Pseudoscience: Paul Chiasson and the Island of Seven Cities

Where are the proofs of Jacques Cartier's landing in Gaspe? When was l'Anse aux Meadows excavated? It seems that people are so worried about protecting their own turf. This is not the sign of a progressive society. I hope that we can explore different points of view.

Somebody needs to research local records some more, and then a first step would be a college sponsored surface examination with metal detectors. Trained archaeologists should search for middens or dumpsites, and check these. This may be a failed eighteenth century farmstead or many other possibilities. It would be most fascinating if this is yet another settlement by medieval Norse, much more likely than Chinese. That would fit the tales of a town where the people used an unfamiliar alphabet and had Latin books in their library.

After reading Chaisson's book I can honestly say that he presents a very compelling argument. Some have disputed the site and some have disputed a head garment, and some have ranted without making any point whatsoever, but I think when you look at the collective evidence (the alphabet resemblances, the double-curve designs, the layout of the site resembling Chinese village geometry, the skill and knowledge of Chinese sailors, Chinese farming techniques, ect.) then you really have to give this some credence. It's not just one 'hair brain' idea. He really goes in-depth with many sources.

Having actually gone out to the site and viewed the evidence, there is nothing that screams out at you, but understanding how old this area really is and the knowledge of site planning by the Chinese, I really think this is a real possibility.

I think the next step would be to research Chinese documentation (an incredibly difficult task with Chinese government) and try to find written evidence of sailors who returned and told their story. You know that there had to be more than one group of people living there to build such a large community. There is a large chance that some went back to China as well.

I thought Chaisson's book was a terrific read, honest, cautious in it's conclusions, and lacking in arrogance. It seems the more we discover about our past the more surprises we find. Unfortunately we tend to view history (and everything else) through the lens of our own assumptions and biases. Geological uniformitarianism and darwinian chronology predispose people to see our contemporary society as the result of a strictly linear journey from caves to condos.

But as more and more evidence comes to light we are being forced to admit that ancient man, far from the hulking neanderthals depicted by National Geographic, was no less intelligent, civilized, and visionary then any modern people. In fact, the further back we push the frontiers of history the more we find ourselves amazed by the incredible sophistication of the most ancient of empires. That the Chinese could navigate to Cape Breton and operate a mining colony there for generations before the fifteenth century is a relatively insignificant accomplishment. Changing the territorial opinions of biased historical scholars - now that would be something!

For years, Plates tectonics was laugheed at, today it's accepted that South America once abutted Africa. WOW! Given that dscoveries occur constantly, and its theories are scoffed at it would not surprise me that the
chinese did land at Cape Breton.

I just finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed everything I read. I found Paul's writing style honest, authentic, and personal.

Clearly the only way to solve any of the proposals in this book is to have an archaeological dig at the site. Surely some tv company would want to pay for a team to go up there.

I am all for new theories of history and am willing to concede that the Chinese were in Cape Breton but I have some basic doubts in terms of a motivation to do so. Why would the Chinese skip going to Europe, which would have been a major trading area, in favor of solely going to Cape Breton? Also, the currents stated in the book would definitely take a boat up to Cape Breton from the South Atlantic but in order to get back the Chinese would have had to go East towards Europe since they could not go against the very currents that brought them there. Also, Cape Breton island is right beside all of Nova Scotia. Why would the map makers and recorders completely ignore a much larger land mass?

A great read and Paul gets points for writing such a personal and honest novel. In the end, only an archaeological team working the site would put to rest this debate.