Rediscovery of Lost America

First written in 1951, Mallery's studies and on-site research revealed a pre-Columbian presence in America, most likely the Vikings. He was making news, but then overshadowed by the discovery of Viking ruins in Canada by Helge Ingstad. Since then, in spite of physical evidence, studies of Vikings in America have become nonexistent. It is one of the most bizzare failures of American historians and archaeologists. Times are changing with an increased interest in early America. Mallery's book is worth a new look.

There are two main themes to this book, which was originally published around 1951: 1. that the Vikings settled N. Am. before Columbus; 2. that the 'indian mounds' are really iron smelting furnaces of those pre-Columbian European settlers. The first was controversial in the 50's but is accepted fact now. The book presents convincing evidence about why the Norse poems were misunderstood for so many centuries. The second is still not accepted, but the author's theories and evidence are convincing. I expect that the second premise will be accepted during the next 25-50 years.