PDF Summary:America Before, by Graham Hancock

For centuries, historians claimed migrating Siberian nomads were the first to settle in the Americas. Yet America Before by Graham Hancock challenges this conventional wisdom.

Hancock details advanced cultures that thrived thousands of years before. From complex Amazonian earthworks aligned with the stars to shamanic visions of the afterlife echoing those of ancient Egypt, this book presents compelling archaeological and genetic evidence suggesting a sophisticated pre-Columbian heritage.

Do ancient sites like Poverty Point or Serpent Mound offer glimpses of a lost world—and what else might we uncover about America's deep past? Through Hancock's unorthodox lens, the human story on this continent appears far richer than previously imagined.

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The construction of Watson Brake was intentionally oriented to coincide with the equinoxes.

The construction of Watson Brake was deliberately oriented to coincide with the sunrise on the equinox. He observed that during this critical celestial event, there were four unique alignments, further corroborating the intentional design of the site to symbolically connect the terrestrial with the celestial. The precise arrangement of these alignments suggests they resulted from careful and intentional monitoring of the stars and planets.

The eleven mounds, arranged in a consecrated oval pattern, indicate a deep connection to the nearby earthwork where the Serpent Mound effigy is located, despite the differences in time and the separate builders of each edifice.

Hancock highlights the intriguing similarity between the oval-shaped embankment at Watson Brake, known for its meticulously arranged mounds, and the oval earthwork formation that lies ahead of the wide-open mouth and to the west of the Serpent Mound's head. He emphasizes that the two locations were constructed with a gap of about 3,000 years between them, displaying clear distinctions, particularly in their size. Spanning 22 acres, the elliptical earthwork of Watson Brake is significantly larger than the Serpent Mound, suggesting a connection through their similar design features.

In the Amazon's core lies Rego Grande, a stone circle over a millennium old that showcases an advanced grasp of solstice alignments.

The Rego Grande stone circle, consisting of 127 large stones, with a few weighing as much as 4 tons, is located far from Serpent Mound, yet it also shares a connection with a significant geological structure—a hidden explosive formation spanning roughly 14 kilometers across—indicating a possible association. The circular structure is purposefully oriented to coincide with important astronomical occurrences, indicating the commencement of the annual cycle when the sun's most delicate and shortest beams reach the Earth. Hancock is particularly struck by the designers' incorporation of individual monoliths inside the circle, which serve as aiming points for the sunrise during the winter solstice, employing a method that mirrors the positioning of Stonehenge's Heel Stone.

The careful placement of substantial stones to track the sun's path during the winter solstice reveals a profound knowledge and scrutiny of celestial movements.

Hancock emphasizes the contributions of archaeologists at Rego Grande, particularly their discovery of a strategically placed massive stone that tracks the sun's path on the shortest day of the year by analyzing the shadows. The researchers discovered an additional nearby configuration that unmistakably aligned with the winter solstice, establishing that its presence was intentional.

The intentional arrangement of three large granite stones to coincide with the inaugural rays of the winter solstice emphasizes a significant understanding and arrangement related to astronomical occurrences.

Hancock emphasizes the precise positioning of Rego Grande, particularly noting the instance when the sun first appears on the horizon at the winter solstice, rather than tracking the sun's path over the course of the day. On the morning of the shortest day of the year, an individual positioned at a particular point within the circle would witness the sunrise perfectly align with the "front-sight" through the "peep hole" of the second massive stone.

The expertly crafted opening in the large stone structure unmistakably shows intentional modification, functioning as an indicator of the seasonal transitions.

Hancock highlights that specialists examining Rego Grande have noted its purposefully designed observation area is remarkably similar to the "Aubrey holes," initially serving as the foundational cavities for the Bluestones of the renowned Stonehenge edifice. The building of the stone circle at Rego Grande demonstrates the early inhabitants' skill in extracting, shaping, transporting, and precisely arranging massive stone edifices.

Other Perspectives

• The interpretation of archaeological sites and their alignment with astronomical events can be subjective, and alternative explanations for the layout of these sites may exist that do not involve sophisticated astronomical knowledge.
• The evidence for advanced astronomical knowledge in ancient American sites may be overstated, as some alignments could be coincidental or have practical purposes unrelated to celestial events.
• The transfer of knowledge over millennia, as suggested by the relationship between Poverty Point and Lower Jackson Mound, may not be as direct or intentional as proposed, considering the long time gap and potential for independent development.
• The function of "Woodhenges" and other ceremonial structures may have been multifaceted, with celestial monitoring being only one of several potential uses.
• The precision of solstitial and equinoctial alignments at sites like Watson Brake could be interpreted with a degree of error, and the methods used to determine these alignments may be open to scrutiny.
• The connection between Watson Brake and the Serpent Mound, as well as other sites, may be coincidental or represent a common cultural motif rather than a direct transmission of specific astronomical knowledge.
• The interpretation of stone circles like Rego Grande as precise astronomical instruments may be challenged by alternative views that see them as serving a broader range of religious or social functions.
• The assumption that ancient peoples required advanced knowledge to construct these sites may underestimate the trial-and-error methods or simple observational techniques that could have been employed.
• The idea that ancient civilizations were not primitive but rather sophisticated in certain domains may inadvertently perpetuate a binary view of cultural development, which does not account for the complexity and diversity of human societies.

The history of human settlement in the Americas is intricate and multifaceted, as disclosed by archaeological and genetic research.

Graham Hancock argues that the history of human habitation in the Americas is intricate and dates back further than is widely acknowledged, proposing that diverse groups of people with distinct genetic signatures from various parts of the world migrated there in several waves.

Findings at multiple sites such as Monte Verde, Meadowcroft, Topper, and Cactus Hill suggest that human habitation in the Americas extends well beyond the age of the Clovis culture, by thousands of years.

Hancock assembles substantial evidence regarding sites predating the Clovis culture, maintaining that while the authenticity of certain locations can be contested, there are unquestionably age-old sites with precise dating, confirming the existence of humans on the American continent much sooner than once recognized. He thoroughly investigates the details of three significant sites: Monte Verde in southern Chile, Meadowcroft in Pennsylvania, and the Bluefish Caves in the Yukon. Graham Hancock investigates numerous sites across the Americas and uncovers artifacts that suggest human presence from 14,000 to potentially 50,000 years ago, which disputes the prevalent belief that the Clovis culture represents the area's earliest human settlers.

The assortment of objects unearthed at these sites, distinct from those found in Clovis assemblages, indicates the possibility of multiple migrations instead of a singular initial settlement of the region.

Hancock highlights the importance of discoveries that are older than the Clovis culture, marked by the lack of distinctive fluted spear points and various tools that are usually linked with the Clovis assemblage. The basic and primitive toolkits that preceded the ones associated with the Clovis culture indicate that the latter had distinct beginnings. The uncovering of artifacts older than the Clovis period not only confirms that human beings inhabited America before the Clovis era but also uncovers their unique genetic lineages.

The increasing antiquity of these archaeological discoveries calls into question the idea that human habitation in Beringia was prolonged, suggesting that migrations might have taken place during the Ice Age or even before that time.

Hancock notes recurring themes in the latest archaeological discoveries. Ongoing research is progressively pushing back the established timeline of human settlements that existed before the Clovis culture. Graham Hancock's work has posed significant challenges to the conventional Beringian standstill hypothesis, bolstering the possibility that settlers arrived in the Americas far earlier, potentially during the peak of the ice age, which provided ample chances for various migrant groups from distinct continents to populate the entirety of the American continents.

The widespread presence of these sites throughout the Americas supports the theory that there were multiple migrations spanning from north to south, indicating that these journeys might have taken place overland and potentially by sea.

The accumulating proof of human settlements predating the Clovis culture suggests that the long-held belief of migration to South America during the Ice Age exclusively via a land passage through North America's ice-free corridor is no longer tenable. Hancock emphasizes that the passage was uninhabited and inaccessible for thousands of years, even though there were indications of human life in regions surrounding the glacial formations, leaving behind an archaeological trail that demonstrates diverse cultural activities.

The identification of genetic traits linked to Australo-Melanesians within isolated Amazonian populations suggests a surprising ancient voyage across the Pacific.

Graham Hancock posits that the discovery of the Australasian genetic marker might represent the most crucial progress stemming from the rapidly expanding domain of archaic genetic studies. This unique genetic marker is found exclusively among certain tribes in the isolated Amazon and does not occur in other American populations. The mystery challenging conventional archaeological thought posits that ancestors of present-day Papuans and Aboriginal Australians undertook a voyage across the Pacific, arriving in South America prior to the submergence of Beringia, an event that transpired more than 12,000 years ago, a concept considered unlikely by specialists in archaeology. The prevailing assumption that the initial peopling of the Americas stemmed from a migration beginning in Siberia is challenging to harmonize.

The limited presence of this lineage in modern Native American populations, coupled with its nonexistence in the ancient Clovis genome, suggests that there was little intermixing with other groups.

Hancock highlights that only a select few tribes residing in the secluded regions of the Amazon carry the Australasian genetic marker, which is absent in the majority of indigenous groups throughout the Americas. Graham Hancock suggests that a small group of early settlers, perhaps even a lone expedition, may have been the initial inhabitants to establish themselves on the land, having arrived by sea, as indicated by genetic evidence.

Evidence suggests that the initial human settlement occurred in South America, with subsequent expansion into the Amazon rainforest, rather than beginning from Beringia.

The prevalence of the genetic marker among tribes in the isolated Amazonian areas, along with its reduced or absent occurrence in areas spanning from Siberia to the rainforest, indicates that its source should be traced to a place other than the Siberian pathway. Hancock posits that the data lends stronger support to the theory that there was a migration directly across the Pacific Ocean, as opposed to other proposed explanations.

The identification of genetic connections between Amazonian tribes and the Siberian individual MA-1, who carried a significant genetic component from West Eurasia also found in Native Americans, suggests a complex and diverse history of human habitation in the Americas that predates the end of the last Ice Age.

The book highlights the discovery of a young individual's entire skeletal remains, believed to be 24,000 years old, excavated from a gravesite situated at the southern extremity of Siberia's Lake Baikal. The comprehensive genetic profiling of the child archaeologists call "MA-1" revealed a surprising connection to the American continents. Hancock underscores the complete scope of the relationship. The genetic marker MA-1 is prevalent in Europeans and is also frequently found among indigenous peoples of the Americas. The genetic makeup of the Americas' earliest residents seems to have been influenced by a group closely related to, or directly stemming from, the lineage linked to the individual identified as MA-1 in Siberia. Native Americans have ancestral ties to a unique group that inhabited Siberia more than 24,000 years in the past. Hancock suggests that America's earliest settlers were a mix of different lineages, including genetic inputs from the Australasian region, European roots, and elements of Denisovan heritage.

The genetic evidence supports the existence of an ancient human species in Siberia that mingled with Neanderthals and our direct ancestors, with their genetic markers being most prominent in Australasians and also present in the DNA of Native American populations.

Hancock emphasizes the remarkable discovery made in 2010 at Denisova Cave, located in southern Siberia, where evidence of a previously unknown human species emerged, now known as the Denisovans. In 2017, he ventured into a mysterious cave that had been a home to Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and Denisovans for over 280,000 years. The discovery of Denisovan remains is unique to the Denisova site, as similar findings have not been made at any other location globally. Despite the limited number of specimens, modern DNA sequencing techniques have revealed a wealth of details regarding this extinct group of organisms. The Denisovans not only lived alongside Neanderthals and Homo sapiens but also interbred with them, resulting in a noticeable trace of their genetic material in modern human populations around the world. The migratory trajectories of Australian Aborigines and Melanesians, who carry a significant amount of Denisovan genetic markers, suggest an eastward rather than a westward movement.

The genetic evidence suggests that the Denisovans, known for their seafaring skills and sophisticated tool-making, may have occupied a broader expanse of the area identified as Australo-Melanesia than currently documented.

Hancock explores the sophisticated tool-making skills of the Denisovans, evidenced by discoveries in Denisova Cave, including a chloritolite bracelet from around 50,000 years ago that shows meticulous drilling work, as well as a delicately made bone needle from that time with an eye less than a millimeter wide. He investigates the extensive distribution of Denisovan genes, which span from the western region of Siberia to Australasia, a region that can only be reached from Siberia by embarking on considerable sea voyages. The way we perceive the Stone Age has shifted from a simplistic view of primitiveness to a more complex and detailed appreciation. Graham Hancock posits that a group akin to the Denisovans might have played a significant role in the earliest colonization of the Americas.

The refined artisanship displayed through Denisovan artifacts such as a bracelet and a needle, along with the significant accomplishments of the earliest pre-Clovis and "Paleoamerican" societies in the Americas, suggests that these groups may have been influenced by the Denisovans, whether through direct or indirect interactions.

Hancock emphasizes the sophistication of Denisovan technological achievements, along with the tools used by the earliest settlers of the Americas and native populations prior to the rise of the Clovis culture, illustrated by the bone-breaking methods using stone hammers found at the Cerutti Mastodon site, believed to date back 130,000 years. Do the skills we consider unique to fully developed Homo sapiens manifest in discoveries across the Americas from times earlier than Homo sapiens' known existence by mere chance? Hancock suggests that integrating understanding of Denisovan influences, whether directly or indirectly, might offer fresh perspectives on the global story of early human evolution.

Other Perspectives

• The hypothesis of pre-Clovis settlements is still debated among scholars, with some arguing that the evidence is not yet conclusive and requires further verification.
• The interpretation of genetic evidence is complex, and alternative explanations for the presence of Australasian genetic markers in Amazonian populations could exist, such as more recent migration or trade routes.
• The idea of a Pacific voyage to the Americas is intriguing but remains speculative without more direct evidence of ancient seafaring capabilities and routes.
• The Beringian standstill hypothesis has substantial support, and while new findings challenge it, it still remains a viable explanation for the peopling of the Americas.
• The suggestion that Denisovans influenced early American societies is largely speculative, as there is limited direct evidence of Denisovan presence in the Americas.
• The claim that the initial human settlement occurred in South America is not universally accepted, with many researchers still supporting a north-to-south migration pattern.
• The assertion that there was little intermixing between different groups in the Americas is contradicted by genetic studies showing extensive admixture among ancient populations.
• The interpretation of archaeological artifacts and their linkage to specific human species or migrations is often subject to debate and reevaluation as new evidence emerges.
• The idea that sophisticated tool-making and artisanship in early American societies could be attributed to Denisovan influence is an extrapolation that requires more direct evidence.

Indigenous communities in the Americas stood out for their sophisticated agricultural practices, remarkable architectural achievements, and firmly established ceremonial and spiritual traditions.

Graham Hancock advocates for the recognition of the deep environmental insight and deliberate alteration of their habitat, as well as the advanced spiritual and technological abilities that were intrinsic to Native American cultures long before Europeans arrived on their territory.

For more than eight thousand years, native populations have cultivated a rich and diverse "garden" in the Amazon, teeming with a variety of tree species that are both useful and productive.

Hancock notes that the first Europeans to explore the Amazon rainforest nearly five hundred years ago saw it as a pristine wilderness sparsely inhabited by indigenous people they dismissively referred to as "savages." New research, however, reveals that the jungle is a garden - that its appearance, and the abundance and distribution of some of its species, are a result of more than 8,000 years of intelligent and very purposeful management and cultivation by ancient inhabitants.

The diversity of tree species in the rainforest suggests that they were deliberately cultivated, indicating human involvement in their selection, cultivation, and care.

Hancock disputes the idea that the Amazon remains an untamed frontier, particularly considering the abundance of specific species within the forest's upper layers. This phrase refers to a specific group of 227 species that, although they make up just 1.4% of the varied species in the Amazon, account for almost half of the tree population in any examined area of the forest. Hancock emphasizes that species which have been domesticated, selectively bred, and cultivated for a period spanning eight millennia are five times more likely to be found than those that remain wild.

Efforts by humans to enhance the forest ecosystem for greater yields of food-bearing species call into question the long-held belief in an untouched jungle that has not been influenced by human activity.

The assortment of species that have been domesticated marks a notable departure from the usual ecological patterns, which tend to be random and not deliberately crafted. Hancock firmly believes that the data suggests a purposeful action. Graham Hancock suggests that native groups in the Amazon, with their deep knowledge of plant life, transformed extensive areas of the rainforest into garden-like zones, carefully cultivating and managing a diverse range of flora over thousands of years.

The uncovering of old gardens and orchards associated with settlements from before Columbus emphasizes the sophisticated farming techniques employed across the Amazonian expanse.

Hancock draws on current studies that suggest there were once settlements in the Amazon surrounded by verdant flora, offering plentiful fruits, nuts, and wood. In the southeastern Amazon, close to the Xingu River, archaeologists have discovered old communities that are more akin to urban gardens, with the surrounding forest appearing more like a carefully tended park in England than a wild jungle, providing vital sustenance and materials.

A variety of earth referred to as Terra Preta. The unearthing of a prehistoric, man-made fertile soil in the Amazon, celebrated for its exceptional fecundity and self-renewing properties, suggests that the region's initial settlers had advanced understanding and expertise in the cultivation and maintenance of soil.

Graham Hancock emphasizes the widespread presence of a uniquely human-made fertile soil, known throughout the Amazon as terra preta. Graham Hancock illustrates the ingenious soil management practices developed to address the widespread challenge of the Amazon's infertile soils, which led to a marked improvement in agricultural yield. The soil, renowned for its distinct makeup and the variety of microorganisms it harbors, continues to be used by numerous indigenous Amazonian tribes due to its remarkable self-renewing properties, even millennia after its initial creation.

The remarkable persistence of the fertile soils, often referred to as Amazonian Dark Earths, challenges the usual rapid decline in soil richness seen in environmental degradation.

Hancock emphasizes the remarkable resilience of terra preta, which retains its nutrient-dense characteristics despite being in a setting where relentless rainfall and high humidity usually strip the soils of their fertility. The nutrient depletion in certain regions of the Amazon results in a rapid decrease in soil fertility, thus limiting the time span for which agriculture can be maintained. The principle commonly acknowledges terra preta as a remarkable deviation. The fertility of these ancient plots, which remain productive and date from 5,000 to 8,000 years ago, can contribute to the increased productivity of surrounding areas that have not undergone similar enhancement.

The unique composition of microorganisms in terra preta distinguishes it from the natural soil ecosystems of the Amazon, playing a vital role in its nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, and sustained fertility.

The unique and seemingly mystical qualities of terra preta, according to Hancock, lie not only in its creation but also, and more crucially, in its enrichment with exceptionally potent bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms decompose waste, capture and hold nutrients, sequester carbon, and foster a perpetual cycle of rejuvenation that boosts the land's yield over time, unlike the typical decline in fertility observed in numerous natural settings.

The deliberate use of a technique to produce biochar, by cutting and burning plant life, demonstrates a strategic understanding and execution of the essential elements required to cultivate rich, dark soil in the Amazon.

Hancock challenges the idea that the creation of terra preta was an accidental byproduct of human activity. He challenges the notion that the Amazon's earliest settlers simply disposed of their waste, which unintentionally resulted in the formation of "miracle soil" over time. He has a profound comprehension of human engagement and the crucial scientific insights pertaining to the microbial processes responsible for creating highly fertile soil through ecological activities. Graham Hancock proposes that this knowledge is evident in a method referred to as "slash-and-char," which has been recorded and continues to be practiced throughout the Amazon region even now.

The quest for spiritual insight, prophetic understanding, and knowledge in the South American rainforest is frequently facilitated by ritualistic plant use that triggers visionary states, indicating a deep understanding of human consciousness and perhaps dimensions beyond our material existence.

Graham Hancock explores the importance of shamanic traditions across the Americas, highlighting how the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca has been a fundamental element in the cultures of indigenous Amazonian people for numerous generations. Ayahuasca serves as merely one illustration in a broader context. Native American cultures have long incorporated the use of psilocybin mushrooms into their ceremonial practices, and they deeply respect the peyote cacti, along with other sacred plants such as the San Pedro cactus indigenous to Peru. Shamans often served as guides and occasionally assumed positions of authority throughout these expeditions. They concentrated not only on the essential needs of their society but also delved deeply into understanding the essence of human existence. They delved profoundly into the enigma surrounding what becomes of human consciousness once it departs from the corporeal form after death. Hancock suggests that such journeys led to deep insights into the spiritual realm encountered during transcendent states, along with discoveries about the soul's journey after death.

Ayahuasca is often linked to the experience of otherworldly visions, telepathic communication, and insights into the existence that persists beyond death, serving as a bridge to the spiritual realm.

Hancock's fascination with the enigmas surrounding the transformation of consciousness is evident, and in his 2005 work "Supernatural: Encounters with the Timeless Mentors of Humanity," he dedicates a significant portion to the provocative and compelling topic of native healing traditions that encompass spiritual journeys and altered states of awareness. In his book, he narrates his experiences with the mind-altering brew ayahuasca, delving into his journey through a dimension beyond our normal perception, replete with complex geometric patterns and what seemed to be control panels and a sequence of gateways, deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Other Perspectives

• The extent and sophistication of indigenous agricultural practices may have varied significantly among different communities, and not all may have had equally advanced techniques.
• While Native American cultures had advanced abilities, it is important to recognize the diversity among different tribes and not homogenize their technological and spiritual achievements.
• The "garden" concept of the Amazon is still under debate among scientists, with some arguing that the impact of indigenous populations was more localized rather than widespread.
• The idea that the Amazon was a "pristine wilderness" is a European construct, and the term "wilderness" itself may not accurately reflect indigenous land-use practices.
• The evidence for human involvement in the selection and cultivation of tree species in the Amazon is based on current research, which is subject to reinterpretation as new data emerges.
• The enhancement of the ecosystem by humans is a complex topic, and there may have been unintended negative consequences alongside the positive ones.
• The sophistication of farming techniques in ancient Amazonian settlements is still being uncovered, and interpretations of archaeological findings can vary.
• While Terra Preta is evidence of advanced soil management, the scale and impact of its use across the Amazon are still topics of ongoing research.
• The resilience of Terra Preta soils is remarkable, but there may be limits to their productivity and self-renewing properties that are not yet fully understood.
• The role of microorganisms in Terra Preta is a subject of scientific study, and there may be other factors contributing to its fertility.
• The production of biochar and its role in soil fertility is complex, and there may have been variations in how it was produced and used by different indigenous groups.
• The use of hallucinogenic plants for spiritual insight is culturally specific, and interpretations of these experiences are subjective and may not be universally applicable.
• Shamanic traditions and the use of hallucinogenic plants are part of a larger cultural context, and their significance can be misinterpreted or oversimplified when viewed through a Western lens.
• The experiences induced by ayahuasca and other plants are deeply personal and can vary widely; they may not always lead to universally meaningful insights or spiritual understanding.