THE CHEROKEE,

CONTACT WITH THE CHEROKEE, HIS WELSH PARTY IS MOST OFTEN

HIS WELSH PARTY IS MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH

ASSOCIATED WITH A DIFFERENT TRIBE.

A DIFFERENT TRIBE. >> WELL, THE LEGEND GOES THAT

>> WELL, THE LEGEND GOES THAT THEY ASSIMILATED INTO THE MANDAN

THEY ASSIMILATED INTO THE MANDAN GROUP.

GROUP. >> narrator: THE MANDAN TRIBE

>> narrator: THE MANDAN TRIBE ORIGINATED IN THE OHIO

ORIGINATED IN THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

RIVER VALLEY. IF MADOC'S WELSH PARTY CONTINUED

IF MADOC'S WELSH PARTY CONTINUED TRAVELING NORTHWEST FROM THE

TRAVELING NORTHWEST FROM THE FORT MOUNTAIN SITE IN GEORGIA,

FORT MOUNTAIN SITE IN GEORGIA, THE TWO GROUPS COULD HAVE MET.

THE TWO GROUPS COULD HAVE MET. ARTIST GEORGE CATLIN,

ARTIST GEORGE CATLIN, WHO SPENT TIME WITH THE MANDAN,

WHO SPENT TIME WITH THE MANDAN, THOUGHT THEY DID MORE

THOUGHT THEY DID MORE THAN JUST MEET.

THAN JUST MEET. HE THOUGHT THEY INTERMINGLED.

HE THOUGHT THEY INTERMINGLED. CATLIN WAS STRUCK BY THE

CATLIN WAS STRUCK BY THE MANDANS' EUROPEAN FEATURES

MANDANS' EUROPEAN FEATURES WHILE PAINTING THEIR PORTRAITS.

WHILE PAINTING THEIR PORTRAITS. HE ALSO NOTED SIMILARITIES IN

HE ALSO NOTED SIMILARITIES IN BOATS BOTH THE MANDAN AND

BOATS BOTH THE MANDAN AND THE WELSH USED FOR NAVIGATING

THE WELSH USED FOR NAVIGATING THE RIVER SYSTEM.

THE RIVER SYSTEM. >> GEORGE CATLIN DREW PICTURES

>> GEORGE CATLIN DREW PICTURES SHOWING THE BOATS THAT THEY

SHOWING THE BOATS THAT THEY USED, WHICH WERE VERY SIMILAR

USED, WHICH WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE WELSH CORACLE.

TO THE WELSH CORACLE. >> narrator: THE LEGEND OF

>> narrator: THE LEGEND OF THE WELSH INDIANS WAS POPULAR

THE WELSH INDIANS WAS POPULAR EVEN BEFORE THE TIME

EVEN BEFORE THE TIME CATLIN LIVED AND WORKED

CATLIN LIVED AND WORKED AMONG THEM IN 1833.

AMONG THEM IN 1833. PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD

PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD HEARD OF THEM 30 YEARS PRIOR

HEARD OF THEM 30 YEARS PRIOR AND, IN 1804, ASKED LEWIS

AND, IN 1804, ASKED LEWIS AND CLARK TO KEEP THEIR

AND CLARK TO KEEP THEIR EYES OUT FOR THEM

EYES OUT FOR THEM WHILE EXPLORING THE LAND GAINED

WHILE EXPLORING THE LAND GAINED IN THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE.

IN THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. JEFFERSON HEARD

JEFFERSON HEARD THEY SPOKE WELSH.

THEY SPOKE WELSH. >> IF MADOC HAD ACTUALLY LIVED

>> IF MADOC HAD ACTUALLY LIVED AND MIXED WITH THE MANDANS,

AND MIXED WITH THE MANDANS, IT'S QUITE FEASIBLE THAT

IT'S QUITE FEASIBLE THAT THE LANGUAGE WOULD HAVE PASSED

THE LANGUAGE WOULD HAVE PASSED THROUGH.

THROUGH. >> narrator: AT FIRST GLANCE,

>> narrator: AT FIRST GLANCE, SOME WORDS DO APPEAR SIMILAR.

SOME WORDS DO APPEAR SIMILAR. IN MANDAN, THE WORD "TI"

IN MANDAN, THE WORD "TI" MEANS "HOUSE."

MEANS "HOUSE." IN WELSH, THE WORD "TY"

IN WELSH, THE WORD "TY" MEANS THE SAME THING.

MEANS THE SAME THING. BUT THAT'S FAR FROM ENOUGH

BUT THAT'S FAR FROM ENOUGH TO CONVINCE LINGUISTS OF

TO CONVINCE LINGUISTS OF A CONNECTION.

A CONNECTION. >> THERE'S NO LINGUISTIC

>> THERE'S NO LINGUISTIC EVIDENCE.

EVIDENCE. THERE'S CLAIM TO BE

THERE'S CLAIM TO BE LINGUISTIC EVIDENCE.

LINGUISTIC EVIDENCE. IN FACT, I'VE ANALYZED MOST

IN FACT, I'VE ANALYZED MOST OF WHAT THERE IS, AND IT'S WHAT

OF WHAT THERE IS, AND IT'S WHAT WE WOULD CALL SPURIOUS.

WE WOULD CALL SPURIOUS. >> narrator: WHILE DNA TESTING

>> narrator: WHILE DNA TESTING OF MANDAN BLOOD COULD BE

OF MANDAN BLOOD COULD BE VALUABLE IN DETERMINING

VALUABLE IN DETERMINING IF THERE IS A WELSH CONNECTION,

IF THERE IS A WELSH CONNECTION, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. IN 1837, A SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC

IN 1837, A SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC WIPED OUT ALL BUT ABOUT 150

WIPED OUT ALL BUT ABOUT 150 OF THE 1,600 MEMBER TRIBE,

OF THE 1,600 MEMBER TRIBE, AND TODAY THERE ARE NO

AND TODAY THERE ARE NO FULL-BLOOD MANDANS LEFT TO TEST.

FULL-BLOOD MANDANS LEFT TO TEST. IN THE END, IT SEEMS THERE

IN THE END, IT SEEMS THERE IS NO PROOF MADOC MADE IT

IS NO PROOF MADOC MADE IT TO AMERICA AT ALL.

TO AMERICA AT ALL. THE LEGEND IS PLAGUED NOT JUST

THE LEGEND IS PLAGUED NOT JUST BY A TIDE OF UNCERTAINTY

BY A TIDE OF UNCERTAINTY BUT BY THE TIDE ITSELF.

BUT BY THE TIDE ITSELF. >> I CAN TELL THAT THIS PATH

>> I CAN TELL THAT THIS PATH IS PRETTY UNLIKELY.

IS PRETTY UNLIKELY. OUR MODEL SHOWS THAT FOR A

OUR MODEL SHOWS THAT FOR A SLOWLY MOVING BOAT, IT'S NEARLY

SLOWLY MOVING BOAT, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE WESTWARD

IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE WESTWARD BETWEEN FLORIDA AND CUBA.

BETWEEN FLORIDA AND CUBA. >> narrator: THE DRIFT MODEL

>> narrator: THE DRIFT MODEL SHOWS PRINCE MADOC WOULD HAVE

SHOWS PRINCE MADOC WOULD HAVE HAD A HARD TIME REACHING

HAD A HARD TIME REACHING HIS ALLEGED DOCKING POINT

HIS ALLEGED DOCKING POINT IN MOBILE BAY.

IN MOBILE BAY. A BOAT LIKE THE GWENAN GORN

A BOAT LIKE THE GWENAN GORN LIKELY COULDN'T HAVE CROSSED

LIKELY COULDN'T HAVE CROSSED THE POWERFUL GULF STREAM

THE POWERFUL GULF STREAM BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN TIP

BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN TIP OF FLORIDA AND CUBA.

OF FLORIDA AND CUBA. THAT MEANS MADOC WOULD HAVE

THAT MEANS MADOC WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND

HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND PUERTO RICO, JAMAICA,

PUERTO RICO, JAMAICA, AND THE CAYMANS BEFORE

AND THE CAYMANS BEFORE ENTERING THE GULF OF MEXICO

ENTERING THE GULF OF MEXICO TO REACH ALABAMA,

TO REACH ALABAMA, ADDING MANY DAYS TO THE VOYAGE.

ADDING MANY DAYS TO THE VOYAGE. >> TRAVEL FROM WALES TO

>> TRAVEL FROM WALES TO MOBILE BAY WOULD REQUIRE

MOBILE BAY WOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST 300 DAYS.

AT LEAST 300 DAYS. >> narrator: THAT'S 300 DAYS

>> narrator: THAT'S 300 DAYS EACH WAY--TWICE--

EACH WAY--TWICE-- FOR MADOC IS SAID

FOR MADOC IS SAID TO HAVE MADE IT TO AMERICA

TO HAVE MADE IT TO AMERICA NOT ONCE BUT TWO TIMES.

NOT ONCE BUT TWO TIMES. >> THERE'S CERTAINLY NO

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL OR HARD FACT

ARCHAEOLOGICAL OR HARD FACT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT,

EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A BIG PART

BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A BIG PART OF THE STORY.

OF THE STORY. >> narrator: RIGHT NOW,

>> narrator: RIGHT NOW, THE MADOC THEORY IS VIEWED AS

THE MADOC THEORY IS VIEWED AS A LEGEND BY MOST ARCHAEOLOGISTS.

A LEGEND BY MOST ARCHAEOLOGISTS. >> AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS

>> AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS REALLY FIND THAT IT'S PART

REALLY FIND THAT IT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO

OF WHAT WE DO TO DEBUNK THOSE THEORIES

TO DEBUNK THOSE THEORIES AND TO KEEP THOSE THINGS AT BAY,

AND TO KEEP THOSE THINGS AT BAY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO--

BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO-- MOST OF THEM HAVE NO

MOST OF THEM HAVE NO CREDIBLE SCIENTIFIC BASIS.

CREDIBLE SCIENTIFIC BASIS. >> narrator: TERRY JONES HAS

>> narrator: TERRY JONES HAS SPENT YEARS STUDYING

SPENT YEARS STUDYING WHAT HE SAYS IS A MUCH MORE

WHAT HE SAYS IS A MUCH MORE LIKELY CASE OF PRE-COLUMBIAN

LIKELY CASE OF PRE-COLUMBIAN CONTACT, ONE STRONGLY SUPPORTED

CONTACT, ONE STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE BUT ONE THAT STILL

BY SCIENCE BUT ONE THAT STILL COMES WITH THE RISK

COMES WITH THE RISK OF CAREER SUICIDE.

OF CAREER SUICIDE. >> FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS,

>> FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS, WE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT

WE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT IN PUBLIC.

IN PUBLIC. >> narrator: ACROSS THE PACIFIC

>> narrator: ACROSS THE PACIFIC IN 1000 A.D., A NEW GROUP

IN 1000 A.D., A NEW GROUP OF CONTENDERS EMERGES

OF CONTENDERS EMERGES IN THE QUEST TO LEARN

IN THE QUEST TO LEARN WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA.

WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA. AND BACK IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC,

AND BACK IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, ONE OF THE MOST LEGENDARY

ONE OF THE MOST LEGENDARY SAILORS EVER CHRONICLED

SAILORS EVER CHRONICLED LEAVES ON HIS OWN QUEST

LEAVES ON HIS OWN QUEST TO THE WEST.

>> narrator: POLYNESIA, 1000 A.D.,

1000 A.D., 492 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

492 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, CHINA IS INVENTING GUNPOWDER,

CHINA IS INVENTING GUNPOWDER, AND A VERY IMPORTANT JOURNEY

AND A VERY IMPORTANT JOURNEY BY NORSEMAN LEIF ERIKSSON

BY NORSEMAN LEIF ERIKSSON IS TAKING PLACE IN

IS TAKING PLACE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC.

THE NORTH ATLANTIC. IN POLYNESIA, EXPLORERS ARE

IN POLYNESIA, EXPLORERS ARE IN THE MIDST OF SETTLING THE

IN THE MIDST OF SETTLING THE MARQUESAS AND HAWAIIAN ISLANDS,

MARQUESAS AND HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, BUT DID THEY ALSO SAIL

BUT DID THEY ALSO SAIL BY THE STARS TO

BY THE STARS TO NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA?

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA? >> ANCIENT POLYNESIANS

>> ANCIENT POLYNESIANS AS VOYAGERS, WELL,

AS VOYAGERS, WELL, THEY'RE THE BEST.

THEY'RE THE BEST. WE KNOW THAT THEY REACHED

WE KNOW THAT THEY REACHED EVERY DISTANT ISLAND

EVERY DISTANT ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC, AND THEY DID IT

IN THE PACIFIC, AND THEY DID IT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. >> narrator: SPREAD OUT OVER

>> narrator: SPREAD OUT OVER MORE THAN 7 MILLION SQUARE MILES

MORE THAN 7 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF OCEAN, POLYNESIA COVERS

OF OCEAN, POLYNESIA COVERS MORE AREA THAN ANY NATION

MORE AREA THAN ANY NATION IN THE WORLD.

IN THE WORLD. THERE ARE 1,000 ISLANDS,

THERE ARE 1,000 ISLANDS, AND BY 1380 A.D.,

AND BY 1380 A.D., POLYNESIAN VOYAGERS MANAGED

POLYNESIAN VOYAGERS MANAGED TO TRAVEL TO AND COLONIZE

TO TRAVEL TO AND COLONIZE ALL OF THEM.

ALL OF THEM. >> POLYNESIA, BIGGEST NATION

>> POLYNESIA, BIGGEST NATION ON EARTH, BIGGER THAN RUSSIA.

ON EARTH, BIGGER THAN RUSSIA. THERE'S 600 TIMES MORE WATER

THERE'S 600 TIMES MORE WATER THAN THERE IS LAND.

THAN THERE IS LAND. I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE

I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE POLYNESIANS WERE THE ONLY

POLYNESIANS WERE THE ONLY CULTURE THAT WERE PURPOSELY

CULTURE THAT WERE PURPOSELY VOYAGING, EXPLORING,

VOYAGING, EXPLORING, AND NAVIGATING THE LARGEST OCEAN

AND NAVIGATING THE LARGEST OCEAN ON EARTH AT A TIME WHEN

ON EARTH AT A TIME WHEN OTHER CULTURES WEREN'T.

OTHER CULTURES WEREN'T. >> IF YOU LOOK AT WORLD MARITIME

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WORLD MARITIME HISTORY AND YOU ASK WHO

HISTORY AND YOU ASK WHO THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NAVIGATORS

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NAVIGATORS ARE AND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL

ARE AND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TYPES OF SHIPS, VERY FEW PEOPLE

TYPES OF SHIPS, VERY FEW PEOPLE WOULD GIVE YOU THE CORRECT

WOULD GIVE YOU THE CORRECT ANSWER, WHICH IS THE POLYNESIAN

ANSWER, WHICH IS THE POLYNESIAN SEAGOING CANOE AND POLYNESIAN

SEAGOING CANOE AND POLYNESIAN NAVIGATORS.

NAVIGATORS. >> narrator: POLYNESIAN VOYAGING

>> narrator: POLYNESIAN VOYAGING CANOES, OR TE PUKES,

CANOES, OR TE PUKES, WERE UP TO 60 FEET LONG.

WERE UP TO 60 FEET LONG. THEIR DOUBLE HULLS WERE MADE

THEIR DOUBLE HULLS WERE MADE FROM LOGS OF THE KOA TREE,

FROM LOGS OF THE KOA TREE, HOLLOWED OUT BY A TRADITIONAL

HOLLOWED OUT BY A TRADITIONAL TOOL CALLED AN ADZE

TOOL CALLED AN ADZE OR MADE FROM SMALLER WOODEN

OR MADE FROM SMALLER WOODEN PLANKS SEWN TOGETHER.

PLANKS SEWN TOGETHER. THEIR CRAB CLAW SAILS

THEIR CRAB CLAW SAILS WERE WOVEN TOGETHER OUT OF

WERE WOVEN TOGETHER OUT OF LAUHALA LEAVES,

LAUHALA LEAVES, AND SOME 1,500 FEET OF

AND SOME 1,500 FEET OF HAND-WOUND COCONUT FIBERS

HAND-WOUND COCONUT FIBERS WERE USED FOR LASHINGS.

>> HOKULE'A, WE BELIEVE WITH AN AWFUL LOT OF RESEARCH,

WITH AN AWFUL LOT OF RESEARCH, IS KIND OF A DESIGN-ACCURATE

IS KIND OF A DESIGN-ACCURATE REPLICA OF THE DEEP-SEA VOYAGING

REPLICA OF THE DEEP-SEA VOYAGING CANOES THAT WAS THE MAIN TOOL

CANOES THAT WAS THE MAIN TOOL THAT WAS USED TO EXPLORE

THAT WAS USED TO EXPLORE AND COLONIZE ALL OF POLYNESIA.

AND COLONIZE ALL OF POLYNESIA. >> narrator: THIS IS THE

>> narrator: THIS IS THE HOKULE'A, BUILT USING SOME

HOKULE'A, BUILT USING SOME OF THOSE ANCIENT SPECIFICATIONS.

OF THOSE ANCIENT SPECIFICATIONS. IT DOES HAVE A MODERN SAIL

IT DOES HAVE A MODERN SAIL AND OTHER MODERN TOUCHES,

AND OTHER MODERN TOUCHES, BUT THE BASIC HULL DESIGN

BUT THE BASIC HULL DESIGN IS THE SAME.

IS THE SAME. >> AT THE TIME THAT HOKULE'A

>> AT THE TIME THAT HOKULE'A WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED,

WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED, THERE WAS NO OTHER PHYSICAL

THERE WAS NO OTHER PHYSICAL DEEP-SEA VOYAGING CANOE

DEEP-SEA VOYAGING CANOE ON EARTH, AND SO IT HAD TO BE

ON EARTH, AND SO IT HAD TO BE RECONSTRUCTED FROM BOTH

RECONSTRUCTED FROM BOTH MODERN SCIENCE

MODERN SCIENCE AS WELL AS CULTURE

AS WELL AS CULTURE AND ORAL HISTORIES.

>> narrator: THE POLYNESIAN VOYAGING SOCIETY FIRST LAUNCHED

VOYAGING SOCIETY FIRST LAUNCHED THE HOKULE'A IN THE 1970s

THE HOKULE'A IN THE 1970s TO CHALLENGE THE IDEA THAT

TO CHALLENGE THE IDEA THAT POLYNESIA WAS SETTLED

POLYNESIA WAS SETTLED FROM EAST TO WEST BY THE INCA

FROM EAST TO WEST BY THE INCA FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

FROM SOUTH AMERICA. THAT THEORY WAS FIRST PROPOSED

THAT THEORY WAS FIRST PROPOSED BY NOTABLE ADVENTURER

BY NOTABLE ADVENTURER THOR HEYERDAHL IN THE 1940s,

THOR HEYERDAHL IN THE 1940s, WHO SUGGESTED STATUES LIKE THESE

WHO SUGGESTED STATUES LIKE THESE ON EASTER ISLAND WERE INCAN

ON EASTER ISLAND WERE INCAN IN ORIGIN.

IN ORIGIN. TO HELP PROVE THE VOYAGE

TO HELP PROVE THE VOYAGE WAS POSSIBLE, HE BUILT AND

WAS POSSIBLE, HE BUILT AND SUCCESSFULLY SAILED HIS OWN

SUCCESSFULLY SAILED HIS OWN RAFT CALLED THE KON-TIKI FROM

RAFT CALLED THE KON-TIKI FROM SOUTH AMERICA TO THE TUAMOTU

SOUTH AMERICA TO THE TUAMOTU ISLANDS IN POLYNESIA IN 1947.

ISLANDS IN POLYNESIA IN 1947. EVEN THOUGH THE SAIL WAS

EVEN THOUGH THE SAIL WAS SUCCESSFUL, ACADEMICS BALKED

SUCCESSFUL, ACADEMICS BALKED AT HIS THEORY.

AT HIS THEORY. >> THE SOUTH AMERICANS AREN'T

>> THE SOUTH AMERICANS AREN'T KNOWN FOR HAVING SEAWORTHY

KNOWN FOR HAVING SEAWORTHY CANOES OR FOR HAVING

CANOES OR FOR HAVING HIGH VOYAGING CAPABILITIES,

HIGH VOYAGING CAPABILITIES, SO IT REALLY MAKES MORE SENSE

SO IT REALLY MAKES MORE SENSE THAT THE POLYNESIANS MADE IT

THAT THE POLYNESIANS MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA.

TO SOUTH AMERICA. >> narrator: POLYNESIANS WERE

>> narrator: POLYNESIANS WERE ABLE TO ISLAND-HOP ACROSS

ABLE TO ISLAND-HOP ACROSS THE PACIFIC BECAUSE THEY KNEW

THE PACIFIC BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT TO TAKE WITH THEM

WHAT TO TAKE WITH THEM TO SURVIVE, LIKE PLANTS

TO SURVIVE, LIKE PLANTS AND CHICKENS,

AND CHICKENS, CHICKENS THEY MAY HAVE

CHICKENS THEY MAY HAVE INTRODUCED TO SOUTH AMERICA.

INTRODUCED TO SOUTH AMERICA. >> WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CASE FOR

>> WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CASE FOR CHICKENS MOVING FROM POLYNESIA

CHICKENS MOVING FROM POLYNESIA TO SOUTH AMERICA.

TO SOUTH AMERICA. THE DISCOVERY OF CHICKEN BONES

THE DISCOVERY OF CHICKEN BONES FROM CHILE HAS TURNED OUT

FROM CHILE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE VERY EXCITING.

TO BE VERY EXCITING. >> narrator: WHEN THESE

>> narrator: WHEN THESE CHICKEN BONES WITH POLYNESIAN

CHICKEN BONES WITH POLYNESIAN TRAITS WERE UNEARTHED IN

TRAITS WERE UNEARTHED IN SOUTH AMERICA, THEY WERE

SOUTH AMERICA, THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY CONTROVERSIAL.

IMMEDIATELY CONTROVERSIAL. WHILE MANY SCIENTISTS

WHILE MANY SCIENTISTS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT CHICKENS

ORIGINALLY THOUGHT CHICKENS WERE INTRODUCED TO SOUTH AMERICA

WERE INTRODUCED TO SOUTH AMERICA BY SPANISH EXPLORERS IN

BY SPANISH EXPLORERS IN THE 1500s, THE RADIOCARBON DATE

THE 1500s, THE RADIOCARBON DATE OF THESE BONES WOULD

OF THESE BONES WOULD PROVE OTHERWISE.

PROVE OTHERWISE. THEY'RE PRE-COLUMBIAN.

THEY'RE PRE-COLUMBIAN. >> POLYNESIANS MADE IT

>> POLYNESIANS MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA,

TO SOUTH AMERICA, PROBABLY DROPPED OFF CHICKEN

PROBABLY DROPPED OFF CHICKEN WHILE THEY WERE THERE,

WHILE THEY WERE THERE, PICKED UP THE SWEET POTATO,

PICKED UP THE SWEET POTATO, AND THEN MADE THE TWO-WAY VOYAGE

AND THEN MADE THE TWO-WAY VOYAGE BACK TO POLYNESIA.

BACK TO POLYNESIA. >> narrator: SWEET POTATOES

>> narrator: SWEET POTATOES ARE NOT BELIEVED TO BE NATIVE

ARE NOT BELIEVED TO BE NATIVE TO POLYNESIA, BUT THEY ARE

TO POLYNESIA, BUT THEY ARE NATIVE TO SOUTH AMERICA,

NATIVE TO SOUTH AMERICA, A POSSIBLE CLUE.

>> THE SWEET POTATOES ARE THESE LOW, VINY PLANTS,

LOW, VINY PLANTS, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE FLOWERING HERE.

THEY'RE FLOWERING HERE. >> narrator: STUDIES ON CHARRED

>> narrator: STUDIES ON CHARRED SWEET POTATO REMAINS FOUND

SWEET POTATO REMAINS FOUND IN POLYNESIA SUGGEST THE PLANT

IN POLYNESIA SUGGEST THE PLANT WAS INTRODUCED TO THE ISLANDS

WAS INTRODUCED TO THE ISLANDS IN PRE-COLUMBIAN TIMES.

IN PRE-COLUMBIAN TIMES. >> SWEET POTATO IS AN

>> SWEET POTATO IS AN AMERICAN PLANT.

AMERICAN PLANT. IT HAS WILD POPULATIONS

IT HAS WILD POPULATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. IT WAS DOMESTICATED BY

IT WAS DOMESTICATED BY NATIVE AMERICANS THOUSANDS

NATIVE AMERICANS THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

OF YEARS AGO. >> WE KNEW THAT SWEET POTATO

>> WE KNEW THAT SWEET POTATO HAD BEEN INTRODUCED FROM

HAD BEEN INTRODUCED FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE LINGUISTIC NAME FOR

THE LINGUISTIC NAME FOR SWEET POTATO, KUMARA,

SWEET POTATO, KUMARA, IS NOT A POLYNESIAN WORD.

IS NOT A POLYNESIAN WORD. AND LINGUISTS HAD LOOKED FOR

AND LINGUISTS HAD LOOKED FOR A LONG TIME TO FIND OUT WHERE

A LONG TIME TO FIND OUT WHERE THE WORD KUMARA CAME FROM,

THE WORD KUMARA CAME FROM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN LINKED

AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN LINKED TO AN ECUADORIAN TRIBE

TO AN ECUADORIAN TRIBE THAT ARE INTENSIVE SWEET POTATO

THAT ARE INTENSIVE SWEET POTATO PRODUCERS.

PRODUCERS. >> IT IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN

>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE PRE-COLUMBIAN

THAT WE HAVE PRE-COLUMBIAN SWEET POTATO, PRE-EUROPEAN

SWEET POTATO, PRE-EUROPEAN SWEET POTATO, IN POLYNESIA,

SWEET POTATO, IN POLYNESIA, AND THAT IT WAS TRANSFERRED

AND THAT IT WAS TRANSFERRED BY PEOPLE, NOT BY FLOATING

BY PEOPLE, NOT BY FLOATING OR BY BIRDS, BECAUSE

OR BY BIRDS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET THE WORD TRAVELING

YOU DON'T GET THE WORD TRAVELING WITH THE POTATO IF IT'S NOT

WITH THE POTATO IF IT'S NOT FACE-TO-FACE TRANSFER OF

FACE-TO-FACE TRANSFER OF THE SWEET POTATO.

THE SWEET POTATO. >> narrator: THERE'S EVEN

>> narrator: THERE'S EVEN EVIDENCE THE POLYNESIANS MADE IT

EVIDENCE THE POLYNESIANS MADE IT FARTHER NORTH, TO WHAT WOULD

FARTHER NORTH, TO WHAT WOULD BECOME THE UNITED STATES.

BECOME THE UNITED STATES. NEAR SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA,

NEAR SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, A TRIBE CALLED THE CHUMASH

A TRIBE CALLED THE CHUMASH HAS BEEN BUILDING THIS TYPE OF

HAS BEEN BUILDING THIS TYPE OF SEWN-PLANK CANOE SINCE

SEWN-PLANK CANOE SINCE AT LEAST 1000 A.D., CALLING IT

AT LEAST 1000 A.D., CALLING IT A TOMOLO'O.

A TOMOLO'O. LINGUISTS SAY THAT'S HOW THE

LINGUISTS SAY THAT'S HOW THE CHUMASH WOULD HAVE PRONOUNCED

CHUMASH WOULD HAVE PRONOUNCED THE EASTERN CENTRAL POLYNESIAN

THE EASTERN CENTRAL POLYNESIAN WORD FOR THE SAME BOAT,

WORD FOR THE SAME BOAT, ONE THEY CALL A TUMURAA'AU.

ONE THEY CALL A TUMURAA'AU. >> THEY WOULD HAVE TROUBLE

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TROUBLE PRONOUNCING THAT, AND IT WOULD

PRONOUNCING THAT, AND IT WOULD COME OUT TOMOLO'O.

COME OUT TOMOLO'O. THAT'S VERY NORMAL, REGULAR

THAT'S VERY NORMAL, REGULAR IN CHUMASH.

IN CHUMASH. >> narrator: THE CHUMASH ARE

>> narrator: THE CHUMASH ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE STARTED USING

THOUGHT TO HAVE STARTED USING THE WORD TOMOLO'O SOMETIME

THE WORD TOMOLO'O SOMETIME BETWEEN 500 AND 1200 A.D.

BETWEEN 500 AND 1200 A.D. BUT IT'S MORE THAN THE WORD

BUT IT'S MORE THAN THE WORD FOR THIS CANOE THAT'S IMPORTANT.

FOR THIS CANOE THAT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S ALSO THE CANOE ITSELF,

IT'S ALSO THE CANOE ITSELF, WHICH HAS A DESIGN THAT TURNS

WHICH HAS A DESIGN THAT TURNS OUT TO BE RARE, VERY RARE.

OUT TO BE RARE, VERY RARE. >> ONCE THE PLANKS WERE CREATED,

>> ONCE THE PLANKS WERE CREATED, THERE WOULD BE HOLES DRILLED.

THERE WOULD BE HOLES DRILLED. WE HAVE HOLES ON OPPOSING

WE HAVE HOLES ON OPPOSING EDGES OF THE PLANKS THAT WERE

EDGES OF THE PLANKS THAT WERE SEWN TOGETHER USING THIS

SEWN TOGETHER USING THIS VEGETABLE PRODUCT-BASED CORDAGE.

VEGETABLE PRODUCT-BASED CORDAGE. THAT'S A COMMON TECHNOLOGY

THAT'S A COMMON TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT ALL OF POLYNESIA,

THROUGHOUT ALL OF POLYNESIA, AND IT'S ONLY SEEN IN TWO PLACES

AND IT'S ONLY SEEN IN TWO PLACES IN THE ENTIRE NATIVE NEW WORLD:

IN THE ENTIRE NATIVE NEW WORLD: THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE COAST OF CHILE.

AND THE COAST OF CHILE. >> narrator: COMMON WORDS,

>> narrator: COMMON WORDS, COMMON ENGINEERING,

COMMON ENGINEERING, AND THERE'S MORE: FISHHOOKS.

AND THERE'S MORE: FISHHOOKS. THIS IS DR. YOSIHIKO SINOTO,

THIS IS DR. YOSIHIKO SINOTO, A VERITABLE EXPERT ON FISHHOOKS,

A VERITABLE EXPERT ON FISHHOOKS, WHO'S STUDIED THEM ALL OVER

WHO'S STUDIED THEM ALL OVER THE PACIFIC.

THE PACIFIC. HE HAS A COLLECTION

HE HAS A COLLECTION OF PRIMITIVE FISHHOOKS

OF PRIMITIVE FISHHOOKS FOUND OFF CATALINA ISLAND

FOUND OFF CATALINA ISLAND NEAR LOS ANGELES.

>> narrator: THE CATALINA FISHHOOKS SEEM TO MATCH

FISHHOOKS SEEM TO MATCH FISHHOOKS MADE IN TAHITI

FISHHOOKS MADE IN TAHITI AROUND 1000 A.D.

AROUND 1000 A.D. FISHING FOR FOOD IS ONE WAY

FISHING FOR FOOD IS ONE WAY THEY COULD HAVE SURVIVED

THEY COULD HAVE SURVIVED A 4,000-MILE VOYAGE FROM

A 4,000-MILE VOYAGE FROM THE CENTER OF POLYNESIA

THE CENTER OF POLYNESIA TO CALIFORNIA.

TO CALIFORNIA. BUT WHAT DO DR. MAXIMENKO'S

BUT WHAT DO DR. MAXIMENKO'S MAPS OF OCEAN CURRENTS SAY

MAPS OF OCEAN CURRENTS SAY ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

ABOUT ALL OF THIS? >> FOR A POLYNESIAN VOYAGE FROM

>> FOR A POLYNESIAN VOYAGE FROM COOK ISLANDS TO SANTA BARBARA

COOK ISLANDS TO SANTA BARBARA AREA IN CALIFORNIA, THE PATH

AREA IN CALIFORNIA, THE PATH WOULD REQUIRE NEARLY 300 DAYS.

WOULD REQUIRE NEARLY 300 DAYS. THAT VOYAGE WOULD IMPLY A LOT

THAT VOYAGE WOULD IMPLY A LOT OF PADDLING, AND IF THEY WERE

OF PADDLING, AND IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, THEY COULD

ABLE TO DO THAT, THEY COULD MAKE IT.

MAKE IT. >> WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT

>> WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE POLYNESIANS MADE VOYAGES

THE POLYNESIANS MADE VOYAGES OF 2,000 TO 3,000 KILOMETERS

OF 2,000 TO 3,000 KILOMETERS ACROSS OPEN WATER NOT KNOWING

ACROSS OPEN WATER NOT KNOWING WHETHER THERE WAS SOMETHING

WHETHER THERE WAS SOMETHING TO BE FOUND, TO BE DISCOVERED.

TO BE FOUND, TO BE DISCOVERED. >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT THEIR VOYAGES WERE EXPLICIT

THAT THEIR VOYAGES WERE EXPLICIT VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY.

VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY. THIS ISN'T A MATTER OF LOST

THIS ISN'T A MATTER OF LOST CANOES OR PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY

CANOES OR PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY FROM WARS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

FROM WARS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MOVEMENT

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MOVEMENT ACROSS THE SOUTH PACIFIC INTO

ACROSS THE SOUTH PACIFIC INTO THE TRADE WINDS FROM ASIA

THE TRADE WINDS FROM ASIA ALL THE WAY TO ULTIMATELY

ALL THE WAY TO ULTIMATELY SOUTH AMERICA, THAT SEEMS LIKE

SOUTH AMERICA, THAT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTRAORDINARY THING,

AN EXTRAORDINARY THING, SAILING THAT FAR INTO THE WIND.

SAILING THAT FAR INTO THE WIND. BUT ACTUALLY, IT MAKES SOME

BUT ACTUALLY, IT MAKES SOME SENSE.

SENSE. >> ORIGINALLY, THE THINKING WAS,

>> ORIGINALLY, THE THINKING WAS, WHY WOULD YOU GO UPWIND

WHY WOULD YOU GO UPWIND TO FIND LAND?

TO FIND LAND? WELL, BECAUSE IF YOU GO DOWNWIND

WELL, BECAUSE IF YOU GO DOWNWIND AND YOU DON'T FIND IT,

AND YOU DON'T FIND IT, IT'S SO HARD TO COME BACK.

IT'S SO HARD TO COME BACK. SO GOING EAST IS ACTUALLY

SO GOING EAST IS ACTUALLY A SAFER DIRECTION TO GO

A SAFER DIRECTION TO GO KNOWING THAT YOU CAN COME HOME.

KNOWING THAT YOU CAN COME HOME. >> narrator: WHAT POLYNESIAN

>> narrator: WHAT POLYNESIAN ADVENTURERS ILLUSTRATE IS

ADVENTURERS ILLUSTRATE IS A CONCEPT THAT'S AT THE

A CONCEPT THAT'S AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL PRE-COLUMBIAN

FOREFRONT OF ALL PRE-COLUMBIAN EXPLORATION THEORIES:

EXPLORATION THEORIES: THE CONCEPT THAT THE OCEAN

THE CONCEPT THAT THE OCEAN IS EASIER TO CROSS THAN

IS EASIER TO CROSS THAN ONE MIGHT THINK.

ONE MIGHT THINK. >> WATER NEVER IS A BARRIER

>> WATER NEVER IS A BARRIER TO PEOPLE.

TO PEOPLE. MOUNTAINS CAN BE A BARRIER.

MOUNTAINS CAN BE A BARRIER. YOU CAN GET VERY ISOLATED

YOU CAN GET VERY ISOLATED POPULATIONS IF YOU HAVE

POPULATIONS IF YOU HAVE MOUNTAINS BETWEEN THEM,

MOUNTAINS BETWEEN THEM, EVEN IF THEY JUST LIVE

EVEN IF THEY JUST LIVE A FEW MILES APART.

A FEW MILES APART. BUT WATER IS JUST NEVER

BUT WATER IS JUST NEVER A BARRIER.

A BARRIER. EVEN AN OCEAN IS MORE LIKE

EVEN AN OCEAN IS MORE LIKE A HIGHWAY THAN A BARRIER.

A HIGHWAY THAN A BARRIER. >> narrator: AND THERE WAS

>> narrator: AND THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE SUREFIRE WAY

ALWAYS ONE SUREFIRE WAY FOR THESE EARLY MARINERS

FOR THESE EARLY MARINERS TO FIND LAND:

TO FIND LAND: JUST FOLLOW THE BIRDS.

[seagulls cawing] >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF THESE

WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF THESE PRECONTACT PEOPLE HAD

PRECONTACT PEOPLE HAD TREMENDOUS CAPABILITIES.

TREMENDOUS CAPABILITIES. >> narrator: EVEN IF THE

>> narrator: EVEN IF THE POLYNESIANS DIDN'T FIND

POLYNESIANS DIDN'T FIND NORTH AMERICA IN 1000 A.D.,

NORTH AMERICA IN 1000 A.D., SOMEONE ELSE DID.

SOMEONE ELSE DID. A SETTLEMENT IN NEWFOUNDLAND

A SETTLEMENT IN NEWFOUNDLAND PROVES THAT'S WHEN THE VIKINGS

PROVES THAT'S WHEN THE VIKINGS MADE IT TO CANADA, BUT DID THEY

MADE IT TO CANADA, BUT DID THEY REACH THE UNITED STATES?

REACH THE UNITED STATES? AND WAS THE U.S. ITSELF

AND WAS THE U.S. ITSELF ALREADY THE NEW HOMELAND

ALREADY THE NEW HOMELAND FOR ANCIENT ISRAELITES

FOR ANCIENT ISRAELITES WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA

WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA CENTURIES BEFORE?

>> narrator: 1000 A.D. TURNS OUT TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR

TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR FOR PRE-COLUMBIAN CONTACT.

FOR PRE-COLUMBIAN CONTACT. THE POLYNESIANS MAY HAVE

THE POLYNESIANS MAY HAVE REACHED AMERICA,

REACHED AMERICA, BUT THE NORSE DEFINITELY DID.

BUT THE NORSE DEFINITELY DID. SCANDINAVIA, 1000 A.D.,

SCANDINAVIA, 1000 A.D., STILL 492 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

STILL 492 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. THE VIKINGS WERE EXPLORING

THE VIKINGS WERE EXPLORING THE NORTH ATLANTIC.

THE NORTH ATLANTIC. IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ONE OF THEM SAILED

BEFORE ONE OF THEM SAILED ALL THE WAY TO NORTH AMERICA.

ALL THE WAY TO NORTH AMERICA. >> ACCORDING TO THE SAGAS,

>> ACCORDING TO THE SAGAS, LEIF ERIKSSON IS THE ONE WHO

LEIF ERIKSSON IS THE ONE WHO TRAVELED FROM GREENLAND OVER

TRAVELED FROM GREENLAND OVER TO THE NEW WORLD TO EXPLORE

TO THE NEW WORLD TO EXPLORE THE NEW LAND.

THE NEW LAND. >> narrator: LEIF ERIKSSON WAS

>> narrator: LEIF ERIKSSON WAS THE SON OF ERIK THE RED,

THE SON OF ERIK THE RED, WHO STARTED THE FIRST

WHO STARTED THE FIRST NORSE SETTLEMENT IN GREENLAND.

NORSE SETTLEMENT IN GREENLAND. A VOYAGER LIKE HIS FATHER,

A VOYAGER LIKE HIS FATHER, LEIF WAS INTRIGUED WHEN ANOTHER

LEIF WAS INTRIGUED WHEN ANOTHER VIKING TOLD HIM THERE WAS LAND

VIKING TOLD HIM THERE WAS LAND WEST OF GREENLAND,

WEST OF GREENLAND, LAND GLIMPSED FROM AFAR

LAND GLIMPSED FROM AFAR BUT NEVER EXPLORED.

BUT NEVER EXPLORED. LEIF QUICKLY GATHERED

LEIF QUICKLY GATHERED A GROUP OF 35 MEN AND WOMEN

A GROUP OF 35 MEN AND WOMEN AND SET SAIL AFTER BUYING

AND SET SAIL AFTER BUYING THE VIKING SHIP OWNED BY THE MAN

THE VIKING SHIP OWNED BY THE MAN WHO TOLD HIM THE TALE.

WHO TOLD HIM THE TALE. >> VIKING SHIPS WERE BUILT

>> VIKING SHIPS WERE BUILT LIKE A STRONG ROWBOAT,

LIKE A STRONG ROWBOAT, CLINKER BUILT, THAT IS,

CLINKER BUILT, THAT IS, WITH PLANKS OVERLAPPING

WITH PLANKS OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER AND PINNED OR NAILED

EACH OTHER AND PINNED OR NAILED TOGETHER.

TOGETHER. THAT GIVES A BOAT A GREAT DEAL

THAT GIVES A BOAT A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH.

OF STRENGTH. >> narrator: CALLED KNAARS,

>> narrator: CALLED KNAARS, THESE SHIPS WERE OVER

THESE SHIPS WERE OVER 50 FEET LONG AND COULD CARRY

50 FEET LONG AND COULD CARRY OVER 20 TONS OF CARGO.

OVER 20 TONS OF CARGO. DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH,

DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH, KNAARS COULD REACH A SPEED

KNAARS COULD REACH A SPEED OF ABOUT 13 KNOTS.

OF ABOUT 13 KNOTS. LEIF'S PARTY OF 35 LIKELY HAD

LEIF'S PARTY OF 35 LIKELY HAD A RELATIVELY EASY TIME MAKING

A RELATIVELY EASY TIME MAKING A JOURNEY TO AMERICA FOLLOWING

A JOURNEY TO AMERICA FOLLOWING SUBPOLAR CURRENTS IN

SUBPOLAR CURRENTS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC.

THE NORTH ATLANTIC. >> ALL THAT YOU NEED TO DO

>> ALL THAT YOU NEED TO DO IS JUST TO CROSS FROM EUROPE

IS JUST TO CROSS FROM EUROPE TO GREENLAND, AND THEN

TO GREENLAND, AND THEN YOU CAN FOLLOW THE COAST.

YOU CAN FOLLOW THE COAST. I THINK THAT WOULD BE AROUND

I THINK THAT WOULD BE AROUND 250 DAYS.

250 DAYS. >> narrator: THIS IS THE VIKING

>> narrator: THIS IS THE VIKING SETTLEMENT IN NEWFOUNDLAND

SETTLEMENT IN NEWFOUNDLAND LEIF GETS CREDIT FOR FOUNDING.

LEIF GETS CREDIT FOR FOUNDING. IT'S CALLED L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS

IT'S CALLED L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS AND IS DATED TO AROUND

AND IS DATED TO AROUND 1000 A.D.

1000 A.D. THE SITE IS UNDISPUTED PROOF

THE SITE IS UNDISPUTED PROOF THE VIKINGS MADE IT

THE VIKINGS MADE IT TO NORTH AMERICA.

TO NORTH AMERICA. BUT ACCORDING TO THE NORSE

BUT ACCORDING TO THE NORSE SAGAS, THEY EVENTUALLY WENT

SAGAS, THEY EVENTUALLY WENT FURTHER THAN THAT TO A LAND

FURTHER THAN THAT TO A LAND CALLED VINLAND.

CALLED VINLAND. >> SO L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS IS

>> SO L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS IS ACTUALLY A--YOU COULD SEE IT

ACTUALLY A--YOU COULD SEE IT AS A GATEWAY INTO WHAT WOULD

AS A GATEWAY INTO WHAT WOULD BE VINLAND.

BE VINLAND. >> narrator: "VINLAND" MEANS

>> narrator: "VINLAND" MEANS EITHER LAND OF GRAPES

EITHER LAND OF GRAPES OR LAND OF PASTURES,

OR LAND OF PASTURES, NEITHER OF WHICH ACCURATELY

NEITHER OF WHICH ACCURATELY DESCRIBE L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS.

DESCRIBE L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS. THAT IMPLIES A LARGER SETTLEMENT

THAT IMPLIES A LARGER SETTLEMENT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN PINPOINTED

THAT HAS NEVER BEEN PINPOINTED LIES ELSEWHERE, WHICH WOULD

LIES ELSEWHERE, WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN A CURIOUS FINDING

EXPLAIN A CURIOUS FINDING AT THE SETTLEMENT SITE.

AT THE SETTLEMENT SITE. >> BUTTERNUT HUSKS AND BUTTERNUT

>> BUTTERNUT HUSKS AND BUTTERNUT WOOD WAS FOUND, AND THAT'S NOT

WOOD WAS FOUND, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU FIND NATURALLY

SOMETHING YOU FIND NATURALLY AT L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS

AT L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS OR IN THIS AREA.

OR IN THIS AREA. >> narrator: BUTTERNUT IS NATIVE

>> narrator: BUTTERNUT IS NATIVE TO SOUTHEASTERN CANADA AND THE

TO SOUTHEASTERN CANADA AND THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.

EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. IT'S ON THE EAST COAST THAT

IT'S ON THE EAST COAST THAT A CRITICAL CLUE TO WHERE VINLAND

A CRITICAL CLUE TO WHERE VINLAND MIGHT BE TURNED UP IN 1957.

MIGHT BE TURNED UP IN 1957. >> THE ONLY EVIDENCE WE HAVE

>> THE ONLY EVIDENCE WE HAVE THAT THE VIKINGS MADE IT TO

THAT THE VIKINGS MADE IT TO THE UNITED STATES IS A NORWEGIAN

THE UNITED STATES IS A NORWEGIAN SILVER PENNY, A SMALL COIN,

SILVER PENNY, A SMALL COIN, FOUND IN BROOKLIN, MAINE,

FOUND IN BROOKLIN, MAINE, AND IT'S DATED TO THE REIGN

AND IT'S DATED TO THE REIGN OF KING OLAF KYRRE, WHICH IS IN

OF KING OLAF KYRRE, WHICH IS IN THE LATER PART OF THE

THE LATER PART OF THE 11TH CENTURY.

11TH CENTURY. >> WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS COIN

>> WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS COIN WAS FOUND, CONCEIVABLY PLANTED.

WAS FOUND, CONCEIVABLY PLANTED. OUR BEST GUESS IS THAT IT WASN'T

OUR BEST GUESS IS THAT IT WASN'T PLANTED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

PLANTED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN. BUT WE AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE

BUT WE AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS AN HONEST-TO-GOD

THAT IT IS AN HONEST-TO-GOD AUTHENTIC NORSE ARTIFACT FROM

AUTHENTIC NORSE ARTIFACT FROM AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT

AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT ON THE MAINE COAST.

ON THE MAINE COAST. >> WE DON'T KNOW IF THE UNITED

>> WE DON'T KNOW IF THE UNITED STATES COULD BE VINLAND.

STATES COULD BE VINLAND. WE KNOW THAT L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS

WE KNOW THAT L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS WAS A BASE CAMP, AND WE KNOW

WAS A BASE CAMP, AND WE KNOW THAT THE NORSE WENT INLAND

THAT THE NORSE WENT INLAND SOMEWHERE.

SOMEWHERE. >> narrator: THE EAST COAST

>> narrator: THE EAST COAST IS HOME TO SOME OTHER ARTIFACTS

IS HOME TO SOME OTHER ARTIFACTS THOUGHT TO BE NORSE.

THOUGHT TO BE NORSE. THESE STONES CARVED WITH SOME

THESE STONES CARVED WITH SOME RUNES FROM AN EARLY SCANDINAVIAN

RUNES FROM AN EARLY SCANDINAVIAN ALPHABET CALLED THE FUTHARK

ALPHABET CALLED THE FUTHARK WERE FOUND PARTIALLY BURIED

WERE FOUND PARTIALLY BURIED NEAR SPIRIT POND IN MAINE,

NEAR SPIRIT POND IN MAINE, SOME 150 MILES FROM WHERE

SOME 150 MILES FROM WHERE THE PENNY WAS FOUND.

THE PENNY WAS FOUND. WHILE ACADEMICS AGREE THE PENNY

WHILE ACADEMICS AGREE THE PENNY IS VIKING AGE AND GENUINE,

IS VIKING AGE AND GENUINE, THESE STONES ARE WIDELY REGARDED

THESE STONES ARE WIDELY REGARDED AS FRAUDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T

AS FRAUDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T RESEMBLE TRADITIONAL

RESEMBLE TRADITIONAL RUNESTONES FOUND THROUGHOUT

RUNESTONES FOUND THROUGHOUT SCANDINAVIA.

SCANDINAVIA. >> RUNIC CARVINGS ARE GENERALLY

>> RUNIC CARVINGS ARE GENERALLY ON PROMINENT STONES WHERE

ON PROMINENT STONES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE THEM.

PEOPLE CAN SEE THEM. THEY ARE NOT OBSCURED BY BEING

THEY ARE NOT OBSCURED BY BEING ON SMALL STONES AND BURIED

ON SMALL STONES AND BURIED IN THE GROUND.

IN THE GROUND. SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT

SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT WHOEVER CREATED THESE STONES

WHOEVER CREATED THESE STONES WAS TRYING TO PUT ONE OVER

WAS TRYING TO PUT ONE OVER ON SOMEONE.

ON SOMEONE. >> narrator: OTHER STONES WITH

>> narrator: OTHER STONES WITH RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS HAVE TURNED

RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS HAVE TURNED UP EVEN FURTHER INTO THE

UP EVEN FURTHER INTO THE UNITED STATES.

UNITED STATES. THE MOST FAMOUS IS

THE MOST FAMOUS IS THE KENSINGTON RUNESTONE,

THE KENSINGTON RUNESTONE, UNEARTHED BY A FARMER

UNEARTHED BY A FARMER IN MINNESOTA IN 1898.

IN MINNESOTA IN 1898. IT DETAILS A VOYAGE BY 8 GOTHS

IT DETAILS A VOYAGE BY 8 GOTHS AND 22 NORWEGIANS ON AN

AND 22 NORWEGIANS ON AN ACQUISITION JOURNEY FAR TO

ACQUISITION JOURNEY FAR TO THE WEST OF VINLAND

THE WEST OF VINLAND IN THE YEAR 1362.

IN THE YEAR 1362. IT ALSO GRAPHICALLY DEPICTS

IT ALSO GRAPHICALLY DEPICTS THE DEMISE OF TEN OF THE MEN,

THE DEMISE OF TEN OF THE MEN, FOUND "RED WITH BLOOD

FOUND "RED WITH BLOOD AND DEATH."

AND DEATH." >> THE PROBLEMS MOST SCHOLARS

>> THE PROBLEMS MOST SCHOLARS HAVE WITH THE KENSINGTON

HAVE WITH THE KENSINGTON RUNESTONE IS THAT THE RUNES

RUNESTONE IS THAT THE RUNES ON IT AND THE STONE ITSELF

ON IT AND THE STONE ITSELF AND THE INSCRIPTION,

AND THE INSCRIPTION, THE FORMULA, THE MESSAGE,

THE FORMULA, THE MESSAGE, IS NOTHING LIKE A RUNESTONE

IS NOTHING LIKE A RUNESTONE WOULD BE IN SCANDINAVIA DURING

WOULD BE IN SCANDINAVIA DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

THIS TIME PERIOD. >> narrator: ANOTHER PROBLEM:

>> narrator: ANOTHER PROBLEM: THERE'S NO TRACE OF THE

THERE'S NO TRACE OF THE TEN DEAD VOYAGERS REFERENCED

TEN DEAD VOYAGERS REFERENCED ON THE STONE.

ON THE STONE. ARCHAEOLOGISTS SPENT TIME

ARCHAEOLOGISTS SPENT TIME LOOKING FOR THEIR REMAINS

LOOKING FOR THEIR REMAINS IN THE 1980s.

IN THE 1980s. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOTHERED US WHEN WE WERE DOING

BOTHERED US WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

OUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH WAS THAT AS WE LOOKED

WAS THAT AS WE LOOKED ALL AROUND, WE COULDN'T FIND

ALL AROUND, WE COULDN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF BURIALS.

ANY EVIDENCE OF BURIALS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO HAVE FOUND SOME EVIDENCE

TO HAVE FOUND SOME EVIDENCE OF GRAVES OR TO HAVE HEARD

OF GRAVES OR TO HAVE HEARD SOMEBODY IN THE PAST HAVING

SOMEBODY IN THE PAST HAVING TALKED ABOUT GRAVES.

TALKED ABOUT GRAVES. THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE

THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE ISN'T NECESSARILY A NEGATIVE.

ISN'T NECESSARILY A NEGATIVE. IT JUST MEANS WE DIDN'T

IT JUST MEANS WE DIDN'T FIND IT.

>> narrator: GEOLOGIST SCOTT WOLTER SAYS HE DID

SCOTT WOLTER SAYS HE DID FIND PROOF THE STONE

FIND PROOF THE STONE IS NO 19TH-CENTURY HOAX.

IS NO 19TH-CENTURY HOAX. IN 2000, HE ANALYZED

IN 2000, HE ANALYZED THE WEATHERING OF MINERALS

THE WEATHERING OF MINERALS IN THE STONE'S INSCRIPTION

IN THE STONE'S INSCRIPTION TO DETERMINE WHEN IT WAS CARVED.

TO DETERMINE WHEN IT WAS CARVED. >> THE WEATHERING STUDY PROVES

>> THE WEATHERING STUDY PROVES THAT WHOEVER CARVED THIS

THAT WHOEVER CARVED THIS DID IT AT LEAST 200 YEARS

DID IT AT LEAST 200 YEARS PRIOR TO WHEN IT WAS PULLED OUT

PRIOR TO WHEN IT WAS PULLED OUT OF THE GROUND IN 1898,

OF THE GROUND IN 1898, WHICH MEANS THAT IT CAN'T BE

WHICH MEANS THAT IT CAN'T BE THE LATE 19TH-CENTURY HOAX

THE LATE 19TH-CENTURY HOAX THAT EVERYBODY CLAIMED.

THAT EVERYBODY CLAIMED. THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. >> narrator: REGARDLESS

>> narrator: REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE STONE WAS CARVED,

OF WHEN THE STONE WAS CARVED, MOST ACADEMICS QUESTION

MOST ACADEMICS QUESTION NORSE VOYAGERS' ABILITY TO

NORSE VOYAGERS' ABILITY TO MAKE IT SO FAR INLAND.

MAKE IT SO FAR INLAND. FROM THE GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE

FROM THE GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE WHERE THE L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS

WHERE THE L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS SITE IS FOUND, ONE ROUTE WOULD

SITE IS FOUND, ONE ROUTE WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THEM TO PORTAGE

HAVE REQUIRED THEM TO PORTAGE OVER THE LA CHINE RAPIDS

OVER THE LA CHINE RAPIDS NEAR MONTREAL AND PORTAGE OVER

NEAR MONTREAL AND PORTAGE OVER NIAGARA FALLS BEFORE

NIAGARA FALLS BEFORE MAKING IT INTO THE GREAT LAKES

MAKING IT INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND ON TO KENSINGTON

AND ON TO KENSINGTON VIA A SERIES OF RIVERS.

VIA A SERIES OF RIVERS. >> CERTAINLY SOME TYPES OF

>> CERTAINLY SOME TYPES OF VIKING SHIPS WERE SMALL ENOUGH

VIKING SHIPS WERE SMALL ENOUGH THAT A GROUP OF MEN COULD LIFT

THAT A GROUP OF MEN COULD LIFT THEM AND CARRY THEM OVERLAND

THEM AND CARRY THEM OVERLAND IN A PORTAGE.

IN A PORTAGE. IF THE VIKINGS CAME OVER

IF THE VIKINGS CAME OVER IN A LARGE ENOUGH FORCE,

IN A LARGE ENOUGH FORCE, TOWING SMALLER VESSELS BEHIND

TOWING SMALLER VESSELS BEHIND THEIR LARGER SHIPS,

THEIR LARGER SHIPS, IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE

IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD HAVE MOVED

THAT THEY COULD HAVE MOVED AND PENETRATED FURTHER

AND PENETRATED FURTHER INTO THE AMERICAS.

INTO THE AMERICAS. THE QUESTION IS,

THE QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE?

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? >> narrator: THE SETTLEMENT

>> narrator: THE SETTLEMENT IN NEWFOUNDLAND IS PROOF

IN NEWFOUNDLAND IS PROOF ON ITS OWN THAT THE VIKINGS

ON ITS OWN THAT THE VIKINGS MADE IT TO THE NEW WORLD

MADE IT TO THE NEW WORLD BEFORE COLUMBUS, WHETHER OR NOT

BEFORE COLUMBUS, WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF THESE RUNESTONES

ANY OF THESE RUNESTONES ARE AUTHENTIC OR WHETHER

ARE AUTHENTIC OR WHETHER THIS PENNY WAS DROPPED

THIS PENNY WAS DROPPED BY A REAL VIKING VOYAGER.

BY A REAL VIKING VOYAGER. BUT IT'S POSSIBLE EVEN THE NORSE

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE EVEN THE NORSE WEREN'T THE FIRST EUROPEANS

WEREN'T THE FIRST EUROPEANS TO FIND AMERICA.

TO FIND AMERICA. COULD A MISSIONARY WITH A MOTIVE

COULD A MISSIONARY WITH A MOTIVE HAVE BLAZED THE TRAIL 500 YEARS

HAVE BLAZED THE TRAIL 500 YEARS EARLIER, FINDING A LAND

EARLIER, FINDING A LAND HE CALLED "PARADISE"

HE CALLED "PARADISE" AND RETURNING TO TELL THE TALE?

>> narrator: IN 1492, COLUMBUS DIDN'T DISCOVER A NEW WORLD.

DIDN'T DISCOVER A NEW WORLD. THE POLYNESIANS MIGHT HAVE BEEN

THE POLYNESIANS MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN CALIFORNIA IN 1000 A.D.

IN CALIFORNIA IN 1000 A.D. THE VIKINGS DEFINITELY MADE IT

THE VIKINGS DEFINITELY MADE IT AS FAR AS CANADA, MAYBE AS FAR

AS FAR AS CANADA, MAYBE AS FAR AS MAINE, BUT COULD THOSE

AS MAINE, BUT COULD THOSE VIKINGS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING

VIKINGS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE IRISH?

THE IRISH? IRELAND, 530 A.D.,

IRELAND, 530 A.D., 962 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

962 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, THE ROMAN EMPIRE HAS FALLEN

THE ROMAN EMPIRE HAS FALLEN TO GERMANIC TRIBES,

TO GERMANIC TRIBES, AND EUROPE IS ENTERING

AND EUROPE IS ENTERING THE DARK AGES.

THE DARK AGES. IN IRELAND, ATOP A MOUNTAIN

IN IRELAND, ATOP A MOUNTAIN ON THE DINGLE PENINSULA,

ON THE DINGLE PENINSULA, SAINT BRENDAN THE NAVIGATOR

SAINT BRENDAN THE NAVIGATOR HAD A VISION OF PARADISE.

HAD A VISION OF PARADISE. LEGEND SAYS HE FOUND IT

LEGEND SAYS HE FOUND IT AND THAT IT WAS AMERICA.

AND THAT IT WAS AMERICA. >> BRENDAN WAS

>> BRENDAN WAS THE QUINTESSENTIAL SAILOR.

THE QUINTESSENTIAL SAILOR. HE WAS THE MOST ACCREDITED

HE WAS THE MOST ACCREDITED NAVIGATOR, SAILOR,

NAVIGATOR, SAILOR, OF MEDIEVAL TIMES.

OF MEDIEVAL TIMES. >> narrator: BORN NEAR TRALEE

>> narrator: BORN NEAR TRALEE IN COUNTY KERRY, IRELAND,

IN COUNTY KERRY, IRELAND, IN 484 A.D., BRENDAN WAS

IN 484 A.D., BRENDAN WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST AT AGE 28.

ORDAINED A PRIEST AT AGE 28. HE IS SAID TO HAVE SPENT TIME

HE IS SAID TO HAVE SPENT TIME SAILING THE NORTH ATLANTIC

SAILING THE NORTH ATLANTIC SPREADING CHRISTIANITY.

SPREADING CHRISTIANITY. HE'S EVEN SAID TO HAVE BEATEN

HE'S EVEN SAID TO HAVE BEATEN THE NORSE TO GREENLAND,

THE NORSE TO GREENLAND, WHICH WAS POPULATED AT THE TIME

WHICH WAS POPULATED AT THE TIME BY PALEO-ESKIMO WHALE HUNTERS.

BY PALEO-ESKIMO WHALE HUNTERS. WHEN SAINT BRENDAN SUPPOSEDLY

WHEN SAINT BRENDAN SUPPOSEDLY FOUND AMERICA, HE WAS ALLEGEDLY

FOUND AMERICA, HE WAS ALLEGEDLY LOOKING FOR TERRA REPROMISSIONIS

LOOKING FOR TERRA REPROMISSIONIS SANCTORUM, OR THE LAND PROMISED

SANCTORUM, OR THE LAND PROMISED TO THE SAINTS.

TO THE SAINTS. >> HE ANTICIPATED THAT THERE

>> HE ANTICIPATED THAT THERE WAS A WORLD OUTSIDE OF THIS

WAS A WORLD OUTSIDE OF THIS ISLAND, AND HENCE ULTIMATELY

ISLAND, AND HENCE ULTIMATELY CROSSED THE ATLANTIC TO

CROSSED THE ATLANTIC TO AMERICA.

AMERICA. >> narrator: THE TALE OF SAINT

>> narrator: THE TALE OF SAINT BRENDAN'S VOYAGE IS RECORDED

BRENDAN'S VOYAGE IS RECORDED IN A TEXT CALLED THE NAVAGATIO.

IN A TEXT CALLED THE NAVAGATIO. IT DETAILS HIS JOURNEY WITH

IT DETAILS HIS JOURNEY WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER MONKS

A NUMBER OF OTHER MONKS TO A LAND RICH IN FRUIT, FLORA,

TO A LAND RICH IN FRUIT, FLORA, AND FAUNA HE'D NEVER SEEN

AND FAUNA HE'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

BEFORE. ALONG THE WAY, HE HAD

ALONG THE WAY, HE HAD MANY UNBELIEVABLE ADVENTURES

MANY UNBELIEVABLE ADVENTURES THAT MAKE SOME QUESTION

THAT MAKE SOME QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OF HIS TALE.

THE LEGITIMACY OF HIS TALE. >> BRENDAN AND HIS MONKS HAD

>> BRENDAN AND HIS MONKS HAD LANDED ON THE BACK OF A HUGE

LANDED ON THE BACK OF A HUGE FISH, POSSIBLY A WHALE,

FISH, POSSIBLY A WHALE, AND EVEN ATTEMPTED TO LIGHT

AND EVEN ATTEMPTED TO LIGHT A FIRE ON HIS BACK, WHICH OF

A FIRE ON HIS BACK, WHICH OF COURSE, WOKE THE ANIMAL UP,

COURSE, WOKE THE ANIMAL UP, IF HE WAS ASLEEP.

IF HE WAS ASLEEP. >> narrator: MOST MODERN

>> narrator: MOST MODERN SCHOLARS CONSIDER THE NAVAGATIO

SCHOLARS CONSIDER THE NAVAGATIO A LITERARY LEGEND ALONG

A LITERARY LEGEND ALONG THE LINES OF WELSH PRINCE MADOC.

THE LINES OF WELSH PRINCE MADOC. BUT THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THINGS

BUT THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THINGS LIKE SHEEP WHICH ARE FOUND ON

LIKE SHEEP WHICH ARE FOUND ON THE FAROE ISLANDS AND VOLCANOES

THE FAROE ISLANDS AND VOLCANOES WHICH ARE FOUND ON ICELAND

WHICH ARE FOUND ON ICELAND HAVE SOME HISTORIANS CONVINCED

HAVE SOME HISTORIANS CONVINCED HE MADE IT TO AMERICA

HE MADE IT TO AMERICA VIA A NORTHERN ATLANTIC ROUTE

VIA A NORTHERN ATLANTIC ROUTE THE NORSE WOULD LATER MIMIC.

THE NORSE WOULD LATER MIMIC. OVERLAID, THEIR VOYAGES APPEAR

OVERLAID, THEIR VOYAGES APPEAR QUITE SIMILAR.

QUITE SIMILAR. >> UNDER EXTREMELY FAVORABLE

>> UNDER EXTREMELY FAVORABLE OCEAN CURRENT CONDITIONS,

OCEAN CURRENT CONDITIONS, IT WOULD REQUIRE, AS A MINIMUM,

IT WOULD REQUIRE, AS A MINIMUM, 180 DAYS BUT LIKELY MUCH LONGER.

180 DAYS BUT LIKELY MUCH LONGER. IT WOULD BE COMPLICATED.

IT WOULD BE COMPLICATED. IT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF

IT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF PADDLING OR A LOT OF SKILL

PADDLING OR A LOT OF SKILL WITH SAILING.

WITH SAILING. >> narrator: SAINT BRENDAN

>> narrator: SAINT BRENDAN IS SAID TO HAVE SAILED

IS SAID TO HAVE SAILED A SKIN BOAT CALLED A CURRAGH

A SKIN BOAT CALLED A CURRAGH MADE OF COWHIDES SOFTENED

MADE OF COWHIDES SOFTENED BY BUTTER AND SEWN TOGETHER.

BY BUTTER AND SEWN TOGETHER. >> THE IRISH WERE BUILDING

>> THE IRISH WERE BUILDING SKIN BOATS, SKIN BOATS CAPABLE

SKIN BOATS, SKIN BOATS CAPABLE OF TAKING EXTENDED VOYAGES.

OF TAKING EXTENDED VOYAGES. THEY HAVE A FRAMEWORK,

THEY HAVE A FRAMEWORK, A SKELETON.

A SKELETON. YOU BUILD A BASIC FRAME,

YOU BUILD A BASIC FRAME, AND THEN YOU STITCH AND SEW

AND THEN YOU STITCH AND SEW SKINS TOGETHER TO CREATE

SKINS TOGETHER TO CREATE A WATERTIGHT COVERING TO KEEP

A WATERTIGHT COVERING TO KEEP THE SEA OUT.

THE SEA OUT. >> narrator: WHETHER SAINT

>> narrator: WHETHER SAINT BRENDAN REACHED AMERICA OR NOT,

BRENDAN REACHED AMERICA OR NOT, CARTOGRAPHERS BEGAN INCLUDING

CARTOGRAPHERS BEGAN INCLUDING HIS ALLEGED PARADISE ON MAPS

HIS ALLEGED PARADISE ON MAPS IN THE 1200s.

IN THE 1200s. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIMSELF

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIMSELF WAS SUPPOSEDLY VERY INTERESTED

WAS SUPPOSEDLY VERY INTERESTED IN WHERE SAINT BRENDAN HAD BEEN.

IN WHERE SAINT BRENDAN HAD BEEN. HIS ALLEGED TRIP TO IRELAND

HIS ALLEGED TRIP TO IRELAND TO LEARN THE DETAILS OF

TO LEARN THE DETAILS OF BRENDAN'S VOYAGE HAS BEEN PART

BRENDAN'S VOYAGE HAS BEEN PART OF THE COUNTRY'S ORAL HISTORY

OF THE COUNTRY'S ORAL HISTORY FOR CENTURIES.

FOR CENTURIES. >> COLUMBUS KNEW

>> COLUMBUS KNEW OF THE STORY OF BRENDAN.

OF THE STORY OF BRENDAN. HE CAME TO GALWAY AND LEARNED

HE CAME TO GALWAY AND LEARNED WHAT HE COULD ABOUT BRENDAN.

WHAT HE COULD ABOUT BRENDAN. IT IS A RECORDED FACT THAT

IT IS A RECORDED FACT THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE COLUMBUS

THE NIGHT BEFORE COLUMBUS DEPARTED FOR THE NEW WORLD,

DEPARTED FOR THE NEW WORLD, HE SAID, "I GO TO FIND THE

HE SAID, "I GO TO FIND THE PROMISED LAND OF SAINT BRENDAN."

PROMISED LAND OF SAINT BRENDAN." >> narrator: WHILE

>> narrator: WHILE A 19TH-CENTURY FRENCH WRITER

A 19TH-CENTURY FRENCH WRITER AND HISTORIAN NAMED

AND HISTORIAN NAMED FERDINAND DENIS DID INCLUDE

FERDINAND DENIS DID INCLUDE SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT

SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT IN A BOOK ABOUT WONDERS

IN A BOOK ABOUT WONDERS OF THE WORLD, HIS ORIGINAL

OF THE WORLD, HIS ORIGINAL SOURCE FOR THE INFORMATION

SOURCE FOR THE INFORMATION IS IN QUESTION.

IS IN QUESTION. WHAT ISN'T IN QUESTION

WHAT ISN'T IN QUESTION IS THE FACT THAT COLUMBUS DID

IS THE FACT THAT COLUMBUS DID FIND LAND IN 1492,

FIND LAND IN 1492, AND IT WAS THE BAHAMAS.

AND IT WAS THE BAHAMAS. BUT WHAT BRENDAN FOUND ALMOST

BUT WHAT BRENDAN FOUND ALMOST 1,000 YEARS EARLIER MAY HAVE

1,000 YEARS EARLIER MAY HAVE BEEN MODERN-DAY CONNECTICUT.

>> THIS SITE HERE AT THE GUNGYWAMP HAS ALL OF THE KINDS

GUNGYWAMP HAS ALL OF THE KINDS OF EVIDENCE THAT WE WOULD EXPECT

OF EVIDENCE THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IN AN IRISH

TO SEE IN AN IRISH EARLY CHRISTIAN SITE

EARLY CHRISTIAN SITE OF BRENDAN'S TIME.

OF BRENDAN'S TIME. >> narrator: SPREADING OUT

>> narrator: SPREADING OUT OVER 100 ACRES, THE GUNGYWAMP

OVER 100 ACRES, THE GUNGYWAMP ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN GROTON,

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN GROTON, CONNECTICUT, IS HOME TO

CONNECTICUT, IS HOME TO STONE CHAMBERS, DWELLINGS,

STONE CHAMBERS, DWELLINGS, AND ROCK CARVINGS SOME

AND ROCK CARVINGS SOME ASSOCIATE WITH SAINT BRENDAN.

ASSOCIATE WITH SAINT BRENDAN. THEY WERE HERE EVEN BEFORE

THEY WERE HERE EVEN BEFORE ENGLISH COLONISTS SETTLED

ENGLISH COLONISTS SETTLED THE AREA IN THE 1600s.

THE AREA IN THE 1600s. THE STONE CHAMBERS AT THE SITE

THE STONE CHAMBERS AT THE SITE DON'T LOOK SOPHISTICATED

DON'T LOOK SOPHISTICATED AT FIRST GLANCE, BUT THEY HAVE

AT FIRST GLANCE, BUT THEY HAVE UNDENIABLE FEATURES THAT

UNDENIABLE FEATURES THAT SUGGEST THEY SERVED

SUGGEST THEY SERVED A RELIGIOUS PURPOSE.

A RELIGIOUS PURPOSE. ON THE VERNAL AND AUTUMNAL

ON THE VERNAL AND AUTUMNAL EQUINOXES, SUNLIGHT SHINES

EQUINOXES, SUNLIGHT SHINES THROUGH THIS WINDOW,

THROUGH THIS WINDOW, ILLUMINATING THE CHAMBER.

ILLUMINATING THE CHAMBER. >> THE DATES THAT THE SUN SHINES

>> THE DATES THAT THE SUN SHINES INTO THIS CHAMBER ARE OF

INTO THIS CHAMBER ARE OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE IRISH

SIGNIFICANCE TO THE IRISH EARLY CHRISTIAN

EARLY CHRISTIAN LITURGICAL CYCLE.

LITURGICAL CYCLE. IT'S THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SUN'S

IT'S THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SUN'S POSITION ON THE VERNAL EQUINOX

POSITION ON THE VERNAL EQUINOX WHICH HERALDS THE APPROACHING

WHICH HERALDS THE APPROACHING DATE FOR EASTER.

DATE FOR EASTER. >> narrator: BETWEEN

>> narrator: BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND TENTH CENTURIES,

THE SIXTH AND TENTH CENTURIES, SOLAR ALIGNMENTS LIKE THE ONES

SOLAR ALIGNMENTS LIKE THE ONES FOUND AT THE GUNGYWAMP SITE

FOUND AT THE GUNGYWAMP SITE WERE A COMPONENT OF SMALL

WERE A COMPONENT OF SMALL IRISH CHURCHES, LIKE THE

IRISH CHURCHES, LIKE THE GALLARUS ORATORY ON THE

GALLARUS ORATORY ON THE DINGLE PENINSULA.

DINGLE PENINSULA. >> IT HAS AN EAST-WEST

>> IT HAS AN EAST-WEST ALIGNMENT, THE EAST WINDOW

ALIGNMENT, THE EAST WINDOW AND THE WEST DOORWAY OVER HERE,

AND THE WEST DOORWAY OVER HERE, AND THE STONES HAVE BEEN VERY

AND THE STONES HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFULLY SELECTED TO BUILD

CAREFULLY SELECTED TO BUILD SUCH A PERFECT BUILDING.

SUCH A PERFECT BUILDING. >> narrator: SOLAR ALIGNMENTS

>> narrator: SOLAR ALIGNMENTS AND STONE MASONRY ALONE

AND STONE MASONRY ALONE CAN'T PROVE THE IRISH MADE IT

CAN'T PROVE THE IRISH MADE IT TO WHAT WOULD BECOME

TO WHAT WOULD BECOME THE UNITED STATES,

THE UNITED STATES, BUT THESE COULD BE ANOTHER

BUT THESE COULD BE ANOTHER PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

PIECE OF EVIDENCE. THEY'RE SYMBOLS CALLED CHI-RHOS.

THEY'RE SYMBOLS CALLED CHI-RHOS. OUTLINING THEM IN CHALK

OUTLINING THEM IN CHALK MAKES THEM EASIER TO SEE.

MAKES THEM EASIER TO SEE. >> THEY ARE FULLY CONSISTENT

>> THEY ARE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THE IRISH EARLY CHRISTIAN

WITH THE IRISH EARLY CHRISTIAN TRADITION, THAT IS TO SAY,

TRADITION, THAT IS TO SAY, ROUGHLY 500 TO, LET'S SAY,

ROUGHLY 500 TO, LET'S SAY, 900 A.D.

900 A.D. >> narrator: A CHI-RHO IS

>> narrator: A CHI-RHO IS AN ANCIENT RELIGIOUS SYMBOL.

AN ANCIENT RELIGIOUS SYMBOL. IT'S MADE BY SUPERIMPOSING

IT'S MADE BY SUPERIMPOSING THE FIRST TWO GREEK LETTERS,

THE FIRST TWO GREEK LETTERS, CHI AND RHO,

CHI AND RHO, USED TO SPELL CHRIST.

USED TO SPELL CHRIST. BELIEVERS THINK THE IRISH LEFT

BELIEVERS THINK THE IRISH LEFT THESE HERE AT THE TIME OF

THESE HERE AT THE TIME OF SAINT BRENDAN, BUT THEY CAN'T

SAINT BRENDAN, BUT THEY CAN'T PROVE IT BECAUSE THE ETCHING

PROVE IT BECAUSE THE ETCHING ON THIS TYPE OF STONE CAN'T BE

ON THIS TYPE OF STONE CAN'T BE ACCURATELY DATED.

ACCURATELY DATED. THERE ARE CHARCOAL REMNANTS

THERE ARE CHARCOAL REMNANTS HERE THAT DATE TO 556 A.D.,

HERE THAT DATE TO 556 A.D., SO SOMEONE MADE FIRES THAT FAR

SO SOMEONE MADE FIRES THAT FAR BACK, BUT THERE'S NO PROOF

BACK, BUT THERE'S NO PROOF IT WAS THE IRISH.

IT WAS THE IRISH. IF THEY WERE HERE, THEY DIDN'T

IF THEY WERE HERE, THEY DIDN'T LEAVE BEHIND ANY OF THEIR

LEAVE BEHIND ANY OF THEIR WRITTEN LANGUAGE, CALLED OGHAM,

WRITTEN LANGUAGE, CALLED OGHAM, BUT THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE OF

BUT THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE OF OGHAM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA.

OGHAM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA. >> OGHAMS WERE USED EITHER

>> OGHAMS WERE USED EITHER AS A MEMORIAL OR A LAND CLAIM,

AS A MEMORIAL OR A LAND CLAIM, LAND MARKER.

LAND MARKER. >> narrator: OGHAM LOOKS

>> narrator: OGHAM LOOKS TO MOST PEOPLE LIKE

TO MOST PEOPLE LIKE A SERIES OF NONSENSICAL

A SERIES OF NONSENSICAL HASH MARKS, BUT THE LINES

HASH MARKS, BUT THE LINES TRANSLATE INTO LETTERS

TRANSLATE INTO LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET.

OF THE ALPHABET. >> THESE MARKS ARE FOUND ALL

>> THESE MARKS ARE FOUND ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA, THE UNITED

OVER NORTH AMERICA, THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

STATES AND CANADA. >> narrator: THESE WERE FOUND

>> narrator: THESE WERE FOUND AT BUCKHORN STATE PARK

AT BUCKHORN STATE PARK IN KENTUCKY.

IN KENTUCKY. >> IN THE MIDDLE PANEL, THERE

>> IN THE MIDDLE PANEL, THERE WERE THINGS THAT I COULD GRASP

WERE THINGS THAT I COULD GRASP IN OLD CELTIC, AND IT WAS SAYING

IN OLD CELTIC, AND IT WAS SAYING THINGS LIKE, "WE ARE A BAND OF

THINGS LIKE, "WE ARE A BAND OF PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM ACROSS..."

PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM ACROSS..." IT COULD BE FROM ACROSS THE

IT COULD BE FROM ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS OR ACROSS THE SEA.

APPALACHIANS OR ACROSS THE SEA. THE DEBATE IS, ARE THESE TRULY

THE DEBATE IS, ARE THESE TRULY OGHAMS OR ARE THEY SOMETHING

OGHAMS OR ARE THEY SOMETHING ELSE?

ELSE? SOME OF IT CAN READ

SOME OF IT CAN READ AS OLD CELTIC, AND SOME OF IT

AS OLD CELTIC, AND SOME OF IT CAN READ AS ALGONQUIN.

CAN READ AS ALGONQUIN. THEY LOOK VERY, VERY, VERY

THEY LOOK VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH ALIKE.

MUCH ALIKE. MOST AMERICAN SCHOLARS

MOST AMERICAN SCHOLARS DO NOT REGARD OGHAM

DO NOT REGARD OGHAM AS AUTHENTIC.

AS AUTHENTIC. >> YOU WOULD NEED AN IRISH

>> YOU WOULD NEED AN IRISH EXPERT, PERHAPS, TO GO OUT,

EXPERT, PERHAPS, TO GO OUT, LOOK AT YOUR INSCRIPTIONS,

LOOK AT YOUR INSCRIPTIONS, AND SEE IF THEY COULD READ THEM,

AND SEE IF THEY COULD READ THEM, SEE IF THEY COULD MAKE ANY SENSE

SEE IF THEY COULD MAKE ANY SENSE OF THEM.

OF THEM. >> narrator: WITH NO HARD

>> narrator: WITH NO HARD EVIDENCE, NO UNDENIABLE REMNANTS

EVIDENCE, NO UNDENIABLE REMNANTS OF SIXTH-CENTURY IRISH

OF SIXTH-CENTURY IRISH FOUND IN AMERICA,

FOUND IN AMERICA, SAINT BRENDAN'S LEGEND OF

SAINT BRENDAN'S LEGEND OF AN AMERICAN LANDFALL MAY BE

AN AMERICAN LANDFALL MAY BE JUST THAT, A LEGEND.

JUST THAT, A LEGEND. >> ARCHAEOLOGISTS LOOK AT

>> ARCHAEOLOGISTS LOOK AT WHAT'S LEFT.

WHAT'S LEFT. WE TRY TO FIND EVIDENCE TO

WE TRY TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST WHETHER A MYTH IS JUST

SUGGEST WHETHER A MYTH IS JUST THAT OR IF IT TELLS

THAT OR IF IT TELLS A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH THAT'S BEEN

A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH THAT'S BEEN FORGOTTEN.

FORGOTTEN. WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT EVIDENCE

WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT EVIDENCE FOR THE BRENDAN VOYAGE.

FOR THE BRENDAN VOYAGE. >> narrator: SAINT BRENDAN

>> narrator: SAINT BRENDAN DIED IN 577 A.D., LEAVING BEHIND

DIED IN 577 A.D., LEAVING BEHIND THE MYSTERY OF HIS PARADISE.

THE MYSTERY OF HIS PARADISE. AT THE ROOT OF HIS JOURNEY WAS

AT THE ROOT OF HIS JOURNEY WAS RELIGION AND A DESIRE TO SPREAD

RELIGION AND A DESIRE TO SPREAD HIS BELIEFS.

HIS BELIEFS. IN THAT WAY, HE WAS LIKE OTHERS

IN THAT WAY, HE WAS LIKE OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE COME TO AMERICA

WHO MAY HAVE COME TO AMERICA EVEN BEFORE HIM.

EVEN BEFORE HIM. A VOYAGE BY ANCIENT HEBREWS

A VOYAGE BY ANCIENT HEBREWS TO AMERICA BEFORE THE TIME

TO AMERICA BEFORE THE TIME OF CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION

OF CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION FOR AN ENTIRE RELIGION.

FOR AN ENTIRE RELIGION. NOW COULD BLOOD EVIDENCE PROVE

NOW COULD BLOOD EVIDENCE PROVE NOT ONLY THAT THEY WERE HERE

NOT ONLY THAT THEY WERE HERE BUT THAT THEY'RE THE ANCESTORS

BUT THAT THEY'RE THE ANCESTORS OF MODERN-DAY CHEROKEE?

>> narrator: ISRAEL, 600 B.C., 2,092 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

2,092 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, POMPEII IS FOUNDED IN ITALY,

POMPEII IS FOUNDED IN ITALY, LATER TO BE DESTROYED BY

LATER TO BE DESTROYED BY THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS,

THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS, AND THE MAYAN CULTURE

AND THE MAYAN CULTURE IS FLOURISHING IN MESOAMERICA.

IS FLOURISHING IN MESOAMERICA. IN ISRAEL, JERUSALEM WILL SOON

IN ISRAEL, JERUSALEM WILL SOON BE TAKEN OVER BY THE BABYLONIANS

BE TAKEN OVER BY THE BABYLONIANS AND THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON

AND THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON DESTROYED.

DESTROYED. ANCIENT HEBREWS ARE FLEEING

ANCIENT HEBREWS ARE FLEEING BUT WHERE TO?

BUT WHERE TO? >> THE THOUGHT OF EARLY HEBREWS

>> THE THOUGHT OF EARLY HEBREWS COMING TO THE NEW WORLD

COMING TO THE NEW WORLD HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF A GREAT DEAL

HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION GOING ALL THE WAY

OF DISCUSSION GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 19TH CENTURY.

BACK TO THE 19TH CENTURY. >> narrator: THE CHURCH OF

>> narrator: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY

JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS IS BASED IN PART

SAINTS IS BASED IN PART ON THE BOOK OF MORMON

ON THE BOOK OF MORMON WHICH TELLS HOW A PROPHET

WHICH TELLS HOW A PROPHET NAMED LEHI AND HIS SONS

NAMED LEHI AND HIS SONS BUILT A BOAT AND SAILED IT

BUILT A BOAT AND SAILED IT TO AMERICA AROUND 600 B.C.

TO AMERICA AROUND 600 B.C. ARTISTIC RENDERINGS OFTEN

ARTISTIC RENDERINGS OFTEN DEPICT IT AS A TYPE OF ARK

DEPICT IT AS A TYPE OF ARK WITH SAILS, BUT THERE WAS

WITH SAILS, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER TYPE OF SHIP ISRAELITES

ANOTHER TYPE OF SHIP ISRAELITES WERE USING AT THAT TIME.

WERE USING AT THAT TIME. >> THE ROMAN SHIPS THAT THE

>> THE ROMAN SHIPS THAT THE HEBREWS WOULD HAVE USED HAD THEY

HEBREWS WOULD HAVE USED HAD THEY MADE SUCH A VOYAGE WOULD BE

MADE SUCH A VOYAGE WOULD BE SOLID BUILT, ROUND-FORMED HULLS,

SOLID BUILT, ROUND-FORMED HULLS, HEAVILY FRAMED,

HEAVILY FRAMED, THAT IS, THICK RIBBED,

THAT IS, THICK RIBBED, CARRYING A SQUARE SAIL

CARRYING A SQUARE SAIL WITH A HIGH-ELEVATED

WITH A HIGH-ELEVATED BOW AND STERN,

BOW AND STERN, CAPABLE OF CARRYING ALL SORTS

CAPABLE OF CARRYING ALL SORTS OF CARGO AND PEOPLE.

OF CARGO AND PEOPLE. >> narrator: LEHI'S ALLEGED

>> narrator: LEHI'S ALLEGED ROUTE WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM

ROUTE WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM FROM OMAN THROUGH THE INDIAN

FROM OMAN THROUGH THE INDIAN AND PACIFIC OCEANS TO THE

AND PACIFIC OCEANS TO THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COAST.

CENTRAL AMERICAN COAST. EVEN USING OCEAN CURRENTS,

EVEN USING OCEAN CURRENTS, THE DRIFTERS SUGGEST

THE DRIFTERS SUGGEST IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN 580 DAYS.

IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN 580 DAYS. THAT'S MORE THAN

THAT'S MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF.

A YEAR AND A HALF. >> I DON'T THINK THERE'S

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S A QUESTION OF SHIPS MAKING IT.

A QUESTION OF SHIPS MAKING IT. A VESSEL CAN MAKE IT WITH

A VESSEL CAN MAKE IT WITH DEAD PEOPLE.

DEAD PEOPLE. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER PEOPLE

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER PEOPLE WOULD MAKE IT IN THAT VOYAGE

WOULD MAKE IT IN THAT VOYAGE IF IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF TIME

IF IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF TIME OR THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING

OR THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHERE THEY WERE GOING.

WHERE THEY WERE GOING. >> narrator: LEHI ISN'T

>> narrator: LEHI ISN'T THE ONLY ANCIENT ISRAELITE

THE ONLY ANCIENT ISRAELITE THOUGHT BY SOME TO HAVE MADE IT

THOUGHT BY SOME TO HAVE MADE IT TO AMERICA.

TO AMERICA. THERE IS OTHER LORE THAT

THERE IS OTHER LORE THAT ONE OF THE TEN LOST TRIBES

ONE OF THE TEN LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL EXILED BY

OF ISRAEL EXILED BY THE ASSYRIANS IN 700 B.C.

THE ASSYRIANS IN 700 B.C. ALSO ENDED UP IN THE NEW WORLD.

ALSO ENDED UP IN THE NEW WORLD. EITHER SCENARIO ENDS WITH

EITHER SCENARIO ENDS WITH THE SAME ASSUMPTION,

THE SAME ASSUMPTION, THAT ANCIENT JEWISH PEOPLE

THAT ANCIENT JEWISH PEOPLE ARE THE ANCESTORS

ARE THE ANCESTORS OF SOME NATIVE AMERICANS.

OF SOME NATIVE AMERICANS. >> WE ARE A JEWISH PEOPLE

>> WE ARE A JEWISH PEOPLE BY RACE AND BY CULTURE.

BY RACE AND BY CULTURE. ALL OF OUR CEREMONIAL DAYS

ALL OF OUR CEREMONIAL DAYS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME TIME

ARE EXACTLY THE SAME TIME AS THE JEWISH PEOPLE, AND THAT

AS THE JEWISH PEOPLE, AND THAT CANNOT BE OF ANY ACCIDENT

CANNOT BE OF ANY ACCIDENT OR ANY COINCIDENCE AT ALL.

OR ANY COINCIDENCE AT ALL. >> narrator: LIGHT-SKINNED

>> narrator: LIGHT-SKINNED MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL BAND

MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL BAND OF CHEROKEE DON'T LOOK LIKE

OF CHEROKEE DON'T LOOK LIKE MANY NATIVE AMERICANS.

MANY NATIVE AMERICANS. CHEROKEE STARTED MINGLING WITH

CHEROKEE STARTED MINGLING WITH WHITE SETTLERS MUCH EARLIER THAN

WHITE SETTLERS MUCH EARLIER THAN OTHER NORTH AMERICAN TRIBES,

OTHER NORTH AMERICAN TRIBES, AS EARLY AS THE 1600s.

AS EARLY AS THE 1600s. THAT'S ONE POSSIBLE EXPLANATION

THAT'S ONE POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THEIR SKIN COLOR.

FOR THEIR SKIN COLOR. BUT COULD ANOTHER BE THAT

BUT COULD ANOTHER BE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ORIGINS IN ASIA

THEY DON'T HAVE ORIGINS IN ASIA LIKE MOST NATIVE AMERICANS DO?

LIKE MOST NATIVE AMERICANS DO? SO STRONG IS THE CENTRAL BAND'S

SO STRONG IS THE CENTRAL BAND'S BELIEF THAT THEY HAVE JEWISH

BELIEF THAT THEY HAVE JEWISH ANCESTRY AND ORIGINS IN ANCIENT

ANCESTRY AND ORIGINS IN ANCIENT ISRAEL, THEY SET OUT TO PROVE

ISRAEL, THEY SET OUT TO PROVE IT BY BLOOD.

IT BY BLOOD. >> WELL, WE KNEW THAT DNA

>> WELL, WE KNEW THAT DNA WOULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE

WOULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS PROOF OR DISPROOF.

IN THIS PROOF OR DISPROOF. SO WE'VE DONE A CONSIDERABLE

SO WE'VE DONE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DNA TESTING WITH

AMOUNT OF DNA TESTING WITH FAMILY TREE DNA.

FAMILY TREE DNA. >> WE DO A MULTITUDE OF THINGS.

>> WE DO A MULTITUDE OF THINGS. WE CONNECT PEOPLE

WE CONNECT PEOPLE BOTH GENEALOGICALLY AND

BOTH GENEALOGICALLY AND ANTHROPOLOGICALLY TO THEIR

ANTHROPOLOGICALLY TO THEIR ANCESTORS.

ANCESTORS. WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO DETERMINE

WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO DETERMINE SOMEONE'S DEEPER ANCESTRY,

SOMEONE'S DEEPER ANCESTRY, WHAT WE CALL THEIR

WHAT WE CALL THEIR ANTHROGENEALOGICAL INFORMATION.

ANTHROGENEALOGICAL INFORMATION. AND WHAT THAT DOES IS,

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS, THAT TRACKS THE INDIVIDUAL

THAT TRACKS THE INDIVIDUAL BACK NOT HUNDREDS OF YEARS,

BACK NOT HUNDREDS OF YEARS, AS WE DO IN GENEALOGY,

AS WE DO IN GENEALOGY, BUT THOUSANDS OR

BUT THOUSANDS OR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SUIT UP.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SUIT UP. >> narrator: CHIEF SITTING OWL'S

>> narrator: CHIEF SITTING OWL'S BLOOD WAS TESTED ALONG WITH

BLOOD WAS TESTED ALONG WITH THE BLOOD OF 89 OTHER MEMBERS

THE BLOOD OF 89 OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL BAND OF CHEROKEE

OF THE CENTRAL BAND OF CHEROKEE FOR ASSIGNMENT INTO

FOR ASSIGNMENT INTO WHAT'S CALLED A HAPLOGROUP,

WHAT'S CALLED A HAPLOGROUP, OR GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH

OR GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH A COMMON DNA SEQUENCE.

A COMMON DNA SEQUENCE. JEWISH PEOPLE TYPICALLY FALL

JEWISH PEOPLE TYPICALLY FALL INTO ONE OF FOUR HAPLOGROUPS.

INTO ONE OF FOUR HAPLOGROUPS. >> A GREAT AMOUNT OF OUR BELIEFS

>> A GREAT AMOUNT OF OUR BELIEFS AND PRACTICES ARE JEWISH.

AND PRACTICES ARE JEWISH. WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL RECORD

WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL RECORD THAT COMES FROM THE ORAL

THAT COMES FROM THE ORAL HISTORY.

HISTORY. >> narrator: BUT WILL THEY HAVE

>> narrator: BUT WILL THEY HAVE THE BLOOD EVIDENCE?

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ARCHAEOLOGY PROVING AN ANCIENT

ARCHAEOLOGY PROVING AN ANCIENT HEBREW MIGRATION TO

HEBREW MIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES,

THE UNITED STATES, SUCH PROOF IS HARD TO COME BY.

SUCH PROOF IS HARD TO COME BY. NEW MEXICO STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST

NEW MEXICO STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST DAVID ECK HAS LED

DAVID ECK HAS LED MORE THAN HIS SHARE OF PEOPLE

MORE THAN HIS SHARE OF PEOPLE INTO THE LOS LUNAS DESERT

INTO THE LOS LUNAS DESERT TO LOOK AT THIS STONE

TO LOOK AT THIS STONE ETCHED WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

ETCHED WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE

IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE PALEO-HEBREW.

PALEO-HEBREW. IT'S JUST ONE OF SEVERAL STONES

IT'S JUST ONE OF SEVERAL STONES IN THE UNITED STATES

IN THE UNITED STATES PEOPLE CLAIM IS EVIDENCE OF

PEOPLE CLAIM IS EVIDENCE OF AN ANCIENT ISRAELITE MIGRATION.

AN ANCIENT ISRAELITE MIGRATION. >> THERE ARE MANY THEORIES ABOUT

>> THERE ARE MANY THEORIES ABOUT WHAT THE STONE IS, ALL THE WAY

WHAT THE STONE IS, ALL THE WAY FROM EXTRATERRESTRIALS CARVING

FROM EXTRATERRESTRIALS CARVING A MESSAGE FOR HUMANITY

A MESSAGE FOR HUMANITY TO LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL

TO LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL WANDERING THE DESERTS OF

WANDERING THE DESERTS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST.

THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST. >> LOOKING AT THIS THING,

>> LOOKING AT THIS THING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMPS OUT

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMPS OUT RIGHT AWAY IS,

RIGHT AWAY IS, THESE CHARACTERS LOOK

THESE CHARACTERS LOOK RELATIVELY FRESH.

RELATIVELY FRESH. >> narrator: PRACTICALLY SINCE

>> narrator: PRACTICALLY SINCE ITS DISCOVERY IN THE EARLY

ITS DISCOVERY IN THE EARLY 1900s, THE STONE HAS BEEN

1900s, THE STONE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO VANDALISM,

SUBJECT TO VANDALISM, PEOPLE SCRATCHING

PEOPLE SCRATCHING THE INSCRIPTION,

THE INSCRIPTION, EVEN ADDING TO IT IN SOME CASES.

EVEN ADDING TO IT IN SOME CASES. >> THIS MARK HAS BEEN ALTERED.

>> THIS MARK HAS BEEN ALTERED. AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO WORK HAS

AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TRYING TO DATE

BEEN DONE TRYING TO DATE THE INSCRIPTION BECAUSE THERE

THE INSCRIPTION BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY FEW METHODS

ARE VERY FEW METHODS THAT I KNOW OF THAT WOULD

THAT I KNOW OF THAT WOULD EVEN ALLOW THE POSSIBILITY

EVEN ALLOW THE POSSIBILITY OF DATING.

OF DATING. WE'RE HOPING THAT TODAY

WE'RE HOPING THAT TODAY WE'LL FIND OUT SOME OF THOSE

WE'LL FIND OUT SOME OF THOSE POSSIBILITIES.

POSSIBILITIES. >> narrator: THE STATE AGREED

>> narrator: THE STATE AGREED TO ALLOW FORENSIC PETROGRAPHER

TO ALLOW FORENSIC PETROGRAPHER SCOTT WOLTER TO PERFORM

SCOTT WOLTER TO PERFORM NONINVASIVE TESTING TO HOPEFULLY

NONINVASIVE TESTING TO HOPEFULLY PROVE WHEN THIS STONE

PROVE WHEN THIS STONE WAS CARVED.

WAS CARVED. >> WHAT WE NEED TO DO

>> WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TRY TO FIND SOME

IS TRY TO FIND SOME ORIGINAL MARKS, LIKE MAYBE HERE.

ORIGINAL MARKS, LIKE MAYBE HERE. THIS LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY HAVE

THIS LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY HAVE LEFT THIS AREA ALONE.

LEFT THIS AREA ALONE. >> narrator: WOLTER PHOTOGRAPHS

>> narrator: WOLTER PHOTOGRAPHS THE STONE WITH A CAMERA

THE STONE WITH A CAMERA OUTFITTED AS A PORTABLE

OUTFITTED AS A PORTABLE MICROSCOPE.

MICROSCOPE. >> BY NATURE, MY WORK IS

>> BY NATURE, MY WORK IS INVASIVE, BUT IN THIS CASE,

INVASIVE, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT HAS TO BE TOTALLY

IT HAS TO BE TOTALLY NONINVASIVE.

NONINVASIVE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS,

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, YOU SEE THIS WEATHERED SURFACE?

YOU SEE THIS WEATHERED SURFACE? IT'D BE NICE TO GET A PIECE

IT'D BE NICE TO GET A PIECE THAT I COULD CUT INTO AND LOOK

THAT I COULD CUT INTO AND LOOK AT THAT WEATHERING PROFILE.

AT THAT WEATHERING PROFILE. AND I'M JUST PICKING OUT A PIECE

AND I'M JUST PICKING OUT A PIECE RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT HERE. THIS ONE KIND OF HAS

THIS ONE KIND OF HAS A SIMILAR LOOK TO IT.

A SIMILAR LOOK TO IT. >> IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR.

>> IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR. >> YEAH.

>> YEAH. >> I SEE NO CARVINGS ON IT.

>> I SEE NO CARVINGS ON IT. THAT WOULD BE THE SAMPLE.

THAT WOULD BE THE SAMPLE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT'LL WORK.

THAT'LL WORK. >> narrator: BACK IN THE LAB,

>> narrator: BACK IN THE LAB, THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. CAN THE INSCRIPTION BE DATED?

CAN THE INSCRIPTION BE DATED? WOLTER COMPARES THE SAMPLE

WOLTER COMPARES THE SAMPLE WITH THE PHOTOS HE TOOK

WITH THE PHOTOS HE TOOK AND WITH PHOTOS TAKEN

AND WITH PHOTOS TAKEN BY OTHERS MANY YEARS AGO

BY OTHERS MANY YEARS AGO IN AN ATTEMPT TO USE

IN AN ATTEMPT TO USE THE WEATHERING PERIOD

THE WEATHERING PERIOD OF EXPOSED MINERALS IN

OF EXPOSED MINERALS IN THE INSCRIPTION TO DATE IT.

THE INSCRIPTION TO DATE IT. >> ARE THERE FEATURES THAT I SEE

>> ARE THERE FEATURES THAT I SEE ON THIS THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO

ON THIS THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S MORE LIKELY

BELIEVE THAT IT'S MORE LIKELY OF RECENT AGE AS OPPOSED

OF RECENT AGE AS OPPOSED TO BEING OLD?

TO BEING OLD? I WOULD SAY NO.

I WOULD SAY NO. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE A CONCLUSION THAT WAY.

A CONCLUSION THAT WAY. >> narrator: THE VANDALISM

>> narrator: THE VANDALISM OF THE INSCRIPTION IS TOO SEVERE

OF THE INSCRIPTION IS TOO SEVERE FOR GEOLOGY TO CONCLUDE

FOR GEOLOGY TO CONCLUDE WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CARVED.

WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CARVED. >> THE FACT THAT THE STONE HAS

>> THE FACT THAT THE STONE HAS BEEN CLEANED AND RETOOLED

BEEN CLEANED AND RETOOLED AND WHO KNOWS WHAT DONE TO IT,

AND WHO KNOWS WHAT DONE TO IT, THAT'S NOT HELPFUL.

THAT'S NOT HELPFUL. >> PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE, AND

>> PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE, AND AS SOON AS THEY WANT TO BELIEVE,

AS SOON AS THEY WANT TO BELIEVE, THEY STOP THINKING.

THEY STOP THINKING. >> narrator: ANOTHER STONE

>> narrator: ANOTHER STONE WITH A MYSTERIOUS SEEMINGLY

WITH A MYSTERIOUS SEEMINGLY HEBREW INSCRIPTION WAS FOUND

HEBREW INSCRIPTION WAS FOUND HERE, ALONG THE BAT CREEK

HERE, ALONG THE BAT CREEK IN EASTERN TENNESSEE.

IN EASTERN TENNESSEE. SOME SAY THE INSCRIPTION

SOME SAY THE INSCRIPTION TRANSLATES TO "FOR JUDEA,"

TRANSLATES TO "FOR JUDEA," A REFERENCE TO ANCIENT ISRAEL.

A REFERENCE TO ANCIENT ISRAEL. IT WAS FOUND 1889,

IT WAS FOUND 1889, ALONG WITH WOOD FRAGMENTS

ALONG WITH WOOD FRAGMENTS THAT WERE CARBON-14 DATED

THAT WERE CARBON-14 DATED TO SOME TIME BETWEEN THE FIRST

TO SOME TIME BETWEEN THE FIRST AND EIGHTH CENTURY A.D.

AND EIGHTH CENTURY A.D. IT WAS FOUND IN A CHEROKEE

IT WAS FOUND IN A CHEROKEE BURIAL MOUND.

BURIAL MOUND. >> THE ARTIFACTS THAT HAVE BEEN

>> THE ARTIFACTS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THIS AREA WHERE THE

FOUND IN THIS AREA WHERE THE CHEROKEE PEOPLE LIVE ARE VERY

CHEROKEE PEOPLE LIVE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE OF OUR

IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE OF OUR HERITAGE GOING BACK TO THE SAME

HERITAGE GOING BACK TO THE SAME PEOPLE THAT BECAME THE CHEROKEE

PEOPLE THAT BECAME THE CHEROKEE KNOWN TODAY.

KNOWN TODAY. >> narrator: EXCEPT

>> narrator: EXCEPT FAMILY TREE DNA SAYS THE RESULTS

FAMILY TREE DNA SAYS THE RESULTS OF CHIEF SITTING OWL'S TESTS

OF CHIEF SITTING OWL'S TESTS ARE IN, AND THEY ARE PROBLEMATIC

ARE IN, AND THEY ARE PROBLEMATIC IN PROVING JEWISH ANCESTRY.

IN PROVING JEWISH ANCESTRY. >> AS FAR AS TESTING HAS

>> AS FAR AS TESTING HAS BEEN DONE WITH US, I SEE

BEEN DONE WITH US, I SEE NO CONNECTION TO ANY ANCIENT

NO CONNECTION TO ANY ANCIENT HEBRAIC OR JEWISH POPULATIONS

HEBRAIC OR JEWISH POPULATIONS WHATSOEVER.

WHATSOEVER. >> narrator: OF ALL THE MEMBERS

>> narrator: OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL BAND OF CHEROKEE

OF THE CENTRAL BAND OF CHEROKEE WHO WERE TESTED, ONLY 3% SHOW

WHO WERE TESTED, ONLY 3% SHOW ANY JEWISH ANCESTRY, NOT ENOUGH

ANY JEWISH ANCESTRY, NOT ENOUGH TO PROVE AN ANCIENT HEBREW

TO PROVE AN ANCIENT HEBREW HERITAGE FOR THE PEOPLE IN

HERITAGE FOR THE PEOPLE IN CHIEF SITTING OWL'S TRIBE.

CHIEF SITTING OWL'S TRIBE. >> WILL WE EVER FIND THE FULL

>> WILL WE EVER FIND THE FULL BLOODLINE OF THE CHEROKEE

BLOODLINE OF THE CHEROKEE PEOPLE?

PEOPLE? YES.

YES. >> narrator: CHIEF SITTING OWL'S

>> narrator: CHIEF SITTING OWL'S TRIBE ONLY REPRESENTS WHAT

TRIBE ONLY REPRESENTS WHAT HE SAYS IS A SMALL NUMBER

HE SAYS IS A SMALL NUMBER OF CHEROKEE, LESS THAN 1%.

OF CHEROKEE, LESS THAN 1%. THE CENTRAL BAND ITSELF IS NOT

THE CENTRAL BAND ITSELF IS NOT ONE OF THE THREE FEDERALLY

ONE OF THE THREE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES OF CHEROKEE,

RECOGNIZED TRIBES OF CHEROKEE, ALTHOUGH THE BUREAU OF INDIAN

ALTHOUGH THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGES

AFFAIRS OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGES THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH CHEROKEE ANCESTRY THAT'S HARD

CHEROKEE ANCESTRY THAT'S HARD TO TRACE.

TO TRACE. >> WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE

>> WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION HERE IN THE CENTRAL

SITUATION HERE IN THE CENTRAL BAND OF CHEROKEE.

BAND OF CHEROKEE. WE WERE ISOLATED FROM THE MAIN

WE WERE ISOLATED FROM THE MAIN BODY OF THE CHEROKEE IN NORTH

BODY OF THE CHEROKEE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTH GEORGIA.

CAROLINA AND NORTH GEORGIA. >> narrator: DNA TESTING

>> narrator: DNA TESTING OF MORE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL

OF MORE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL BAND IS JUST GETTING UNDER WAY

BAND IS JUST GETTING UNDER WAY IN WHAT'S CALLED

IN WHAT'S CALLED THE ABRAHAM/MOSES PROJECT.

THE ABRAHAM/MOSES PROJECT. SOME MEMBERS OF THE EASTERN

SOME MEMBERS OF THE EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE, A TRIBE

BAND OF CHEROKEE, A TRIBE THAT IS FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED,

THAT IS FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED, ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE

ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE RESULTS BECAUSE THEY TOO

RESULTS BECAUSE THEY TOO SUSPECT A JEWISH ANCESTRY.

SUSPECT A JEWISH ANCESTRY. EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT JEWISH,

EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT JEWISH, CHIEF SITTING OWL SAYS

CHIEF SITTING OWL SAYS THE TEST RESULTS FOR HIS TRIBE

THE TEST RESULTS FOR HIS TRIBE ARE STILL VERY INTERESTING

ARE STILL VERY INTERESTING IN PROVING WHO CAME TO AMERICA

IN PROVING WHO CAME TO AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS AND HOW.

BEFORE COLUMBUS AND HOW. >> OUR CHEROKEE DNA PROJECT

>> OUR CHEROKEE DNA PROJECT HAS PROVEN THAT THE CHEROKEE DID

HAS PROVEN THAT THE CHEROKEE DID NOT COME ACROSS THE BERING SEA.

NOT COME ACROSS THE BERING SEA. >> narrator: 94% OF THOSE

>> narrator: 94% OF THOSE TESTED IN THE CENTRAL BAND

TESTED IN THE CENTRAL BAND SHOWED EUROPEAN ANCESTRY

SHOWED EUROPEAN ANCESTRY GOING BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

GOING BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS. EXACTLY HOW FAR BACK IS UNKNOWN.

EXACTLY HOW FAR BACK IS UNKNOWN. THAT COULD MEAN THEY AREN'T

THAT COULD MEAN THEY AREN'T CHEROKEE AT ALL.

CHEROKEE AT ALL. IT COULD ALSO MEAN THEY MIXED

IT COULD ALSO MEAN THEY MIXED HEAVILY WITH WHITE SETTLERS

HEAVILY WITH WHITE SETTLERS IN THE NEW WORLD, OR IT COULD

IN THE NEW WORLD, OR IT COULD MEAN THEY ARE DESCENDENTS

MEAN THEY ARE DESCENDENTS OF EUROPEANS WHO WERE HERE EVEN

OF EUROPEANS WHO WERE HERE EVEN BEFORE PALEO-INDIANS CROSSED

BEFORE PALEO-INDIANS CROSSED THE BERING STRAIT.

THE BERING STRAIT. IN A BOLD NEW THEORY,

IN A BOLD NEW THEORY, A SMITHSONIAN ARCHAEOLOGIST

A SMITHSONIAN ARCHAEOLOGIST SUGGESTS THE PEOPLE WHO CAME

SUGGESTS THE PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM ASIA LEARNED TO MAKE THEIR

FROM ASIA LEARNED TO MAKE THEIR TOOLS FROM EUROPEANS WHO WERE

TOOLS FROM EUROPEANS WHO WERE ALREADY HERE MORE THAN

ALREADY HERE MORE THAN 20,000 YEARS AGO.

>> narrator: 22,000 B.C., 23,492 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

23,492 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. IT'S THE ICE AGE, AND MUCH

IT'S THE ICE AGE, AND MUCH OF THE EARTH'S WATER IS FROZEN,

OF THE EARTH'S WATER IS FROZEN, MAKING SEA LEVELS WORLDWIDE

MAKING SEA LEVELS WORLDWIDE 450 FEET LOWER.

450 FEET LOWER. IT'S STILL THOUSANDS OF YEARS

IT'S STILL THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE PALEO-INDIANS WILL CROSS

BEFORE PALEO-INDIANS WILL CROSS THE BERING STRAIT LAND BRIDGE

THE BERING STRAIT LAND BRIDGE FROM SIBERIA INTO NORTH AMERICA,

FROM SIBERIA INTO NORTH AMERICA, BUT OFF THE COAST OF VIRGINIA,

BUT OFF THE COAST OF VIRGINIA, SOMEONE WAS HUNTING

SOMEONE WAS HUNTING A MASTODON AND LEFT A CLUE

A MASTODON AND LEFT A CLUE THAT COULD MEAN EUROPEANS

THAT COULD MEAN EUROPEANS REALLY WERE THE VERY FIRST

REALLY WERE THE VERY FIRST TO FIND AMERICA.

TO FIND AMERICA. >> THIS IS THE OLDEST ARTIFACT

>> THIS IS THE OLDEST ARTIFACT IN THE AMERICAS.

IN THE AMERICAS. THIS ARTIFACT DEFINITELY GOES

THIS ARTIFACT DEFINITELY GOES WITH THAT MASTODON, AND WE HAVE

WITH THAT MASTODON, AND WE HAVE A DATE ON THAT MASTODON OF

A DATE ON THAT MASTODON OF ALMOST 24,000 YEARS.

ALMOST 24,000 YEARS. >> narrator: SMITHSONIAN

>> narrator: SMITHSONIAN ARCHAEOLOGIST DENNIS STANFORD

ARCHAEOLOGIST DENNIS STANFORD SAYS THE ARTIFACT,

SAYS THE ARTIFACT, CALLED A BIFACE,

CALLED A BIFACE, LOOKS JUST LIKE THE ONES

LOOKS JUST LIKE THE ONES SOLUTREANS MADE.

SOLUTREANS MADE. THE SOLUTREANS WERE

THE SOLUTREANS WERE HUNTER-GATHERERS IN SOUTHWESTERN

HUNTER-GATHERERS IN SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE IN 22,000 B.C.

EUROPE IN 22,000 B.C. STANFORD HYPOTHESIZES

STANFORD HYPOTHESIZES THE SOLUTREANS USED SKIN BOATS

THE SOLUTREANS USED SKIN BOATS TO REACH AMERICA ALONG

TO REACH AMERICA ALONG THE POLAR ICE FRONT, WHICH

THE POLAR ICE FRONT, WHICH EXTENDED MUCH FURTHER SOUTH

EXTENDED MUCH FURTHER SOUTH DURING THE ICE AGE.

DURING THE ICE AGE. >> IF YOU HAVE A BOAT,

>> IF YOU HAVE A BOAT, IT CHANGES A LOT OF THINGS.

IT CHANGES A LOT OF THINGS. IT MEANS THAT RIVERS, LAKES,

IT MEANS THAT RIVERS, LAKES, OCEANS ARE NO LONGER BARRIERS

OCEANS ARE NO LONGER BARRIERS TO HUMAN MOVEMENT BUT ARE

TO HUMAN MOVEMENT BUT ARE THE HIGHWAYS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT.

THE HIGHWAYS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT. >> narrator: THE ICE EDGE THEY

>> narrator: THE ICE EDGE THEY FOLLOWED WOULD HAVE BEEN A PLACE

FOLLOWED WOULD HAVE BEEN A PLACE TO CAMP AND HUNT SEAL

TO CAMP AND HUNT SEAL FOR THEIR FAT.

FOR THEIR FAT. >> IF YOU HAVE FAT,

>> IF YOU HAVE FAT, YOU HAVE FOOD.

YOU HAVE FOOD. YOU HAVE WATERPROOFING.

YOU HAVE WATERPROOFING. YOU HAVE A SOURCE FOR FIRE.

YOU HAVE A SOURCE FOR FIRE. IT'S REALLY A KEY ISSUE

IT'S REALLY A KEY ISSUE THAT YOU NEED.

THAT YOU NEED. >> narrator: STANFORD SAYS

>> narrator: STANFORD SAYS ONCE THE SOLUTREANS WERE

ONCE THE SOLUTREANS WERE IN AMERICA, THEY EVENTUALLY

IN AMERICA, THEY EVENTUALLY CONVERGED WITH PALEO-INDIANS

CONVERGED WITH PALEO-INDIANS WHO DID COME ACROSS

WHO DID COME ACROSS THE BERING STRAIT LAND BRIDGE

THE BERING STRAIT LAND BRIDGE FROM SIBERIA.

FROM SIBERIA. TOGETHER, HE SAYS, THE

TOGETHER, HE SAYS, THE TWO GROUPS FORMED WHAT'S CALLED

TWO GROUPS FORMED WHAT'S CALLED THE CLOVIS CULTURE.

THE CLOVIS CULTURE. HE SAYS THEIR CONVERGENCE

HE SAYS THEIR CONVERGENCE IS THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN

IS THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF CLOVIS STONE TOOLS

OF CLOVIS STONE TOOLS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS.

FOUND THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS. >> THIS IS A BLADE CORE,

>> THIS IS A BLADE CORE, A CLOVIS BLADE CORE.

A CLOVIS BLADE CORE. IT'S MADE IDENTICALLY TO THOSE

IT'S MADE IDENTICALLY TO THOSE OF THE SOLUTREAN TIME PERIOD.

OF THE SOLUTREAN TIME PERIOD. THERE WERE MANY, MANY TOOLS

THERE WERE MANY, MANY TOOLS THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY

THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL AND UNIQUE

IDENTICAL AND UNIQUE TO CLOVIS AND SOLUTREAN

TO CLOVIS AND SOLUTREAN BUT DIFFERENT THAN

BUT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU GET IN SIBERIA.

WHAT YOU GET IN SIBERIA. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN ASIA THAT YOU COULD DERIVE

IN ASIA THAT YOU COULD DERIVE CLOVIS TECHNOLOGY FROM.

CLOVIS TECHNOLOGY FROM. >> narrator: WHILE STANFORD'S

>> narrator: WHILE STANFORD'S THEORY THAT EUROPEANS REALLY

THEORY THAT EUROPEANS REALLY WERE THE FIRST INHABITANTS

WERE THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF THE NEW WORLD ISN'T WIDELY

OF THE NEW WORLD ISN'T WIDELY ACCEPTED, IT MIGHT BE SOMEDAY.

ACCEPTED, IT MIGHT BE SOMEDAY. >> I THINK IT'S VERY EXCITING,

>> I THINK IT'S VERY EXCITING, AND WHETHER WE'RE RIGHT

AND WHETHER WE'RE RIGHT OR WRONG, IT DOESN'T MAKE

OR WRONG, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE,

ANY DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE THINKING

BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT IT.

ABOUT IT. >> narrator: FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL

>> narrator: FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES FROM 13,000 YEARS AGO

STUDIES FROM 13,000 YEARS AGO OR MORE, STONE TOOLS ARE SOME

OR MORE, STONE TOOLS ARE SOME OF THE ONLY THINGS TO COMPARE.

OF THE ONLY THINGS TO COMPARE. ONCE POTTERY DEVELOPED,

ONCE POTTERY DEVELOPED, IT BECAME A CRITICAL TOOL

IT BECAME A CRITICAL TOOL IN LEARNING ABOUT GENERATIONS

IN LEARNING ABOUT GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE AND HOW

OF PEOPLE AND HOW THEIR CIVILIZATIONS EVOLVED.

THEIR CIVILIZATIONS EVOLVED. MOLDED INTO THIS CLAY

MOLDED INTO THIS CLAY ARE CLUES OF ANOTHER

ARE CLUES OF ANOTHER PRE-COLUMBIAN VOYAGE TO AMERICA.

PRE-COLUMBIAN VOYAGE TO AMERICA. ECUADOR, 3044 B.C.,

ECUADOR, 3044 B.C., 4,536 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

4,536 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, STONEHENGE IS RISING

STONEHENGE IS RISING IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE,

IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, AND THE FIRST WRITING SYSTEM,

AND THE FIRST WRITING SYSTEM, CALLED CUNEIFORM, WAS RECENTLY

CALLED CUNEIFORM, WAS RECENTLY INVENTED IN SUMERIA.

INVENTED IN SUMERIA. IN ECUADOR, THE COASTLINE

IN ECUADOR, THE COASTLINE CULTURE OF THE VALDIVIANS

CULTURE OF THE VALDIVIANS IS PRIMITIVE, MADE UP

IS PRIMITIVE, MADE UP OF HUNTERS AND GATHERERS,

OF HUNTERS AND GATHERERS, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO MAKE

BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO MAKE POTTERY.

POTTERY. THE QUESTION IS,

THE QUESTION IS, WHERE DID THEY LEARN

WHERE DID THEY LEARN THEIR SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES?

THEIR SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES? >> WE BELIEVE THEY WERE

>> WE BELIEVE THEY WERE A VERY DEVELOPED CULTURE

A VERY DEVELOPED CULTURE BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED SOME

BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED SOME INFLUENCE FROM MORE ADVANCED

INFLUENCE FROM MORE ADVANCED CULTURE, AS MY GRANDFATHER SAID,

CULTURE, AS MY GRANDFATHER SAID, PERHAPS THE JOMON CULTURE

PERHAPS THE JOMON CULTURE FROM JAPAN.

FROM JAPAN. >> narrator: EMILIO ESTRADA

>> narrator: EMILIO ESTRADA WAS ALEXIA MOLINA'S GRANDFATHER,

WAS ALEXIA MOLINA'S GRANDFATHER, A LOCAL MAN WHO COLLECTED

A LOCAL MAN WHO COLLECTED FRAGMENTS OF POTTERY DURING

FRAGMENTS OF POTTERY DURING HUNTING TRIPS IN VALDIVIA.

HUNTING TRIPS IN VALDIVIA. >> BIT BY BIT, HE BECAME VERY

>> BIT BY BIT, HE BECAME VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT THE MEANING

INTERESTED IN WHAT THE MEANING OF THESE PIECES WAS.

OF THESE PIECES WAS. >> narrator: AFTER NOTICING

>> narrator: AFTER NOTICING SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE SHARDS

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE SHARDS HE FOUND AND JAPANESE

HE FOUND AND JAPANESE JOMON POTTERY CIRCA 4,000 B.C.

JOMON POTTERY CIRCA 4,000 B.C. HE SAW IN BOOKS,

HE SAW IN BOOKS, HE WAS CONVINCED OF

HE WAS CONVINCED OF A CONNECTION.

A CONNECTION. BUT BEING NO EXPERT

BUT BEING NO EXPERT IN ARCHAEOLOGY, HE CONTACTED

IN ARCHAEOLOGY, HE CONTACTED THE SMITHSONIAN.

THE SMITHSONIAN. >> HE WROTE US A LETTER

>> HE WROTE US A LETTER AND SAID, YOU KNOW,

AND SAID, YOU KNOW, "I JUST SAW SOME PICTURES

"I JUST SAW SOME PICTURES OF POTTERY, JOMON,

OF POTTERY, JOMON, THAT LOOKS LIKE VALDIVIA.

THAT LOOKS LIKE VALDIVIA. WHAT DO YOU THINK?"

WHAT DO YOU THINK?" >> narrator: IT WAS THE

>> narrator: IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A FRIENDSHIP

BEGINNING OF A FRIENDSHIP AND OF WHAT WOULD BECOME

AND OF WHAT WOULD BECOME A 50-YEAR PUSH TO PROVE

A 50-YEAR PUSH TO PROVE THAT THE JAPANESE MADE IT

THAT THE JAPANESE MADE IT TO AMERICA SOME 4,500 YEARS

TO AMERICA SOME 4,500 YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

BEFORE COLUMBUS. >> WE TOOK A BIG STACK OF

>> WE TOOK A BIG STACK OF VALDIVIA POTTERY, AND WE WENT

VALDIVIA POTTERY, AND WE WENT FROM TOKYO ALL THE WAY DOWN

FROM TOKYO ALL THE WAY DOWN BY TRAIN AND STOPPED EVERYWHERE

BY TRAIN AND STOPPED EVERYWHERE WHERE THERE WAS A MUSEUM

WHERE THERE WAS A MUSEUM OR COLLECTION.

OR COLLECTION. AND WHEN WE GOT TO KYUSHU,

AND WHEN WE GOT TO KYUSHU, WE STARTED SEEING ALL KINDS

WE STARTED SEEING ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE

OF THINGS THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE VALDIVIA.

VALDIVIA. >> [speaking Japanese]

>> [speaking Japanese] >> WHAT DISTINGUISHES KYUSHU'S

>> WHAT DISTINGUISHES KYUSHU'S POTTERY FROM OTHERS IS THE FACT

POTTERY FROM OTHERS IS THE FACT THAT THE DESIGN IS NOT

THAT THE DESIGN IS NOT FLAMBOYANT AND THAT THEY FOCUS

FLAMBOYANT AND THAT THEY FOCUS ON PATTERNS MADE FROM LINES.

ON PATTERNS MADE FROM LINES. >> narrator: KYUSHU IS THE

>> narrator: KYUSHU IS THE THIRD LARGEST ISLAND IN JAPAN

THIRD LARGEST ISLAND IN JAPAN AND FORMS THE SOUTHERN TIP

AND FORMS THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE COUNTRY.

OF THE COUNTRY. DR. MEGGERS AND ESTRADA SET OUT

DR. MEGGERS AND ESTRADA SET OUT TO FIND OUT HOW THE POTTERY

TO FIND OUT HOW THE POTTERY FROM KYUSHU COULD POSSIBLY

FROM KYUSHU COULD POSSIBLY BE CONNECTED TO POTTERY

BE CONNECTED TO POTTERY IN VALDIVIA, SOME 8,000

IN VALDIVIA, SOME 8,000 NAUTICAL MILES AWAY.

NAUTICAL MILES AWAY. THEIR FINDINGS WERE EXPLOSIVE.

THEIR FINDINGS WERE EXPLOSIVE. [roaring and rumbling]

[roaring and rumbling] 6,300 YEARS AGO, THE KIKAI

6,300 YEARS AGO, THE KIKAI VOLCANO IN SOUTHERN JAPAN

VOLCANO IN SOUTHERN JAPAN ERUPTED WITH GREATER FORCE

ERUPTED WITH GREATER FORCE THAN THAT OF LEGENDARY KRAKATOA

THAN THAT OF LEGENDARY KRAKATOA IN THE 1880s.

IN THE 1880s. KYUSHU WAS COATED IN MORE THAN

KYUSHU WAS COATED IN MORE THAN A FOOT OF ASH, AS PUMICE RAINED

A FOOT OF ASH, AS PUMICE RAINED ALL ACROSS THE REGION.

ALL ACROSS THE REGION. >> PEOPLE WOULD HAVE JUMPED

>> PEOPLE WOULD HAVE JUMPED IN THEIR CANOES.

IN THEIR CANOES. WE KNOW THEY DID DEEP-SEA

WE KNOW THEY DID DEEP-SEA FISHING.

FISHING. THEY COULD CATCH RAINWATER,

THEY COULD CATCH RAINWATER, AND THEY COULD CATCH FISH,

AND THEY COULD CATCH FISH, AND THEY COULD SURVIVE.

AND THEY COULD SURVIVE. >> narrator: BUT COULD THEY HAVE

>> narrator: BUT COULD THEY HAVE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO

MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE COAST OF ECUADOR

THE COAST OF ECUADOR IN BOATS LIKE THIS?

IN BOATS LIKE THIS? A TRADITIONAL JOMON FISHING BOAT

A TRADITIONAL JOMON FISHING BOAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SIMPLE,

WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SIMPLE, SOME 20 FEET LONG

SOME 20 FEET LONG AND JUST 2 FEET WIDE,

AND JUST 2 FEET WIDE, WITH ONLY OARS, NOT EVEN A SAIL

WITH ONLY OARS, NOT EVEN A SAIL TO GET THEM WHERE

TO GET THEM WHERE THEY WERE GOING.

THEY WERE GOING. >> [speaking Japanese]

>> [speaking Japanese] >> THEY WOULD CARVE THESE BOATS

>> THEY WOULD CARVE THESE BOATS OUT OF LOGS.

OUT OF LOGS. IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY HOW MANY

IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD FIT INSIDE

PEOPLE WOULD FIT INSIDE THE BOAT.

THE BOAT. IT WOULD ALL DEPEND

IT WOULD ALL DEPEND ON THE SIZE OF THE LOG.

>> EVEN THOUGH TRAVELING IN A SMALL TREE BOAT WAS A RISK,

IN A SMALL TREE BOAT WAS A RISK, TO THIS CULTURE, SEAFARING

TO THIS CULTURE, SEAFARING WAS A PART OF THEIR LIVES.

>> IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,

WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BY HOPSCOTCHING FROM ISLAND

BY HOPSCOTCHING FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND, WORKING THEIR WAY

TO ISLAND, WORKING THEIR WAY DOWN THE COAST, THEY COULD

DOWN THE COAST, THEY COULD HAVE REACHED CENTRAL

HAVE REACHED CENTRAL OR SOUTH AMERICA.

OR SOUTH AMERICA. >> narrator: THE KUROSHIO

>> narrator: THE KUROSHIO CURRENT WOULD HAVE PROPELLED

CURRENT WOULD HAVE PROPELLED THE FISHERMEN EASTWARD

THE FISHERMEN EASTWARD AND NORTHWARD, SO THEY WOULDN'T

AND NORTHWARD, SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL 8,000 MILES

HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL 8,000 MILES OF OPEN SEA.

OF OPEN SEA. >> LITTLE EFFORT WOULD BE

>> LITTLE EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CROSS FROM

REQUIRED TO CROSS FROM SUBTROPICAL GYRE

SUBTROPICAL GYRE INTO SUBPOLAR GYRE,

INTO SUBPOLAR GYRE, AND THEN STRONG EASTERN BOUNDARY

AND THEN STRONG EASTERN BOUNDARY CURRENT WOULD LEAD DIRECTLY

CURRENT WOULD LEAD DIRECTLY TO ALASKA.

TO ALASKA. >> narrator: FROM ALASKA,

>> narrator: FROM ALASKA, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A RELATIVELY EASY JOURNEY

A RELATIVELY EASY JOURNEY ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST,

ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST, ALONG THE EDGE OF CENTRAL

ALONG THE EDGE OF CENTRAL AMERICA, AND ON TO ECUADOR.

AMERICA, AND ON TO ECUADOR. >> OBVIOUSLY THEY MADE

>> OBVIOUSLY THEY MADE A LANDFALL ON VALDIVIA, AND THEY

A LANDFALL ON VALDIVIA, AND THEY FOUND PEOPLE LIVING ESSENTIALLY

FOUND PEOPLE LIVING ESSENTIALLY THE WAY THEY WERE IN JAPAN,

THE WAY THEY WERE IN JAPAN, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE POTTERY.

BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE POTTERY. >> narrator: DR. MEGGERS

>> narrator: DR. MEGGERS IS CONVINCED THE JAPANESE

IS CONVINCED THE JAPANESE INTRODUCED IT TO THEM

INTRODUCED IT TO THEM AND TOGETHER WITH ESTRADA,

AND TOGETHER WITH ESTRADA, FOUND 26 SIMILARITIES IN

FOUND 26 SIMILARITIES IN TECHNIQUE AND MOTIF ON POTTERY

TECHNIQUE AND MOTIF ON POTTERY FROM JAPAN AND VALDIVIA.

FROM JAPAN AND VALDIVIA. THEY INCLUDE DOG BONE SHAPES

THEY INCLUDE DOG BONE SHAPES AND HOURGLASS FIGURES,

AND HOURGLASS FIGURES, WHICH BETTY SAYS AREN'T FOUND

WHICH BETTY SAYS AREN'T FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE EXCEPT ON

ANYWHERE ELSE EXCEPT ON JOMON AND VALDIVIAN POTTERY.

JOMON AND VALDIVIAN POTTERY. >> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET INDEPENDENT INVENTION OF ALL

INDEPENDENT INVENTION OF ALL OF THESE COMPLICATED TECHNIQUES

OF THESE COMPLICATED TECHNIQUES AND MOTIFS.

AND MOTIFS. >> narrator: BUT CRITICS

>> narrator: BUT CRITICS DISAGREE.

DISAGREE. THEY THINK THE VALDIVIANS

THEY THINK THE VALDIVIANS COULD HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR

COULD HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR POTTERY DESIGNS ON THEIR OWN.

POTTERY DESIGNS ON THEIR OWN. IT TURNS OUT, HOWEVER,

IT TURNS OUT, HOWEVER, POTTERY ISN'T THE ONLY THING

POTTERY ISN'T THE ONLY THING TO SUGGEST THE JAPANESE MADE IT

TO SUGGEST THE JAPANESE MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA

TO SOUTH AMERICA IN ANCIENT TIMES.

IN ANCIENT TIMES. THERE'S ALSO EVIDENCE

THERE'S ALSO EVIDENCE THEY INTRODUCED A DEADLY VIRUS.

THEY INTRODUCED A DEADLY VIRUS. >> THIS VIRUS IS VERY, VERY

>> THIS VIRUS IS VERY, VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE OF THE

INTERESTING BECAUSE OF THE VERY UNIQUE GEOGRAPHICAL

VERY UNIQUE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

DISTRIBUTION. >> narrator: THE VIRUS IS

>> narrator: THE VIRUS IS THE HUMAN "T" CELL LYMPHOTROPIC

THE HUMAN "T" CELL LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS TYPE I, CALLED HTLV-1.

VIRUS TYPE I, CALLED HTLV-1. IT'S RARE, AND IT CAUSES

IT'S RARE, AND IT CAUSES LEUKEMIA.

LEUKEMIA. HTLV-1 IS ONLY FOUND IN

HTLV-1 IS ONLY FOUND IN A SMALL NUMBER OF MODERN-DAY

A SMALL NUMBER OF MODERN-DAY PEOPLE FROM SOUTHERN JAPAN

PEOPLE FROM SOUTHERN JAPAN AND MUMMIFIED PEOPLE IN

AND MUMMIFIED PEOPLE IN SOUTH AMERICA'S ATACAMA DESERT.

SOUTH AMERICA'S ATACAMA DESERT. AT THE BASE OF THE ANDES,

AT THE BASE OF THE ANDES, THIS DESERT IS THE DRIEST PLACE

THIS DESERT IS THE DRIEST PLACE ON EARTH.

ON EARTH. LAND PARCHED AND CRACKED,

LAND PARCHED AND CRACKED, IT LOOKS LIKE A LUNAR LANDSCAPE.

IT LOOKS LIKE A LUNAR LANDSCAPE. BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE,

BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE, MUMMIES LIKE THESE WERE

MUMMIES LIKE THESE WERE STRIKINGLY PRESERVED.

STRIKINGLY PRESERVED. >> BUT ANDES PEOPLE ARE SIMILAR

>> BUT ANDES PEOPLE ARE SIMILAR TO JAPANESE, ESPECIALLY

TO JAPANESE, ESPECIALLY SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN.

SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN. SO NOT ONLY TYPE OF THE VIRUS

SO NOT ONLY TYPE OF THE VIRUS BUT ALSO A GENETIC BACKGROUND

BUT ALSO A GENETIC BACKGROUND SIMILAR TO JAPANESE.

SIMILAR TO JAPANESE. >> narrator: THOSE

>> narrator: THOSE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SIMILARITIES

ANTHROPOLOGICAL SIMILARITIES ARE WHAT LED HIM TO THE MUMMIES

ARE WHAT LED HIM TO THE MUMMIES HERE, IN SEARCH OF MORE ANSWERS

HERE, IN SEARCH OF MORE ANSWERS ABOUT HTLV-1.

ABOUT HTLV-1. >> WE COLLECTED DRIED-UP

>> WE COLLECTED DRIED-UP BONE MARROW FROM THE FEMUR BONE.

BONE MARROW FROM THE FEMUR BONE. MORE THAN 100 SAMPLES

MORE THAN 100 SAMPLES WE COLLECTED.

WE COLLECTED. >> narrator: FROM THAT

>> narrator: FROM THAT BONE MARROW, HE WAS ABLE

BONE MARROW, HE WAS ABLE TO COLLECT DNA.

TO COLLECT DNA. HE FOUND HTLV-1 THAT LIKELY

HE FOUND HTLV-1 THAT LIKELY ORIGINATED IN ASIA WAS PRESENT

ORIGINATED IN ASIA WAS PRESENT IN SOUTH AMERICA IN ANCIENT

IN SOUTH AMERICA IN ANCIENT TIMES, AND IT HAD TO HAVE

TIMES, AND IT HAD TO HAVE GOTTEN THERE FROM CONTACT

GOTTEN THERE FROM CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ALREADY CARRIED

WITH PEOPLE WHO ALREADY CARRIED THE VIRUS.

THE VIRUS. >> THIS VIRUS IS TRANSMISSIBLE

>> THIS VIRUS IS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH BREAST MILK,

THROUGH BREAST MILK, FROM MOTHER,

FROM MOTHER, AND ALSO FROM HUSBAND TO WIFE

AND ALSO FROM HUSBAND TO WIFE THROUGH SEMEN.

THROUGH SEMEN. SO THAT'S A VERY HARD EVIDENCE

SO THAT'S A VERY HARD EVIDENCE THAT I BELIEVE.

THAT I BELIEVE. >> THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU HAVE

>> THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT IN ORDER TO SAY

TO KNOW ABOUT IN ORDER TO SAY THIS IS REALLY A CONTACT

THIS IS REALLY A CONTACT AND NOT JUST AN ACCIDENTAL

AND NOT JUST AN ACCIDENTAL SIMILARITY.

SIMILARITY. >> narrator: DR. MEGGERS

>> narrator: DR. MEGGERS IS STILL WORKING TO PROVE

IS STILL WORKING TO PROVE TO MAINSTREAM ACADEMICS THAT

TO MAINSTREAM ACADEMICS THAT THERE WAS ANCIENT JAPANESE

THERE WAS ANCIENT JAPANESE CONTACT WITH THE VALDIVIANS.

CONTACT WITH THE VALDIVIANS. THE LOCALS IN VALDIVIA NEED LESS

THE LOCALS IN VALDIVIA NEED LESS CONVINCING.

CONVINCING. >> THE VALDIVIAN PEOPLE

>> THE VALDIVIAN PEOPLE REALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT

REALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THEIR ORIGINS.

ARE THEIR ORIGINS. WHAT WE CAN SEE IF WE GO

WHAT WE CAN SEE IF WE GO OUTSIDE, WE'LL SEE THAT THEY

OUTSIDE, WE'LL SEE THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF ASIAN

HAVE A LOT OF ASIAN CHARACTERISTICS ON THEIR FACES,

CHARACTERISTICS ON THEIR FACES, AND THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM

AND THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. >> narrator: AND IN THAT

>> narrator: AND IN THAT LIES THE KEY TO ULTIMATELY

LIES THE KEY TO ULTIMATELY DETERMINING WHICH OF ALL THESE

DETERMINING WHICH OF ALL THESE VOYAGES REALLY HAPPENED.

VOYAGES REALLY HAPPENED. IT'S NOT WHO HOLDS THE KEY

IT'S NOT WHO HOLDS THE KEY BUT WHO IS THE KEY.

BUT WHO IS THE KEY. >> SO IN EFFECT

>> SO IN EFFECT WITHIN OURSELVES,

WITHIN OURSELVES, WE HAVE AN ENTIRE ENCYCLOPEDIA.

WE HAVE AN ENTIRE ENCYCLOPEDIA. >> narrator: NOW DNA BECOMES

>> narrator: NOW DNA BECOMES INVALUABLE AS ONE THEORY OF

INVALUABLE AS ONE THEORY OF PRE-COLUMBIAN CONTACT

PRE-COLUMBIAN CONTACT HAS THE CHANCE TO BE PROVEN

HAS THE CHANCE TO BE PROVEN WITH THE ULTIMATE TEST

WITH THE ULTIMATE TEST BORN OF BONE AND BLOOD.

>> narrator: WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA?

DISCOVERED AMERICA? PERHAPS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

PERHAPS A LOT OF PEOPLE. CERTAINLY THE NATIVE AMERICANS

CERTAINLY THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE HERE BEFORE COLUMBUS,

WERE HERE BEFORE COLUMBUS, THE VIKINGS TOO.

THE VIKINGS TOO. BUT WHO ELSE?

BUT WHO ELSE? THERE ARE EVEN MORE STORIES

THERE ARE EVEN MORE STORIES OF PRE-COLUMBIAN VOYAGES TO

OF PRE-COLUMBIAN VOYAGES TO AMERICA AND BACK THAN THE ONES

AMERICA AND BACK THAN THE ONES SHOWN ON THIS MAP.

SHOWN ON THIS MAP. THEY'RE OFTEN THE ONLY WAY

THEY'RE OFTEN THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN THINGS LIKE COCAINE

TO EXPLAIN THINGS LIKE COCAINE AND NICOTINE,

AND NICOTINE, NEW WORLD SUBSTANCES,

NEW WORLD SUBSTANCES, FOUND IN EGYPTIAN MUMMIES

FOUND IN EGYPTIAN MUMMIES FROM 1000 A.D.,

FROM 1000 A.D., THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN COPPER

THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN COPPER OF A PURITY ONLY FOUND IN

OF A PURITY ONLY FOUND IN LAKE SUPERIOR BEING USED IN

LAKE SUPERIOR BEING USED IN MEDITERRANEAN BOATS AROUND

MEDITERRANEAN BOATS AROUND 1400 B.C.

1400 B.C. FROM THE CHINESE IN 1421

FROM THE CHINESE IN 1421 ALL THE WAY BACK TO

ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SOLUTREANS IN 22,000 B.C.,

THE SOLUTREANS IN 22,000 B.C., THERE IS AN ALTERNATE TIME LINE

THERE IS AN ALTERNATE TIME LINE OF HISTORY THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE

OF HISTORY THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE.

TO IGNORE. >> I THINK WE NEED TO START

>> I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT HISTORY FROM SOME

LOOKING AT HISTORY FROM SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. WE NEED TO TAKE THE GLASSES OFF

WE NEED TO TAKE THE GLASSES OFF THAT SAY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT

THAT SAY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF

THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF COLUMBUS AND HIS SHIPS.

COLUMBUS AND HIS SHIPS. >> I THINK WE NEED TO BE

>> I THINK WE NEED TO BE OPEN-MINDED BECAUSE WE'RE

OPEN-MINDED BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING NEW DATA

CONSTANTLY HAVING NEW DATA COMING IN THAT CAN ALLOW US

COMING IN THAT CAN ALLOW US TO CHANGE OUR THEORIES

TO CHANGE OUR THEORIES AND OUR INTERPRETATIONS,

AND OUR INTERPRETATIONS, EVEN IN CASES WHERE

EVEN IN CASES WHERE THINGS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED

THINGS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST THAT WE WOULDN'T

IN THE PAST THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED.

HAVE IMAGINED. >> narrator: THE ADVENT OF

>> narrator: THE ADVENT OF DNA TESTING IS ONE THING THAT

DNA TESTING IS ONE THING THAT HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO EITHER

HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO EITHER PUTTING TO REST OR PROMOTING

PUTTING TO REST OR PROMOTING NOTIONS OF NEW WORLD VOYAGES.

NOTIONS OF NEW WORLD VOYAGES. >> DNA TESTING CAN PRETTY

>> DNA TESTING CAN PRETTY CLEARLY GIVE US AN IDEA

CLEARLY GIVE US AN IDEA AS TO THE PEOPLES THAT WERE

AS TO THE PEOPLES THAT WERE IN THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUS.

IN THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUS. >> narrator: NOW THE SEARCH IS

>> narrator: NOW THE SEARCH IS ON FOR DNA EVIDENCE TO

ON FOR DNA EVIDENCE TO DEFINITIVELY PROVE ONE GROUP

DEFINITIVELY PROVE ONE GROUP DID MAKE IT OVER.

2010, CHILE, 518 YEARS AFTER COLUMBUS.

518 YEARS AFTER COLUMBUS. ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, BARACK OBAMA IS THE FIRST

BARACK OBAMA IS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF

AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND A SERIES

THE UNITED STATES, AND A SERIES OF EARTHQUAKES ROCK HAITI,

OF EARTHQUAKES ROCK HAITI, JAPAN, AND TURKEY.

JAPAN, AND TURKEY. IN CHILE, THERE'S A DEVASTATING

IN CHILE, THERE'S A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE TOO, BUT ONLY MINIMAL

EARTHQUAKE TOO, BUT ONLY MINIMAL DAMAGE IS SUSTAINED ON THIS

DAMAGE IS SUSTAINED ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISLAND OFF

VERY IMPORTANT ISLAND OFF THE COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN COAST

THE COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN COAST WHERE ARCHAEOLOGIST

WHERE ARCHAEOLOGIST JOSE MIGUEL RAMIREZ IS HEADING.

JOSE MIGUEL RAMIREZ IS HEADING. >> I THINK IT WAS OTHER PEOPLE

>> I THINK IT WAS OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE COLUMBUS.

WHO CAME BEFORE COLUMBUS. WE KNOW IT WAS POLYNESIAN.

WE KNOW IT WAS POLYNESIAN. THEY WERE MOVING EASTWARD.

THEY WERE MOVING EASTWARD. AND THE ONLY POSSIBLE END

AND THE ONLY POSSIBLE END FOR THIS EXPLORATION WAS

FOR THIS EXPLORATION WAS THE SOUTH AMERICAN COASTLINE.

THIS IS MOCHA ISLAND. IT SEEMS A VERY GOOD LOCATION

IT SEEMS A VERY GOOD LOCATION FOR ANY POLYNESIAN COMING FROM

FOR ANY POLYNESIAN COMING FROM CENTRAL POLYNESIA.

CENTRAL POLYNESIA. WE ARE GOING TO THE SITE WHERE

WE ARE GOING TO THE SITE WHERE WE FOUND THE FIRST EVIDENCE

WE FOUND THE FIRST EVIDENCE WITH HUMAN BONES WITH

WITH HUMAN BONES WITH POLYNESIAN TRAITS.

POLYNESIAN TRAITS. >> narrator: BETWEEN 1992

>> narrator: BETWEEN 1992 AND 2003, EXCAVATIONS ON

AND 2003, EXCAVATIONS ON MOCHA ISLAND BY A TEAM OF

MOCHA ISLAND BY A TEAM OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTHED

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTHED COMPLETE SKULLS, FEMURS,

COMPLETE SKULLS, FEMURS, AND OTHER BONES THAT DATE BACK

AND OTHER BONES THAT DATE BACK TO 1000 TO 1300 A.D.,

TO 1000 TO 1300 A.D., BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS OF

BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS OF CERAMICS FOUND WITH THEM.

CERAMICS FOUND WITH THEM. THE BONES WERE ANALYZED

THE BONES WERE ANALYZED IN DETAIL IN 2008.

IN DETAIL IN 2008. THREE OF THE SKULLS APPEARED

THREE OF THE SKULLS APPEARED TO HAVE POLYNESIAN FEATURES.

TO HAVE POLYNESIAN FEATURES. >> BONES TELL US A LOT

>> BONES TELL US A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE.

ABOUT PEOPLE. THE FIRST EVIDENCE FOR ANY

THE FIRST EVIDENCE FOR ANY POLYNESIAN IS THE SHAPE

POLYNESIAN IS THE SHAPE OF THE SKULL.

OF THE SKULL. IF YOU LOOK AT THEM FROM

IF YOU LOOK AT THEM FROM BEHIND, THEY ARE PENTAGONAL

BEHIND, THEY ARE PENTAGONAL IN SHAPE, AND THERE IS OTHER

IN SHAPE, AND THERE IS OTHER TRAITS LIKE THE ROCKER JAW.

TRAITS LIKE THE ROCKER JAW. THAT'S A VERY CLASSIC

THAT'S A VERY CLASSIC NOT-AMERICAN TRAIT.

NOT-AMERICAN TRAIT. >> narrator: A ROCKER JAW IS

>> narrator: A ROCKER JAW IS TERMED THAT BECAUSE WHEN PLACED

TERMED THAT BECAUSE WHEN PLACED ON A TABLE, A CONTINUOUS CURVE

ON A TABLE, A CONTINUOUS CURVE ALLOWS IT TO ROCK BACK

ALLOWS IT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH.

AND FORTH. THE JAWBONE OF SOMEONE OF

THE JAWBONE OF SOMEONE OF ASIAN OR EUROPEAN DESCENT

ASIAN OR EUROPEAN DESCENT WOULD NOT DO THAT.

WOULD NOT DO THAT. ALSO IMPORTANT,

ALSO IMPORTANT, ONE OF THE SKULLS WAS VERY

ONE OF THE SKULLS WAS VERY SIMILAR TO A SKULL FROM

SIMILAR TO A SKULL FROM THE CHANNEL ISLANDS OFF THE

THE CHANNEL ISLANDS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,

COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ISLANDS INHABITED BY

ISLANDS INHABITED BY THE CHUMASH PEOPLE AND WHERE

THE CHUMASH PEOPLE AND WHERE A POLYNESIAN CONNECTION WAS

A POLYNESIAN CONNECTION WAS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED.

ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED. >> THE TRAITS THAT WE SEE AMONG

>> THE TRAITS THAT WE SEE AMONG THE CHUMASH THAT MAY HAVE

THE CHUMASH THAT MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FROM CONTACT WITH

ORIGINATED FROM CONTACT WITH POLYNESIA: THE SEWN-PLANK BOAT,

POLYNESIA: THE SEWN-PLANK BOAT, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A STYLE

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A STYLE OF COMPOUND FISHHOOK.

OF COMPOUND FISHHOOK. >> FISHHOOKS AND THE LINGUISTIC

>> FISHHOOKS AND THE LINGUISTIC EVIDENCE TOGETHER, THAT IS

EVIDENCE TOGETHER, THAT IS A VERY, VERY STRONG CASE.

A VERY, VERY STRONG CASE. IF IT WAS JUST ONE OR THE OTHER,

IF IT WAS JUST ONE OR THE OTHER, IT WOULDN'T BE AS STRONG.

IT WOULDN'T BE AS STRONG. >> narrator: WITHIN THE CHUMASH

>> narrator: WITHIN THE CHUMASH TRIBE, DNA TESTING IS ALREADY

TRIBE, DNA TESTING IS ALREADY GOING ON TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN

GOING ON TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF ITS PEOPLE.

OF ITS PEOPLE. >> WE CAN SEE THROUGH THE STUDY

>> WE CAN SEE THROUGH THE STUDY OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA THAT

OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA THAT CHUMASH INDIANS HAD DIFFERENT

CHUMASH INDIANS HAD DIFFERENT POPULATION ORIGINS THAN

POPULATION ORIGINS THAN THE PEOPLE LIVING TO THE SOUTH

THE PEOPLE LIVING TO THE SOUTH OF THE CHUMASH, THE GABRIELINO

OF THE CHUMASH, THE GABRIELINO INDIANS.

INDIANS. THE CHUMASH ARE ALSO DIFFERENT

THE CHUMASH ARE ALSO DIFFERENT THAN THE PEOPLE LIVING INLAND

THAN THE PEOPLE LIVING INLAND FROM THEM IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY

FROM THEM IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY IN TERMS OF THEIR POPULATION

IN TERMS OF THEIR POPULATION ORIGINS.

ORIGINS. >> narrator: THE DNA HAS YET

>> narrator: THE DNA HAS YET TO PROVE A POLYNESIAN

TO PROVE A POLYNESIAN CONNECTION.

CONNECTION. >> THERE'S A SPECIFIC MARKER IN

>> THERE'S A SPECIFIC MARKER IN MITOCHONDRIAL DNA FOUND

MITOCHONDRIAL DNA FOUND AMONG POLYNESIANS THAT SET THEM

AMONG POLYNESIANS THAT SET THEM APART FROM THE REST OF

APART FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THE WORLD. >> narrator: THAT MARKER IS WHAT

>> narrator: THAT MARKER IS WHAT RESEARCHERS HERE ARE HOPING

RESEARCHERS HERE ARE HOPING TO FIND IN NEW BONES

TO FIND IN NEW BONES COLLECTED FROM MOCHA ISLAND.

COLLECTED FROM MOCHA ISLAND. WHILE BONES FOUND IN THE '90s

WHILE BONES FOUND IN THE '90s HAD POLYNESIAN TRAITS,

HAD POLYNESIAN TRAITS, DNA TESTING OF THEM COULDN'T

DNA TESTING OF THEM COULDN'T BE COMPLETED BECAUSE SCIENTISTS

BE COMPLETED BECAUSE SCIENTISTS COULDN'T GET USABLE SAMPLES.

COULDN'T GET USABLE SAMPLES. >> WE NEED TO DIG FOR MORE

>> WE NEED TO DIG FOR MORE FRESH BONES.

FRESH BONES. THAT'S THE MAIN PURPOSE,

THAT'S THE MAIN PURPOSE, THE NEXT STEP IN THIS RESEARCH.

THE NEXT STEP IN THIS RESEARCH. THIS LITTLE PLACE, THIS LITTLE

THIS LITTLE PLACE, THIS LITTLE MOUND HERE IS THE PLACE WHERE

MOUND HERE IS THE PLACE WHERE THEY SETTLED DOWN ABOUT

THEY SETTLED DOWN ABOUT 1,000 YEARS AGO.

1,000 YEARS AGO. 90% OF THE SITE IS STILL HERE,

90% OF THE SITE IS STILL HERE, NOT DISCOVERED, SO THERE'S MANY,

NOT DISCOVERED, SO THERE'S MANY, MANY ARTIFACTS AND DEPOSITS

MANY ARTIFACTS AND DEPOSITS WITHOUT ANY DISTURBANCE,

WITHOUT ANY DISTURBANCE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL TO

SO THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL TO DISCOVER, TO FIND MORE HUMAN

DISCOVER, TO FIND MORE HUMAN BONES, TO TAKE DNA TO PROVE

BONES, TO TAKE DNA TO PROVE IT'S POLYNESIAN.

IT'S POLYNESIAN. DNA IS THE FINAL TEST.

DNA IS THE FINAL TEST. >> narrator: THE STUDY OF

>> narrator: THE STUDY OF NEW BONES IS EXPECTED TO GET

NEW BONES IS EXPECTED TO GET UNDER WAY BY THE END OF 2010.

UNDER WAY BY THE END OF 2010. RAMIREZ BELIEVES THEIR FINDINGS

RAMIREZ BELIEVES THEIR FINDINGS WILL ONLY CONFIRM WHAT

WILL ONLY CONFIRM WHAT HE SAYS A GROWING NUMBER

HE SAYS A GROWING NUMBER OF SCIENTISTS ALREADY BELIEVE.

OF SCIENTISTS ALREADY BELIEVE. >> WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT

>> WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT POLYNESIANS WERE CAPABLE OF

POLYNESIANS WERE CAPABLE OF DISCOVERING THESE REMOTE SPECKS

DISCOVERING THESE REMOTE SPECKS OF LAND THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC,

OF LAND THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC, HOW IS IT THEY COULD POSSIBLY

HOW IS IT THEY COULD POSSIBLY MISS THESE BIG ISLANDS

MISS THESE BIG ISLANDS OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA,

OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA, THESE ENORMOUS LANDMASSES?

THESE ENORMOUS LANDMASSES? >> I BELIEVE THAT POLYNESIANS

>> I BELIEVE THAT POLYNESIANS MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA

MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA SOME TIME BETWEEN THE PERIOD

SOME TIME BETWEEN THE PERIOD OF A.D. 1000 TO 1200.

OF A.D. 1000 TO 1200. >> I THINK WE'RE ABSOLUTELY SURE

>> I THINK WE'RE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE POLYNESIANS MADE IT TO

THAT THE POLYNESIANS MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS.

SOUTH AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS. I MEAN, I THINK THE ODDS OF THAT

I MEAN, I THINK THE ODDS OF THAT ARE IN THE 99.9999 RANGE.

ARE IN THE 99.9999 RANGE. IT'S ALMOST FLAT-EARTH LEVEL

IT'S ALMOST FLAT-EARTH LEVEL TO DISBELIEVE THAT POLYNESIANS

TO DISBELIEVE THAT POLYNESIANS MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA.

MADE IT TO SOUTH AMERICA. >> THAT'S THE JOB OF

>> THAT'S THE JOB OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS. WE NEED TO SPREAD WHAT WE FIND

WE NEED TO SPREAD WHAT WE FIND MORE WIDELY.

MORE WIDELY. WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE MORE

WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING,

ABOUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING, AND WE NEED TO REWRITE THOSE

AND WE NEED TO REWRITE THOSE HISTORY BOOKS AND GET IT

HISTORY BOOKS AND GET IT OUT THERE.

OUT THERE. LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE

LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE PROBABLY STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW

PROBABLY STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE VIKINGS GOT HERE BEFORE

THAT THE VIKINGS GOT HERE BEFORE COLUMBUS.

COLUMBUS. >> narrator: WHAT MIGHT

>> narrator: WHAT MIGHT ULTIMATELY PROVE TO BE THE NEXT

ULTIMATELY PROVE TO BE THE NEXT L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS-LIKE

L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS-LIKE DISCOVERY COULD BE UNEARTHED

DISCOVERY COULD BE UNEARTHED AT ANY TIME.

AT ANY TIME. THERE ARE NO LESS THAN

THERE ARE NO LESS THAN A DOZEN CULTURES WITH TALES

A DOZEN CULTURES WITH TALES OF EARLY VOYAGES AT SEA,

OF EARLY VOYAGES AT SEA, VOYAGES SAID TO HAVE CULMINATED

VOYAGES SAID TO HAVE CULMINATED IN THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

IN THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. >> THE EXCITEMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY

>> THE EXCITEMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY IS THAT WE ARE OFTEN SURPRISED

IS THAT WE ARE OFTEN SURPRISED AND THAT OUR IDEAS CHANGE

AND THAT OUR IDEAS CHANGE BECAUSE OF NEW THINGS WE LEARN,

BECAUSE OF NEW THINGS WE LEARN, AND THAT'S GOOD.

AND THAT'S GOOD. >> THE WORLD'S GREATEST MUSEUM

>> THE WORLD'S GREATEST MUSEUM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAS,

IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAS, WITH SOME ESTIMATED 3 MILLION

WITH SOME ESTIMATED 3 MILLION OR MORE SHIPWRECKS DOWN THERE,

OR MORE SHIPWRECKS DOWN THERE, THAT ALL SORTS OF STORIES REMAIN

THAT ALL SORTS OF STORIES REMAIN TO BE WRITTEN,

TO BE WRITTEN, THAT NEW CHAPTERS, FORGOTTEN

THAT NEW CHAPTERS, FORGOTTEN PAGES OF THE HISTORY BOOKS

PAGES OF THE HISTORY BOOKS WILL BE PUT BACK

WILL BE PUT BACK THAT TELL US OF OUR TIME

THAT TELL US OF OUR TIME ON THIS PLANET, THAT SPEAK TO

ON THIS PLANET, THAT SPEAK TO WHO WE ARE AS A SPECIES

WHO WE ARE AS A SPECIES AND WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF.

AND WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF. >> narrator: ON LAND AND BY SEA,

>> narrator: ON LAND AND BY SEA, THE EARLIEST EXPLORERS CAME

THE EARLIEST EXPLORERS CAME TO THE NEW WORLD.

TO THE NEW WORLD. THE PAST IS LITTERED WITH CLUES

THE PAST IS LITTERED WITH CLUES AS TO WHO THEY WERE,

AS TO WHO THEY WERE, WHEN THEY CAME,

WHEN THEY CAME, AND WHERE THEY WENT.

AND WHERE THEY WENT. NOW SCIENCE HAS THE ABILITY

NOW SCIENCE HAS THE ABILITY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT

TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE TRUE STORY OF AMERICA'S

THE TRUE STORY OF AMERICA'S EARLIEST PIONEERS.

EARLIEST PIONEERS. IT MAY ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME

IT MAY ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE QUESTION OF

BEFORE THE QUESTION OF WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA

WHO REALLY DISCOVERED AMERICA TURNS INTO A QUESTION

TURNS INTO A QUESTION OF WHO DIDN'T?