For centuries, history has taught us that the exploration and connection between the Old World and the New began with Christopher Columbus. However, there is growing evidence that ancient explorers, long before Columbus, embarked on Atlantic voyages and engaged in transatlantic trade that shaped the course of human civilization in ways historians are only now beginning to uncover.
In his books “Rocks & Rows” and “The Copper Trade,” author Jay Stuart Wakefield takes readers on a fascinating journey through time, challenging conventional narratives and unveiling the intricate web of prehistoric navigation, commerce, and cultural exchange between ancient civilizations on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ancient Exploration: The Pioneers of the Seas
Long before the era of modern ships and compasses, ancient civilizations embarked on voyages across the Atlantic, driven by trade, curiosity, and the pursuit of resources. In “Rocks & Rows,” Jay S Wakefield explores how early mariners possessed sophisticated knowledge of the stars, ocean currents, and wind patterns that allowed them to navigate vast distances. These seafarers, operating without the advanced technologies we associate with navigation today, laid the foundation for ancient exploration and transoceanic travel.
Wakefield delves into the compelling evidence of prehistoric navigation techniques that ancient mariners used to reach the distant shores of North America. He focuses on the significance of petroglyphs—symbols carved into stones—which he suggests may have been used as navigational aids. These carvings, often depicting celestial bodies, ships, and other maritime symbols, reveal a hidden history of Atlantic exploration. By decoding these ancient inscriptions, JS Wakefield presents a new narrative, showing how early explorers crossed the Atlantic and established contact between Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Americas long before Columbus’s 1492 voyage.
In “The Copper Trade,” Wakefield highlights the driving force behind many of these early Atlantic voyages: the quest for copper. The rich copper deposits of North America, particularly in the Great Lakes region, attracted the attention of Bronze Age civilizations in Europe and the Mediterranean. This precious metal, essential for the production of bronze, became a catalyst for transatlantic trade, forging connections between far-flung cultures and laying the groundwork for a global exchange network.
The Copper Trade: Transatlantic Commerce in the Bronze Age
One of the most compelling aspects of transatlantic trade during antiquity was the copper trade that linked ancient North America with Bronze Age Europe and the Mediterranean. In “The Copper Trade,” Jay S Wakefield uncovers the hidden history of how massive amounts of copper were mined in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and transported across the Atlantic to feed the burgeoning demand for bronze.
Wakefield’s research reveals that as much as half a billion tons of pure crystallized copper may have been extracted from ancient pits in North America. This copper, prized for its purity and durability, played a crucial role in shaping Bronze Age civilizations, providing the raw material for tools, weapons, and artwork that propelled societies forward. The transatlantic trade routes used to transport this copper represent an astonishing achievement of prehistoric navigation and engineering.
The discovery of ancient copper ingots, shipwrecks, and navigational artifacts further supports the idea that Atlantic voyages were not an isolated phenomenon but rather part of a broader network of transatlantic trade that spanned continents. Jay Wakefield emphasizes that these early mariners were skilled navigators who used their knowledge of the stars and the sea to chart safe courses across the ocean, connecting distant lands and facilitating cultural exchanges that would forever alter the course of human history.
Prehistoric Navigation: Charting the Unknown
The ability to cross the vast expanse of the Atlantic in antiquity required remarkable feats of prehistoric navigation. In “Rocks & Rows,” Wakefield explores the navigational tools and techniques employed by these ancient seafarers, demonstrating that they were far more advanced than previously believed. Through meticulous research and interpretation of ancient petroglyphs, JS Wakefield reveals that early mariners used the stars, sun, and moon to guide their journeys. These celestial bodies served as both clocks and compasses, allowing seafarers to calculate latitude, predict seasonal weather patterns, and determine the best times for voyages.
In addition to celestial navigation, Jay S Wakefield discusses the use of stone markers and megalithic structures as waypoints for these early mariners. These structures, often aligned with celestial events, served as landmarks to help sailors navigate across unfamiliar waters. Wakefield’s interdisciplinary approach, combining archaeology, astronomy, and historical research, sheds light on the ingenuity of ancient seafarers and their ability to undertake Atlantic voyages with a level of sophistication that challenges the mainstream historical narrative.
The evidence JS Wakefield presents in “Rocks & Rows” suggests that prehistoric navigation was not only about survival and trade but also about the exploration of new worlds. These early voyages laid the foundation for later transatlantic contacts and helped shape the development of ancient civilizations across both sides of the Atlantic.
Ancient Civilizations and Their Global Impact
The cultural and commercial exchanges facilitated by transatlantic trade had a profound impact on the development of ancient civilizations. The flow of copper from North America to Europe and the Mediterranean helped fuel the rise of the Bronze Age, giving societies the tools they needed to expand their territories, build monumental structures, and engage in warfare. These civilizations—ranging from the Minoans and Mycenaeans of Greece to the Egyptians and Phoenicians of the Mediterranean—became global powers partly due to their ability to acquire raw materials through Atlantic voyages.
Wakefield’s work also touches on the cultural exchanges that occurred as a result of these early voyages. In “Rocks & Rows,” he discusses the evidence of megalithic art and other archaeological finds that suggest the influence of European and Mediterranean cultures in ancient North America. The presence of stone carvings, navigational symbols, and even burial practices that mirror those found in Europe hints at a much older and more complex history of transatlantic contact.
By connecting the dots between these ancient civilizations, Jay Wakefield paints a picture of a world where Atlantic voyages were not just a daring act of exploration but a critical part of a global network of trade and cultural exchange. This network helped shape the development of societies on both sides of the Atlantic, influencing everything from technology and architecture to religion and social structure.
Conclusion: Rewriting the History of Atlantic Exploration
Jay Stuart Wakefield’s books “Rocks & Rows” and “The Copper Trade” offer a fresh perspective on the history of Atlantic voyages and transatlantic trade, challenging the conventional view that the Americas were isolated from Europe and the Mediterranean until the late Middle Ages. Through his detailed research into prehistoric navigation, the copper trade, and the cultural connections between ancient civilizations, Wakefield provides compelling evidence that early explorers not only crossed the Atlantic but also played a crucial role in shaping the development of societies on both sides of the ocean.
For readers interested in ancient exploration, maritime history, or the mysteries of prehistoric navigation, these books offer an engaging and thought-provoking journey into the past. Jay Wakefield’s work not only expands our understanding of early transatlantic contacts but also invites us to rethink the origins of global trade and cultural exchange, revealing a world where ancient mariners helped lay the foundations for the interconnected world we live in today.