Native American History |
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Review: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus is
a 2005 non-fiction book by American author and science writer Charles
C. Mann about the pre-Columbian Americas.
It was the 2006 winner of the National
Academies Communication Award for best creative work that helps
the public understanding of topics in science, engineering or
medicine.
The book presents recent research findings in different fields that
suggest human populations in the Western
Hemisphere—that is, the indigenous
peoples of the Americas—were more numerous, had arrived earlier,
were more sophisticated culturally, and controlled and shaped the natural
landscape to a greater extent than scholars had previously
thought.
The author notes that, according to these findings, two of the first
six independent
centers of civilization arose in the Americas: the first, Norte
Chico or Caral-Supe, in present-day northern Peru; and
that of Formative-era
Mesoamerica in what is now southern Mexico.
Mann develops his arguments from a variety of recent re-assessments
of longstanding views about the pre-Columbian world, based on new
findings in demography, climatology, epidemiology, economics, botany, genetics, image
analysis, palynology, molecular
biology, biochemistry,
and soil
science. Although there is no consensus, and Mann acknowledges
controversies, he asserts that the general trend among scientists
currently is to acknowledge:
-
-
(a) population levels in the Native Americans were probably
higher than traditionally believed among scientists and
closer to the number estimated by "high counters."
-
(b) humans probably arrived in the Americas earlier than
thought, over the course of multiple waves of migration
to the New World (not solely by the Bering
land bridge over a relatively short period of time).
- The level of cultural
advancement and the settlement range of humans was higher and
broader than previously imagined.
- The New
World was not a wilderness at the time of European contact,
but an environment which the indigenous peoples had altered for
thousands of years for their benefit, mostly with fire.
These three main foci (origins/population, culture, and environment)
form the basis for three parts of the book.
In the introduction, Mann attempts to refute the thesis that "Native
Americans came
across the Bering Strait 20,000 to 25,000 years ago, and they
had so little impact on their environment that even after a
millennia of habitation the continents remained mostly wilderness." |
The pond is clean enough to swim in. It has small fish and lots of frogs.

Zip Line across, or drop into the pond immediately west of campsites.
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If you are mentoring a young person or leading a youth
group at your church, and want to enjoy one of the nearby attractions listed
below,
you're welcome to stop and camp here free.
Our phone number is: 1 616 536 1455. Call us for directions and a
reservation. |

Tubing for 1&1/2 hour trip down the white river |
Diamond Lake Public swimming 3 miles away
1 1/2 hour White River tubing 3 miles away.
National forest hiking 1/4 mile away.
Wild Flower Preserve Loda Lake 3 miles away.
Minnie Pond Water Fowl Refuge
waterfall and swimming 3 miles away
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Swimming at Minnie Pond |
This camping area has seldom been
very busy. Groups can usually reserve the entire area ahead of time.
This beautiful, shaded,
green FREE camping area is reserved for youth groups, our family, and friends
. Call us for directions and a reservation. |
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We spend time during good weather in our Motor Home.
This converted military bus was used for youth groups for 20 yrs.
This motor home has four twin size bunk beds.
Now...Our children and grandchildren have a great place to visit us.
The camping area has hand pump
drinking water, restrooms, and electrical outlets.
Safety info. for
outdoor enthusiasts |

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Trail hiking in the Manistee National Forest |
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Swimming in Diamond Lake |
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Tubing on the White River |

Swimming at White Cloud Lake Park |
If you visit and camp
here at the
right time, you can see real Blickley farming activity. |
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Scholarships for Kent County (MI) Residents |