Originally posted by JohnnyCanuck
I'm thinking more of a transfer of culture and knowledge...maize did come from Central America...than a migration of peoples. The jury is still out
on the Mississippian roots of our Serpent Mound, and the corn, beans and squash agricultural complex traveled north along with the complex societies.
You figure that fluorescence occurred totally independent of any mesoamerican influence?
Remember that the Northern Native Americans (Iroquois, etc) were actually quite sophisticated. They tend to be neglected in considering the cultural
evolution of the southern Native Americans -- as do the Alaskan and Canadian tribes. They had a decent amount of technology (no stoneworking, though)
and they had frequent trade with the south. Corn moved slowly through the trade networks since its early domestication (around 10,000 BC) and
doesn't actually get planted by the Iroquois and other groups in that area until around
500 AD.
While this is the height of the Mayan civilization, there's no evidence that their farming methods, etc, actually came into the southern United
States.
This was, however, a viable theory at one time. Further research (more sites discovered) showed that the culture had no appreciable influence from
the Mayans or the Puebloans or much of the Southwest.
When people migrate, they bring their culture (tribal patterns, tribal techniques for pottery and stonework and house design and musical instruments
and foods and deities) with them. If it's the elites who are moving, they bring all that and warriors and when they get to the new area, they INSIST
on having things the same way they were at home. So, for example, we don't see Tlaloc or his equivalent in the Mississipian culture, nor do we see
Mayan villages with large earthwork mounds in the center. They were great road builders as well, so we'd expect to see roads and stonework if any
appreciable number of them showed up in the Mississippi area. There's lots of rocks in Texas (where part of the Caddo/mound builder culture is) and
lots in Arkansas and other areas. The mound that this report cites, in fact, is in an area with lots of rocks.
Compare this area to an area where it's known the Mayan elite DID flee to -- Maccu Picchu. THAT is a Mayan exodus site. The Missippian mounds look
nothing like that city and the emblems and symbols and ceremonies aren't really similar.
S&F for the info...
