Wonders - Vol 6 No 2 - 2000

Magazine Overview

WONDERS, Vol. 6 No. 2, published in June 2000, is a magazine dedicated to exploring mysteries and seeking truth. This issue is themed around "MERMAIDS" and is published by MARK A. HALL PUBLICATIONS, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Editorial: The New Forbidden Fruit

The editorial discusses the evolving academic and public perception of historical narratives, particularly the Norse sagas concerning the New World. Initially viewed with suspicion, these sagas are now celebrated for inspiring archaeological exploration. The editorial introduces a new 'forbidden fruit' in the form of the concept of 'Greater Ireland' (also referred to as White-Man's Land or Albania), suggesting that if Vinland is real, then Greater Ireland must also be a reality. It criticizes academics for largely ignoring this subject, with only a few writers like Carl Sauer, Farley Mowat, Paul Chapman, and Arlington Mallery giving it attention. The famous L'Anse Aux Meadows site in Newfoundland is presented as a potential remnant of Greater Ireland, though its excavator, Helge Ingstad, dismissed it as legendary. The editorial promises to revisit the topic of Vinland and Greater Ireland in future issues.

A Primer on Mermaids

Authored by Mark A. Hall, this article delves into the phenomenon of "mer-beings" – mermaids, mermen, and related creatures reported worldwide. Hall notes that despite their archetype status as non-existent, people have reported sightings for thousands of years, likening the reluctance to believe in them to the fable of 'The Emperor's New Clothes.' The article aims to explore the basic issues surrounding mer-beings: what they are, where they might be found, and how they might have evolved.

Historical and Mythological Roots

The article traces the concept of mer-beings through various historical and mythological contexts. It references ancient accounts, such as Berosus' description of Oannes, a creature with the body of a fish and the head of a man, who taught civilization to the Babylonians. Similar figures include the god Dagon of the Philistines and the goddess Atergatis of the Syrians, as well as the Tritons of classical mythology. The widespread belief in such creatures across ages and cultures is highlighted as curious.

Scientific and Naturalistic Perspectives

Naturalists like Philip Henry Gosse (1810-1888) are mentioned for their serious consideration of mermaids. The article also discusses William Swainson (1789-1855), an English naturalist who proposed a 'natatorial' type of animal to complete the circle of quadrupeds. Swainson's views are presented, suggesting that while he excluded humans from this category, the characteristics of aquatic primates might align with human traits. The article acknowledges that while direct belief in mermaids as depicted by old writers (with combs and mirrors) is not implicit, the numerous reports of singular marine animals by credible witnesses suggest something more than mere fraud or ignorance.

Potential Real-World Inspirations

The article explores potential real-world inspirations for mermaid myths. Sir Emerson Tennent's observations on the Dugong are presented, suggesting that its human-like outline, maternal affection, and fin-like tail might have contributed to early mermaid portrayals. The behavior of the Dugong, including suckling its young and diving, is described. Early Portuguese settlers in India reported capturing and dissecting mermen, with one physician finding their internal structure conformable to the human. However, the article notes the limited acquaintance of such physicians with human anatomy.

Fabricated Mermaids and Cultural Beliefs

The issue of fabricated mermaid exhibits is addressed, particularly those of Japanese manufacture. One account describes a composite creature made from a monkey and a fish, which was exhibited and sold, even predicting fertility and epidemics. These hoaxes were widely circulated in Europe and America in the early 19th century. The article also touches upon the strong belief in mermen among Scandinavian races, describing their supposed subterranean dwellings and ability to acquire different forms or skins to travel between the sea and land.

Folklore and Anecdotes

Folklore and anecdotes related to mermaids are shared. One story from the Shetland Islands tells of a Shetlander who fell in love with a merlady who had lost her seal-skin (sea-dress) and was forced to remain on land. They lived happily until she found her lost skin and returned to the sea. Another anecdote describes a spectacular grotto discovered on the estate of Alexander MacAllister in Skye, which Sir Walter Scott sketched, hinting at the enchanting and mysterious places associated with these legends.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the exploration of mysteries, the questioning of established beliefs, and the examination of folklore and historical accounts. The magazine adopts a stance of seeking truth and considering possibilities that may be dismissed by mainstream academia. The editorial's focus on 'forbidden fruit' suggests an interest in challenging conventional wisdom and exploring controversial or overlooked subjects. The overall tone is inquisitive and open to the idea that many myths and legends may have a basis in reality, even if that reality is not fully understood or accepted.

This issue of WONDERS magazine, dated June 2000, delves into the fascinating and often elusive topic of mer-beings, presenting a collection of historical accounts, scientific observations, and speculative theories.

Grotto Descriptions and Early Accounts

The issue begins with a descriptive passage about a cavern, noting its fanciful mouldings and a pool resembling a naiad's grotto, with figures sculpted by calcareous water. It laments the damage caused by tourists and the loss of its original silver tint. This leads into a discussion of "nugae canorae" (tuneful trifles) and the naturalist's perspective.

Henry Hudson's Mermaid Sighting

A significant portion of the magazine focuses on a story told by Henry Hudson, a renowned navigator. On June 15th, in latitude 75°, near Nova Zembla, one of his crew members reported seeing a mermaid. The creature was described as having a woman's upper body (back and breasts) and a tail like a porpoise, speckled like a mackerel. Her skin was white, and she had long black hair. The witnesses were named Thomas Hilles and Robert Rayner. The article notes that explanations involving seals or walruses might not suffice, suggesting the possibility of an unrecognized form of being.

Steller's Sea-ape

The text then introduces Georg Wilhelm Steller, a zoologist who studied the natural history of the Siberian seas. Steller reported seeing a strange animal near Behring's Straits, which he termed a 'Sea-ape.' This creature was about five feet long, with a dog-like head, erect ears, large eyes, and a beard. Its body was thick and round, tapering to a bifurcated tail with the upper lobe longest. The body was covered in thick grey hair on the back and red on the belly. Steller observed no feet or paws. The animal was described as frolicsome, sporting like a monkey, and exhibiting curiosity towards the ship. It could raise a third of its body out of the water and stand upright. The article discusses the difficulty in classifying this creature, noting that while it had a piscine tail, it was likely a mammal. The description is contrasted with the typical characteristics of seals and walruses.

Captain Waddell's Account

Captain Waddell, known for his geographical discoveries in the extreme south, relates a story from Hall's Island. A sailor on watch heard a noise resembling human cries and, upon investigation, saw an object on a rock. The creature had a human-like face and shoulders, reddish in color, with long green hair. Its tail resembled that of a seal. It made musical sounds and disappeared when it noticed the man. The sailor, a Romanist, made a cross on the sand as an oath to the truth of his statement. The narrator concludes that the man either saw the animal described or experienced a disturbed imagination, though the green hair is noted as a suspicious element.

Pontoppidan's Merman

The magazine then turns to Pontoppidan's account of a merman seen near Landscrona, Denmark. Three sailors observed what they initially thought was a dead body floating in the water. The creature then surfaced, appearing breast-high, and was described as an old man, strong-limbed, with broad shoulders, a small head, short curled black hair, deep-set eyes, and a meager face with a black beard. Its body downwards was pointed like a fish. The merman made a lowing noise before diving.

The Shetland Mermaid Capture

Dr. Robert Hamilton's history of Whales and Seals is cited for a remarkable story from the Shetland Islands. A fishing boat crew reportedly captured a creature entangled in their lines. The animal was about three feet long, with the upper body resembling a woman with protuberant mammae. Its face, forehead, and neck were short and monkey-like. Its arms were small, with distinct fingers. Stiff bristles on its head formed a crest. The lower body was fish-like, with smooth, grey skin above and white below. It offered no resistance and uttered a plaintive sound. The crew, though superstitious, disentangled it and returned it to the sea. Further details from the skipper and crew revealed no scales or hair, no gills, and a tail like a dog-fish.

Analysis and Skepticism

The article critically examines the Shetland mermaid account, noting that while six witnesses vouched for it, it was not thoroughly sifted. It suggests that a zoologist's cross-examination could have clarified the truth. The descriptions, particularly the piscine and heterocercal tail, align with some other accounts, but the overall narrative is presented as a significant point of evidence for unknown marine life.

Evolutionary Speculation

The issue concludes with a speculative discussion on the evolutionary origins of mer-beings. It dismisses notions of mer-beings being half-fish or temporarily changing form. Instead, it proposes looking back 16 million years to the middle Miocene, suggesting that certain apes, like Oreopithecus (a swamp ape found in Italy), might be the ancestors of mer-beings. The evolution of an erect posture is highlighted as a key survival advantage. The article also touches upon the diversity of mer-being descriptions worldwide, comparing it to the diversity found in human populations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the issue is the exploration of unexplained phenomena in the natural world, specifically focusing on alleged sightings of mermaids and mermen. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, presenting historical accounts and scientific observations without outright dismissal, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous examination and the potential for misidentification or exaggeration. The magazine encourages readers to consider the possibility of undiscovered species and to critically evaluate the evidence presented. The inclusion of a world map showing names for mer-beings across different cultures underscores the global and persistent nature of these legends.

This issue of WONDERS magazine, dated June 2000, features a cover story titled "The Pre-Norse Europeans in the New World" by Mark A. Hall. The magazine also includes content related to cryptozoology, specifically mer-beings, and reviews of relevant books.

The Pre-Norse Europeans in the New World

Mark A. Hall's article critically examines the prevailing understanding of the Norse/Viking presence in the New World. He questions the assumptions made in the book "Vikings: the North Atlantic Saga," edited by William Fitzhugh and Elizabeth Ward, suggesting it is undercut by "ill-founded assumptions and moss-backed academics." Hall contrasts this with Farley Mowat's book, "The Farfarers: Before the Norse," which he finds offers more substantial insights into the pre-Norse European activity in the Arctic and northeastern Canada.

Hall posits that the region was not only invaded by Norse a thousand years ago but also by pre-Norse Europeans centuries earlier. Mowat refers to these people as "Albans," but Hall suggests a broader mix including Irish and Icelanders. These pre-Norse Europeans, according to Mowat, established colonies and coexisted peacefully with native peoples, unlike the Norse who often clashed with them.

A key element in understanding this era, according to Hall, is the identity of the carriers of the Dorset culture. He criticizes the assumption that they were simply an earlier Eskimo-like people. Hall proposes that the culture known to Eskimos as Tornit/Tunnit, and associated by archaeologists with the Dorset, were actually primitive humans represented by *Homo gardarensis*. He points to bones excavated in a Greenland churchyard in 1926 as evidence of tall, muscular, and hairy hominids.

Mowat suggests that these pre-Norse Europeans collaborated with the Dorsets to exploit Arctic resources, explaining the widespread presence of Dorset sites marked by distinctive cairns.

The article also addresses the question of the Greenland colonies' end, suggesting that historical sources, including accounts of pirate raids, are often downplayed in favor of archaeological findings. Hall notes that Mowat points to church records detailing early references to Iceland and Greenland (Cronaland) that have been dismissed as fraudulent because they are inconvenient to current academic narratives.

Hall questions the assertion that the L'Anse aux Meadows site is definitively Norse, suggesting it could have been used by Dorsets and pre-Norse Europeans as a staging area for Arctic trips. He also references various theories on the location of Vinland by authors like Andrew Fossum, Farley Mowat, and Paul Chapman, emphasizing that their solutions are grounded in the geography known to the Norse.

The Norse were aware of these preceding Europeans, who occupied regions known as White-Man's Land, Albania, and Greater Ireland. However, Norse records mention them only incidentally. Hall cites geographer Carl O. Sauer's work supporting an Irish presence in White-Man's Land, a perspective not mentioned in "Vikings."

Brigitta Wallace suggests that a Norse reference to White-Man's Land might refer to Dorset people wearing polar bear coats. The interaction between Norse and Dorset is indicated by the presence of two young trolls living with the Norse in Greenland in 1385, and a troll buried in the churchyard at Garder. Hall argues that Dorset archaeological sites containing European artifacts are more likely to have received them via the pre-Norse Europeans than directly from the Norse.

Mer-Beings and Cryptozoology

The magazine also explores the topic of mer-beings, presenting a map (MAP 2) illustrating traditional names given to these creatures by various ethnic groups across seacoasts and inland areas. Ethnic groups like Russians, Lapps, Samoyeds, Ziryans, Ostiaks, Voguls, and Esthonians are listed alongside their respective names for water-dwelling beings, such as Vodyanoy, Havfrau, and Nakki.

An article discusses the evolutionary possibility of mer-beings, suggesting that *Oreopithecus* might have adapted to aquatic life over millions of years. The mammalian diving reflex (MDR) is highlighted as a crucial survival mechanism for aquatic adaptation. The article mentions accounts of swimmers surviving extended periods underwater and the use of skins (seal and fish) as tools for survival, comparable to human development of swim fins and wetsuits.

Various types of mer-beings are described, including a seven-foot-tall merman reported in 1988, and diminutive varieties. The "Dover Demon," a three-foot-tall creature seen in Massachusetts in 1977, is presented as an example of a pygmy mer-being with similarities to gray mer-beings. Traditions of small water-dwelling creatures among American Indians are also noted.

Russell Bates's accounts in the INFO Journal are referenced, detailing encounters with the "Tonh-kyanh-hee" among the Kiowa people, described as black, two to three feet tall, with large eyes and scales.

A table (TABLE 1) provides a chronological sample of mer-being reports from AD 558 to 1988, including incidents of mermaid captures in Ireland, sightings in Denmark, Newfoundland, Maine, Scotland, and a "Lizard Man" report in South Carolina. The sources for this table include books like "Sea Enchantress," "Incredible Mysteries and Legends of the Sea," and "Legends and Superstitions of the Sea and Sailors."

The article touches upon the physical characteristics of mer-beings, noting that tracks often show three large toes with a high arch, while pygmy mer-beings are described as having four toes. The challenges faced by mer-beings in modern times due to habitat alteration, pollution, and human encroachment are discussed, suggesting they now dwell on the fringes of human culture and must avoid human competitors and natural hazards.

Cryptozoologists' ideas about the survival of mermaids and mermen are defended, with the argument that these beings have survived in small, suitable niches rather than large territories. The article concludes by suggesting that frequent movement might be necessary for these survivors in an era of environmental change.

Notes and Sources

The issue includes a detailed "NOTES" section, listing thirteen references that support the articles' claims. These references include academic books, journal articles, and press dispatches, covering topics from primate evolution and cryptozoology to historical accounts of mermaids and early European exploration. The sources cited include works by Gwen Benwell, Arthur Waugh, Edward Rowe Snow, Fletcher S. Bassett, Mark A. Hall, John G. Fleagle, Loren E. Coleman, Patrick Huyghe, and Russell Bates.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around challenging established historical narratives, particularly concerning early European exploration of the New World, and exploring the fringes of scientific understanding through cryptozoology. The editorial stance appears to favor a critical examination of mainstream historical accounts and an open-minded approach to evidence from folklore and eyewitness reports, particularly in the context of pre-Norse European presence and the existence of mer-beings. There is a clear emphasis on questioning accepted theories and encouraging further research into less conventional subjects.

Title: WONDERS
Issue: 63
Date: June 2000

This issue of WONDERS features a critical review of the book "Vikings" by Brigitta Wallace and William Fitzhugh, alongside a discussion of "The Farfarers" by Mowat.

Review of "Vikings" by Wallace and Fitzhugh

The review begins by pointing out an initial error in "Vikings," incorrectly identifying C.C. Rafn as the source for an 18th-century tradition about the Newport (RI) Tower's Viking origin. The reviewer notes their own article in Wonders Vol. 5 No. 2 addresses this. The book is also accused of being a forgery and criticizing R.A. Skelton, with additional maps suggesting Norse presence across the Atlantic coastline.

A significant portion of the review focuses on the treatment of the Kensington Runestone in "Vikings." The authors, Wallace and Fitzhugh, are accused of misrepresenting historical facts to the point of questioning their overall accuracy. The review states that the book presents a long, bogus passage where it appears rune experts made no mistakes for a hundred years in discussing the stone. However, the reviewer asserts that these experts were initially mistaken in dismissing the stone, and their claims of fatal flaws in the inscription have since been disproven.

The review criticizes how "Vikings" portrays defenders of the runestone, reducing Richard A. Hall Jr. to an "amateur" and omitting Sivert N. Hagen entirely. The reviewer suggests this is a tactic by "propagandists" to influence public opinion by ignoring critics and denigrating others, similar to methods used by Theodore Blegen.

A central accusation is that "Vikings" contains a "flat lie" regarding Jonas/John Gran, a neighbor of the runestone's finder, Olof Ohman. The book claims Gran taped a confession to fraud for the Minnesota Historical Society. The review counters with the facts: Gran died in 1946, and in 1973, his relatives recorded reminiscences for the Minnesota Historical Society. These recordings indicated that Gran, in the 1920s, had encouraged family members to visit Ohman to learn about the "in on the joke." The impression was that Gran was involved in "the joke," which the reviewer interprets as simply showing that not all of Ohman's neighbors believed the runestone was authentic. This episode, misrepresented since 1977, is called the most successful hoax in the Midwest, now compounded by "Vikings."

The reviewer predicts this error will not be corrected, as the authors "don't admit mistakes." The influence of this "sloppy work" is noted in other publications, citing a May 8, 2000, Time Magazine article calling the stone "a modern forgery" and a July 24-31, 2000, US News & World Report article that describes "the museum" as fake.

Kirsten Seaver, a contributor to "Vikings," is mentioned as having leveled criticisms at the book, echoing the reviewer's concerns about misinformation caused by errors. Seaver's comments on three maps in "Vikings" suggest that the book's mistakes concerning dates, creators, and purposes of these maps have been replicated in articles in The New York Times and Time magazine.

The review then discusses how "pseudo-scholars" operate, suggesting they can make claims, commit blunders, and defame others if they defend a "consensus" view, remaining wedded to the status quo.

Comparison with "The Farfarers" by Mowat

The reviewer contrasts "Vikings" with Mowat's book, "The Farfarers." While acknowledging differences in their views on the Norse experience, the reviewer believes Mowat is on the "right track" to understanding the past. Mowat's explanation of the alliance between pre-Norse Europeans and the Dorsets is seen as key to understanding the success of these primitive peoples and their legacy. The reviewer supports the preservation and study of distinctive cairns and other examples to reconstruct the history of the New World from fifteen hundred to a thousand years ago.

However, the reviewer cautions that Mowat's book includes fictional interludes and may overstate the success of early Albans in Europe and the New World, particularly in Greenland. The reviewer suggests it's more likely they moved to areas like Newfoundland and Quebec. The Norse, in contrast, are depicted as having fought the Indians, slain the Dorset Culture carriers, and lacked the diplomacy of their predecessors, arriving centuries later.

In stark contrast to Mowat's work, the editors of "Vikings" are portrayed as unaware of potential solutions to Viking mysteries. They are described as having made "so many bad assumptions" that they are content to live in ignorance, clinging to old ideas and hoping not to be proven wrong. The reviewer strongly advises against "Vikings," stating it will "only confuse people" and is not worth the price.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance of WONDERS, as evidenced by this review, is critical of historical inaccuracies and what it perceives as pseudo-scholarship, particularly in works concerning Norse exploration and artifacts like the Kensington Runestone. The magazine appears to champion rigorous historical research and accurate representation, contrasting it with books that promote what it deems to be misinformation or hoaxes. There is a clear emphasis on debunking what the reviewer considers to be flawed or deliberately misleading historical narratives.