The Terrible Pig of Ancient America
About 18 million years ago, the plains of North America were filled with a wide range of large mammals, including one now called Daeodon. The term means “terrible pig”, and from the fossils found, they probably lived up to their name. Experts have found that from their teeth, these animals were probably omnivores, though they more than likely lived on scavenged meat. They were about the size of modern day bison, and were heavily muscled. From evidence left on fossilized bones, these creatures may have fought over mating rights, territory, or even meals, as many of the skulls found from these beasts show puncture wounds and serious scrapes. Several Daeodon skeletons have been found around a dried up river bed at Agate Springs, Sioux County, Nebraska.
Every American school child is taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America in October of 1492. However, there is evidence that the Vikings discovered the new world some 500 years earlier. The great Norse seafarer, Leif Eriksson, was thought to have found North America around 1000 AD. He was one of a large group of explorers from Scandinavia that set out in search of a mysterious island known to them as "Greenland". However, what he found was the northern parts of Canada. Archaeological digs have found that these people not only found this area, but lived there for quite some time, as they have found a Viking long house, as well as several bits of pottery of Norse design. They have also found cloak pins and even an oven for the creation of iron objects.
Nearly all Native American tribes tell recount stories of the Thunderbirds. These were thought to be enormous birds, similar to vultures or eagles, and were said to cause the thunder during storms and could carry full grown men away to their roosts. It was believed that these stories were merely part of the culture, but fossilized evidence has been found in parts of Argentina, of a large bird similar to a modern sea gull. Ironically, throughout the years, stories have continued to surface of extremely large birds flying through the skies of North America. Scientists believe that these sightings are nothing more than large eagles or even California Condors. Eye witnesses say that what they saw was bigger than any condor on record.
Scientists believe that Native Americans crossed the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska between 12,000 and 14,000 years ago. Archaeologists have found traces of a culture around the Southwestern part of the United States, that they have dubbed Clovis People. Artifacts have shown that this part of the country was inhabited as much as 11,500 years ago. There is even speculation that these people helped in the extinction of large game such as the Wooly Mammoth. Objects found include flint spear and arrow heads, hammer stones, bone tools, and even scrapers that helped with the making of clothing from animal skins. There is also evidence that the Clovis people were well versed in botany, and new which plants were edible and which were poisonous.
