Aikens' Fremont Hypothesis and Use of Skeletal Material in Archaeological Interpretation

Some anthropologists have suggested prehistoric Old and New world contacts. Meggers, Evans, and Estrada are the most recent advocates, and their hypothesis of a landfall by Japanese fishermen on the coast of Ecuador seems to have been the causa belli of the attack by John Rowe on "doctrinaire diffusionism." In a response to Rowe, Jett and Carter (1966) suggest his level of absolute proof is the best, but not the only, proof. Rowe's absolute proof is best because it can be rigorously and objectively tested. But if this level of proof is not met, then the acceptance of such evidence becomes an "act of faith." The hypotheses of transoceanic contacts can not be evaluated adequately for or against until this level of proof is achieved. Until such time, the acceptance of such theories will remain "acts of faith." THROUGH THE YEARS there have always been a number of anthropologists who have interested themselves in the question of contacts between the cultures of the New and Old worlds. The usual evidence offered has been similarities in design or form of some trait or element or in art motifs, alleged botanical transfers, or other such "proofs." The great bulk of this literature would appear not to have interested very many anthropologists because, except for a small group of devotees, most of it and its implications have been simply ignored. The reason for this lack of interest probably lies in the assumption on the part of most American anthropologists that the American Indian brought a late Pleistocene