Secrets of Ancient America: Archaeoastronomy and the Legacy of the Phoenicians, Celts, and Other Forgotten Explorers Read online

  SECRETS OF ANCIENT AMERICA

  “This is a fascinating exploration of the deep history of human migrations around the planet. Drawing from evidence systematically and irrationally dismissed by many of the professional archaeologists, Lehrburger shares his path of discovery, his pioneering field research, and his heartfelt observations about the peopling of the Americas. Clearly, there is a truer story here that has been right under our noses all along.”

  JOHN MAJOR JENKINS, AUTHOR OF MAYA COSMOGENESIS 2012 AND DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR 2012 STUDIES

  “Carl Lehrburger’s comprehensive documentation of the dizzying number of ancient petroglyphs, artifacts, and sites in the Americas is stunning. This work proves beyond any doubt that many cultures from around the world came to the Americas and permanently left evidence of their extensive knowledge in the rocks and people who inhabited this land.”

  SCOTT WOLTER, FORENSIC GEOLOGIST, AUTHOR, AND HOST OF THE POPULAR TV SERIES AMERICA UNEARTHED

  “Threatening to topple the ‘archaeopriests’ who still think Columbus discovered America, Lehrburger strikes at the heart of the matter with his New History. An intimate and brilliantly illustrated journey back to the time of ancient sky-watchers . . . a game-changing work.”

  SUSAN B. MARTINEZ, PH.D., AUTHOR OF THE MYSTERIOUS ORIGINS OF HYBRID MAN

  “Impressive insights into the spirituality of ancient stargazers abound in Carl Lehrburger’s compelling, personally guided tour of archaeological sites from Stonehenge to Newport and from Serpent Mound, Ohio, to the Hindu campsites in the Mojave Desert. Fascinating research by an inquiring mind will inspire those who are curious about the new dimensions of archaeoastronomy and spirituality. Wherever a shaft of sunlight from the winter solstice has shined upon the ancient petroglyphs left by ancient Celtic seafarers in Ireland or along the eastern seaboard, you can bet Carl Lehrburger has been there to record it on camera. His easy-toread compendium of sacred sites and archaeoastronomy is a spectacular, exciting guide for our own journey.”

  GUNNAR THOMPSON, PH.D., ARCHAEOLOGIST, ANTHROPOLOGIST, AND AUTHOR OF AMERICAN DISCOVERY: OUR MULTICULTURAL HERITAGE

  Acknowledgments

  I was able to write a new history of America only by standing on the shoulders of others to whom I owe my gratitude, as follows:

  Peter Shotwell, editor

  Dorian Taddei for discoveries, insights, and reflections.

  PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL

  Martin Brennan: The Hidden Maya (1998) and The Stones of Time (1994).

  Barry Fell: America B.C.: Ancient Settlers in the New World (1975) and Saga America (1980).

  Epigraphic Society: The Epigraphic Society Occasional Papers (ESOP).

  Wayne May, publisher: Ancient American magazine.

  William McGlone, Phillip M. Leonard, James Guthrie, Rollin Gillespie, and James Whittall Jr.: Ancient American Inscriptions: Plow Marks or History? (1993).

  William McGlone, Ted Barker and Phillip M. Leonard: Archaeoastronomy of Southeast Colorado and the Oklahoma Panhandle (1999).

  Gunnar Thompson: American Discovery: Our Multicultural Heritage (1994).

  Wikimedia Commons and its contributors (commons.wikimedia.org).

  Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia and its contributors (wikipedia.org).

  COLLABORATIVE RESEARCHERS, MENTORS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND COLLEAGUES

  Ted Barker, Carl Bjork, Martin Brennan, Ida Jane Gallagher, Hugh Gardner, John Major Jenkins, Gerry Lehrburger, M.D., Phillip M. Leonard, Bill McGlone, Kean Scott Monahan, Roderick Schmidt, Dorian Taddei, Gunnar Thompson.

  GUIDES, DUST KICKERS, AND FELLOW EXPLORERS

  Arlo Acton, Rubin Amador, Tarry Carter, Shawn Davies, Liev Eenes, Sig Lonegren, Toby Hall and Cheryl Yambrach Rose, Keith Jefferies, Michael Mideke, Peter Oatman, Chris Patenaude, Marc Saxe, Richard Simmons Jr., Steve and Anne Smith, Todd Stoddard, Cathy Taddei, Bill Tilley, Crystal and Wayne Trickle, Jim Walter, Michael Waugh, Earl Wilson, Fred Templeton, and Jim Walton.

  INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT

  The Lehrburger family and Julianaa Satie.

  To all, including those unnamed:

  Thank you!

  Americans aspire to be a “forward-looking” people, often failing to look back. But if we were to look back in time, at our history, and discover the true story of this land, what would we see? And how different our world, our existence, and our lives would be today . . . and can be tomorrow.

  Major sites of ancient discoveries in North America described in this book

  Contents

  Title Page

  Epigraph

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction: Challenging Long-Held Views THE HEART OF THE MATTER

  THE OLD HISTORY: ARE WE LIVING IN FLATLAND?

  THE ARCHAEOPRIESTS

  LANDING OF THE DIFFUSIONISTS

  Chapter 1: Two Stories of Columbus DISCOVERING A NEW HISTORY

  THE USUAL STORY OF COLUMBUS

  THE REAL STORY OF COLUMBUS EMERGES

  THE DYNAMICS OF SLAVERY

  AFTERMATH

  Chapter 2: American History ABC BARRY FELL’S AMERICA B.C.

  THE PHOENICIANS IN AMERICA

  THE PHOENICIAN NEWTON STONE IN SCOTLAND

  THE BOURNE STONE

  THE CRESPI COLLECTION FROM ECUADOR

  OTHER PHOENICIAN/AMERICAN DISCOVERIES

  THE CELTIC OGHAM WRITING ON THE NEWTON STONE

  COINS BY THE HUNDREDS

  THE DAVENPORT RELICS CONSPIRACY

  THE CRITICS PREVAIL

  Chapter 3: The Stars and the Stones ARCHAEO—WHAT?

  MEGALITHIC IRELAND AND MARTIN BRENNAN

  Chapter 4: Celtic New England FINDING THE TRAILHEAD

  EXPLORING CELTIC AMERICA

  AN AUSPICIOUS MEETING

  STANDING STONES AND PERCHED ROCKS

  THE NEW HAMPSHIRE RING OF STONE

  AMERICA’S STONEHENGE

  Chapter 5: They Settled in Mesoamerica MARTIN BRENNAN IN MEXICO

  THE HERO TWINS OF THE POPOL VUH

  THE MAYAN CALENDAR

  JOHN MAJOR JENKINS AND THE GALACTIC ALIGNMENT

  THE HIDDEN SIGN LANGUAGE OF THE MAYA

  CHICHÉN ITZÁ’S EQUINOX SERPENT

  THE AZTEC QUETZALCOATL AND THE MAYAN KUKULCÁN

  INFLUENCES FROM AFRICA AND ASIA?

  INFLUENCES FROM INDIA?

  Chapter 6: Sacred Sexuality at the Pathfinder Site MEETING BILL McGLONE IN COLORADO

  THE PURGATOIRE RIVER CANYON

  ARCHAEOASTRONOMY BASICS

  THE PATHFINDER

  MEETING THE HUNTER AND THE GODDESS

  A SECOND PATHFINDER ALIGNMENT

  DIVINE SEXUALITY—THE STORY OF CHANGING WOMAN

  Chapter 7: Equinox Sunrise: Celtic Sun Deities in Colorado DIFFUSIONISTS AT ODDS

  A COWBOY GUIDE

  CRACK CAVE, SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO

  EQUINOX SUNRISE AT CRACK CAVE

  Chapter 8: Old World Cosmologies at the Anubis Caves CELTIC RELIGION IN OKLAHOMA

  MITRA, MITHRA, OR MITHRAS

  ANUBIS CAVES INSCRIPTIONS

  THE SIX MONTHS OGHAM INSCRIPTION AND THE NOSE POINTER ALIGNMENT

  THE SILENT OPERA AND OTHER SUNSET EQUINOX DISPLAYS

  CELTIC GODDESSES IN CAVE 2

  COSMOLOGY AND CONSTELLATIONS

  Chapter 9: More Celtic America LUGH AND THE FESTIVAL OF LUGHNASA

  CROSS-QUARTER DAY ALIGNMENT AT THE SUN TEMPLE

  COSMOLOGY OF THE SU
N TEMPLE

  CELTS IN KANSAS

  CAVE HOLLOW SUNRISE

  OTHER ENCOUNTERS

  EQUINOX SUNSET CAVE NEAR RUSSELL, KANSAS

  FURTHER INDICATIONS OF CELTIC MIGRATIONS IN AMERICA

  Chapter 10: Westward to a Dwelling Place of a Great Spirit WESTWARD TO CALIFORNIA

  A DESTRUCTIVE LEGACY

  THE EQUINOX SUNRISE LIGHT SERPENT AT MOJAVE NORTH

  SCHMIDT’S THEORIES OF TRANSOCEANIC DIFFUSION

  MORE SOLAR MARKERS

  OTHER MOJAVE NORTH PETROGLYPHS

  THE SEA ROCK

  Chapter 11: Mojave North II—Did They Come Across the Pacific? WHERE HAVE ALL THE MYSTICS GONE?

  CROSS-QUARTER DAYS AT MOJAVE NORTH

  SHIVA’S LINGA?

  THE EPIGRAPHY OF MOJAVE NORTH

  LUNAR ALIGNMENT DISCOVERIES

  CEREMONIAL BASINS MYSTERY

  THE ROOTS OF MOJAVE NORTH

  ENDANGERED HISTORY AT MOJAVE NORTH

  Chapter 12: The Great Basin Melting Pot THE GREAT BASIN

  GREAT BASIN JOURNEYS

  ENCOUNTERS WITH A ROCK ART INVESTIGATOR

  PETROGLYPH SITES NEAR BISHOP, CALIFORNIA

  A STORY OF THE KIVA

  THE STORY OF KOKOPELLI

  CUPULES AND GRINDING HOLES

  DIFFUSION OF VEDIC CULTURES VIA THE PACIFIC INTO THE GREAT BASIN?

  EAST MEETS WEST IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

  Chapter 13: Midwest Relics, Mounds, and Controversies THE DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION OF MOUNDS IN NORTH AMERICA

  COPPER MINING IN MICHIGAN

  WAYNE MAY’S IDEAS AND THE MOUND BUILDERS’ CULTURE

  THE SERPENT MOUND OF OHIO

  THE CASE FOR OLD WORLD RELICS FROM THE MIDWEST

  FAKES?

  IN THE END, CONTROVERSIES AND SKEPTICISM

  Chapter 14: Hebrews, Romans, and Early Christians REPORTS OF HEBREW CONTACTS IN THE NEW WORLD

  THE BAT CREEK STONE

  THE NEWARK HOLY STONES

  SEMITIC SCRIPTS

  HIDDEN MOUNTAIN—A HEBREW FORTRESS IN NEW MEXICO?

  HIDDEN MOUNTAIN CONSTELLATIONS

  OTHER HIDDEN MOUNTAIN CONNECTIONS

  ARTIFACTS FROM CALALUS, “AN UNKNOWN LAND” IN THE ARIZONA DESERT

  THE CHEROKEES, DNA, AND OTHER CONNECTIONS TO THE HEBREWS

  Chapter 15: More to Learn about Ancient America INDUS VALLEY CONNECTIONS

  CHINESE CONNECTIONS

  JAPANESE CONNECTIONS

  MINOAN, PHOENICIAN, AND GREEK CONNECTIONS

  ROMAN CONNECTIONS

  MORE IRISH AND WELSH CONNECTIONS

  ARAB CONNECTIONS

  CONNECTIONS TO MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT

  VIKING CONNECTIONS

  A NORWEGIAN VILLAGE IN AMERICA AND THE SUPPRESSION OF THOR HEYERDAHL

  THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR CONNECTION

  DO WE NEED MORE PROOF?

  Chapter 16: The Legacy of the Conquest AMERICA BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH

  THE CHURCH AND THE SPANISH MONARCHY

  MAJOR FACTORS IMPACTING THE CONQUEST

  AFTERMATH: THE IMPOSITION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE COLUMBUS MYTH

  Chapter 17: Awakening a New History A RETURN TO PLANET OF THE APES?

  A WORLD IN AMNESIA

  THE SEARCH FOR THE SACRED

  THE SERPENT OF CONSCIOUSNESS

  A RETURN OF THE MAGI?

  A MIND ADJUSTMENT IS REQUIRED

  MUCH TO BE DONE

  A FINAL PERSPECTIVE

  Footnotes

  Endnotes

  Bibliography

  About the Author

  About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company

  Books of Related Interest

  Copyright & Permissions

  Index

  INTRODUCTION

  Challenging Long-Held Views

  I set out to discover a new history of America. This is my story.

  THE HEART OF THE MATTER

  How then to express oneself clearly? By image and by myth, as the sages of all times have done.

  RENÉ ADOLPHE SCHWALLER DE LUBICZ (1887–1961)*1

  I have always been fascinated with symbols, which, beginning in 1989, became an obsession in my study of ancient North American rock art. Yet, the more I studied, the more convinced I became that many of the petroglyphs and astronomical sites did not make sense if it was assumed that they were created by Native Americans alone, free from any outside influences, as established archaeology tells us. For some time now I have intended to write a chronicle of discovering a “New History” of America, as a record of what really happened, including the events lost or intentionally left out of the American creation myth that begins with “Columbus discovered America.” Thus, I began journaling, inspired by the ancient writers of old.

  In the decades that followed, I read many books, visited hundreds of known and newly discovered archaeological sites, investigated claims by previous researchers, and became educated on the subject by meeting and collaborating with other researchers. All this resulted in a level of understanding that compelled me to write about these places, the guides I encountered, and the true stories behind historical events that have developed into what is now known as the New History of America; that is, I came to the conclusion that before Columbus’s arrival this land had many, many visitors from the Old World. Phoenicians, Chinese, Celts, Africans, Indus Valley peoples, Hebrews, Romans, and others—I believe they were all here. Thus, the New History confronts the old historical paradigms, stories, and myths that, as I will demonstrate, were established to disguise an authentic past.

  The New History as told in this book starts with two stories about Columbus. The first is the “usual story” we heard in school as children—that he thought the world was flat and that he believed he landed near the China of the great khan and that he accidentally discovered America. Based on this story, he was honored with his own special national holiday, not only in the United States, but also in all of Latin America and Spain. This is the legacy that we inherited. The “real story,” however, is very different. He knew where he was going and why. Then it highlights his lies about his slave trading and, most horrific of all, his cold-blooded, self-justified genocide of an entire Indian nation.

  Following the stories of Columbus comes my journey of inquiry and enlightenment, which begins with an examination of some of the pioneers of the New History, which is largely based on the rock art, inscriptions, and artifacts left by the ancients. The New History I uncovered, complemented by the historical record and well documented by the research of others, reveals the travels and settlements of the pre-Spanish explorers, miners, immigrant settlers, and teachers who made it to the Americas. They left their marks carved in stone for us to discover, to know they were here. Those artifacts convey more than most of us can imagine or give them credit for. These teachings, prayers, cosmologies, and remembrances are keys to demonstrating a greater awareness of what it means to be an American and what it means to be human.

  This is the story of ancients in America. It is also our story because what we think matters. What we believe matters. It truly makes a difference if our thoughts and beliefs are built on truths or on lies that are at odds with what actually occurred and what is real. The loss of our true history is akin to the absence of our memory. How can one possibly comprehend our inner nature and purpose without memory? The heart of the matter is our consciousness and awareness, for without them we are unable to discern the purpose of life. But how do we awaken from a thousand-year-long sleep; how do we restore a healthy memory from a situation of amnesia?

  THE OLD HISTORY: ARE WE LIVING IN FLATLAND?

  The Old History has been established and maintained to sustain self-serving educational institutions and economic power structures invested in economic exploitation and dominion over nature and, often, over other human cultures. Thus, while a New History challenges the Old History, the idea that we’ve been living in a lie, populated by participants who remain asleep, is hardly new and was firs
t presented to me in Edwin A. Abbott’s Flatland, a great but little book published in 1884. The place called Flatland was a two-dimensional world composed of only length and width; that is, until the main character discovered the third dimension: height. But to his amazement, no other Flatlander believed him. In spite of his tireless efforts at explaining the mathematics, the destitute hero was destined for prison and lamented:

  Hence I am absolutely destitute of converts, and, for aught that I can see, the millennial Revelation has been made to me for nothing. Prometheus up in Spaceland was bound for bringing down fire for mortals, but I—poor Flatland Prometheus—lie here in prison for bringing down nothing to my countrymen. Yet I exist in the hope that these memoirs, in some manner, I know not how, may find their way to the minds of humanity in Some Dimension, and may stir up a race of rebels who shall refuse to be confined to limited Dimensionality.1

  There was no escaping the dogma of his peers for the revolutionary Flatlander who wasted away in prison. Indulge me, reader; can you name any real people who have wasted away in prison, or worse, for trying to bring in a new way of thinking?

  Beyond the Greek mythological story of Prometheus, there are historical characters such as Socrates, who was forced to commit suicide for “seducing the minds of the youth of Athens.” Also from ancient Athens comes Plato’s story of the Cave, in which he suggested that shadows cast by candlelight were like our perceptions of reality. Almost two millennia later Nicolaus Copernicus refrained from publishing his On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres until he was on his deathbed in 1543 because, as taught by the Catholic Church, Europeans believed Earth was the center of the universe.