The vast majority of evidence marshaled by those who support scenarios of the pre-Columbus, pre-Viking discovery, exploration, and settlement of the New World has been epigraphic. Virtually no archaeological evidence has been presented in support of such claims. Here, the historically documented, early sixteenth-century Spanish exploration of the American Southeast is used as a model for the kind of archaeological evidence to be expected for such exploration and culture contact. It is suggested that unless and until similar evidence is forthcoming for an eariler presence of Celts, Libyans, Chinese, or other visitors from the Old World, their visits remain unproved.
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