Ferenc Morton Szasz (1940–2010)

I loved books like this as a kid growing up in the 90s, so when I saw this one (pub date '93) on the library shelf, I gave in to the wave of nostalgia. I get why I liked these so much (and would that today's conspiracy theories were still mostly about cryptids and the Anasazi). Each essay covers a purported mystery surrounding North America. I like envisioning circles on Zuni rock art actually being UFOs. Caveat: it is a pretty clear example of white privilege that I certainly hope has been dismantled in archaeology (including crypto archaeology) today. The entire introduction goes on and on about how Celtic myth has a rationale and American myth doesn't because Britain is so old and America is so new, even though roughly HALF this book is about Native cultures predating the Roman entrance to Britain. I mean, really? You're going to say America was devoid of mystery in the intro to a book about the Anasazi disappearance? Blind spot at best, racist at worst. Sigh.… (meer)