Ancient America, in Notes on American Archaeology

The author presents a wide-ranging survey of pre-Columbian antiquities across North, Central, and South America, describing earthen mounds and complex architectural ruins, illustrated ground plans, and regional sites from the Mississippi valley to Mexican, Central American, and Peruvian remains. He examines evidence for antiquity, mining, road systems, and material culture, and reviews competing hypotheses about origins, including claims of Old World contacts, while outlining indigenous historical traditions and chronologies. Appendices treat possible Norse and other contacts and Pacific Island antiquities, and consideration is given to inscriptions, decipherment, and the limits of the surviving record.