The Roman Head from Mexico

[Tarbicus]

Blimey, I didn't expect this thread to go this far :wink:

But, to recap, there are major doubts about how the head got there. It may well have been contamination from a post-Columbus Roman collector. I think though it is worth looking at the Viking expeditions to America (Vinland), which are generally accepted as fairly legitimate through the Icelandic tales, although not supported by archaeological evidence. But, they're not tales of conquest as far as I know, rather the opposite.

I think it's worth taking a look at these links. They're not verifiable records as such I know, except for a possible map of America, but the authors can always be challenged.

ROMAN ANTONINIANI FOUND IN ICELAND
www.trends.ca/~yuku/tran/7c1.htm
www.econ.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/coins/coins.htm
www.1worldglobes.com/History/historyofmaps.htm
http://www.1worldglobes.com/images/historyloc/images/geograph%5B1%5D.gif

Personally, my jury is out on the subject although I essentially don't believe it, and I can understand why someone qualified in Mesoamerican archaeology would snort. However, without having sailed on an ancient ship under an ancient captain, I can't say whether it would have made it across the Atlantic or not, even by accident :wink:

That said, I often use the phrase "Worse things happen at sea."