Collecting ArtifactsIn Ancient American the contributors spin their mythology out onto the world, elaborating wildly upon subjects which many of us perceive quite differently. The unifying mythology of this magazine is of Diffusionism, an archaeological belief which is not yet scientifically supported or well enough documented to be an acceptable science in the U.S. (though Europeans apparently think differently). Diffusionism, as Ancient American has it, means that prehistoric, perhaps neolithic, peoples migrated across the Atlantic and/or Pacific; or, at least, successfully transferred cultural traits one or both ways.
I have a small collection of actual Gloranthan artifacts that I have carefully accumulated over the years. I have enjoyed the hobby, and have been very careful to differentiate between real artifacts, copies of real artifacts, and fake artifacts.
How delighted I was to find a whole magazine devoted to this hobby of collecting artifacts! And making copies or fakes, too!
I picked up the first copy from a magazine rack. I could not resist a magazine whose cover promised me "the latest on Atlantis in the Bahamas, Archeological Cover-up in Yucatan, Ancient Afro-Americans," and "Why We Forgot the Northmen;" AND had a photo of a rotten skull on the cover! The editor in chief is Frank Joseph, an avowed Atlantean enthusiast, who accumulates the fascinating array of articles without prejudice. Archaeology by an Atlantean expert!? I have since then subscribed, and ordered and read the entire set.
Lynn tells me that I only enjoy reading these madcap theories and silly sciences because of the sense of superiority that it gives me. OK, it does, and I am glad that I am not stupid. But in truth it has also provided me with some insight into mythology. Reading these provides me with insights into the modern application (or misapplication) of mythic reality upon the world.
Mythic projection is what I call our inherent nature to interpret our perceptions. Information comes in to us in many forms. Everyone takes his own ideas and throws them out upon his world, identifying this and that to make a sense of this disorderly, frightening world. People naturally use a set of interpretive images to understand the data. With mythic projection different people often perceive the same thing very differently.
Science
Scientific proof is not the strong point of the magazine. Of the seventeen issues, I have plucked a half dozen articles that I think are credible. One of the best articles (in #13) is "Who Brought the Horse to America?" by A. J. Clemens. It cites documents and facts, such as the diary mention of the Sioux having horses in 1661 or so, long before Spanish steeds could have gotten there. The most credible scientific article is in #9, citing Carter's finding on cotton and more recent genetic evidence.
Scandal
The most shameless use of Ancient American has been the brazen promotion of the obviously fraudulent Barrows Cave deception.
Russell Barrows has been parceling out artifacts from his secret cave for years amid great secrecy and mystery. The site has never been revealed, but so much stuff has been laded out that other amateur groups have formed to study them. One has decided it is the grave of Alexander the Great, another of the grandson of Cleopatra and Mark Antony!
Nearly the whole of issue #16 was devoted to grave charges and cryptic countercharges. Is the infighting so nasty because the reward is so small? Then, in the latest issue, appears an advertisement for the auctioning of huge numbers of Barrows Cave artifacts. Fraud or money-making scheme?
Entertainment
The entertainment level provided is far higher than the real hard content. By far the letters column is the most dense and entertaining. In it emotions, factoids, and fantasy provide the ocean in which swim the expressions of naive believers with their fan letters, the insistent discoverers denouncing the establishment, outraged scientists, and the occasional plaintive call for co-operation.
Each issue has plenty of photos and pictures to provide more information, although they are sometimes omitted when the text references them. Thus we actually get to see photos of some of the Barrows artifacts, though photo quality is rarely good.
I encourage you to take a look. I have never been disappointed in it, as long as my expectations were for high entertainment content, moderate amounts of diatribe and amusing pseudoscience, and occasional superb gems of possible facts. Favorite issue: still my first, #14, though #13 is darn close. Best reference lists for other sources: #1.
Reading about all these frauds, and then looking at the collection of artifacts which I have for Glorantha, I have to say, it's a good thing for Archaeology that I have had Glorantha to play with for the last twenty-five years.
This article was drawn from Starry Wisdom V1 #2, Spring 1997. To regularly receive the newest Starry Wisdom magazine, join the Cult of Chaos