[Sca-cooks] 1421 was Medieval and/or MiddleEasternRecipies containingTomatoes

[Terry Decker]

I read a paper a couple of years ago about parallel pottery designs between 
a fishing village on the Japanese coast and a small area in Mexico (IIRC). 
Because of the limited scope of the designs, the locations, and some other 
evidence, the author made a solid case for accidental transfer by 
shipwrecked Japanese fishermen.  It's probably unprovable, but it is 
possible and probable.

Bear

> Yes, I am enjoying the book...and have had serious doubts about what he 
> has had to say...even though my knowledge of the origin of foodstuffs is 
> definitely not on a par with yours, Bear.  I have to admit that his 
> theories are intriguing...the Chinese were very special, and 'way far more 
> advanced that the Europeans saw them to be...and, in light of that, it 
> would be great to think that their voyages to the New World predated 
> Columbus...though still after the Vikings.
>
> I had gone back to my hotel room and looked up tomatoes in the book and 
> found the same information you did...he claims that they were found in 
> Easter Island and that was one of his citations of proof for the treasure 
> ship voyages.  Too bad.  I have been interested in this sort of thing for 
> a number of years...as an art historian, I have pondered the parallel 
> existence of certain themes/motifs in cultures around the world...so I 
> found this concept, as I sad above, intriguing!
>
> Kiri