America, the artifact  New discoveries, research, etc.  America,
the artifact  Postby linn » 21 Mar 2011, 14:11  America, the
artifact by Mark Sumner for Daily Kos,-the-artifact  In July of
1536, a group of Spanish businessmen were surprised to find
themselves approached by four uncouth figures. The men had a
scattering of rags and bits of animal skin, but were otherwise
completely naked except for a covering of ground-in filth. Their
skin showed the effects of long exposure to sun, the scars of
injuries, and the attention of millions of insects. Their
bearded faces were gaunt with hunger and exhaustion.  The
initial wariness with which these men were greeted soon turned
to open-mouthed amazement as they addressed the businessmen in
good Spanish. The four were survivors of an expeditionary force
that had originally numbered over six hundred men, a force long
assumed lost. Over a space of seven years, these four had been
part of pitched battles, withstood a siege, aided in a
astounding escape from encircling f