Dr
Edmund Hoffmann
Canning - Nova Scotia - Canada
27-10-1987
Dear
Ed,
Received
your Muscovy print out yesterday for which I thank you very much. You have
certainly put some work into seeking out the information. I can appreciate
your efforts. I have not read through it thoroughly as yet but it would as
with all this work of research establishing the ways and time of diffusion
seems to one of the stumbling blocks. I have discussed this with George Carter
and he seems to be of the opinion that there is evidence of many contacts with
the New World pre-Columbian times. He maintains
that many consider new evidence intrusive. I would interpret this as
they don’t want to rock the boat. I have encountered somewhat similar
problems as there have been chicken bones recovered both at Watom Island
(North of the New Britain) and in NE Thailand. I have been promised samples of
the bones but in the case of Watom Island they have been mislaid. The Thailand
bones have not arrived. If I could get hold of these bones I think I could get
the assistance of an osteologist at our University Medical School in Newcastle
and compare them with Finsterbusch’s deliberations and perhaps ascertain
what they may have come from Gallus
gallus or otherwise. The problem is as I see it is that these fellows who
dig them up do not attach much importance to chicken bones, yet I feel a lot
could be learned from them.
You
will note when you receive my Jungle
Fowl book that I have put forward the hypothesis that instead of all
domestic chickens being descended only from Gallus
gallus (Red Jungle Fowl) that perhaps there were three lines of descent
from an extinct ancestor giving us the Bankivoids, Gallus
giganteus (Malay) and Asiatics (Cochin, Langshan, Brahma).
So
to get any further with this hypothesis it is necessary for the recovered
bones to be studied in depth. However through my writings someone may be
encouraged to pursue this avenue. Whether I am right or wrong does it really
matter as long as we can establish just what the situation is. I feel however
that my hypothesis does have a case, but of course no positive evidence.
You
spoke in earlier correspondence re diffusion in the Pacific area. There is not
much information around on this score. It would appear from the little bit
there is that the diffusion may have come from the direction of Asia as
chickens in parts of Polynesia appear to be descended from Gallus
gallus (Bankiva).
A
young lady from New Zealand did some work on dating in Pacific some years ago
but has moved to Canada. I have been in touch with her but unfortunately all
her notes are packed away in New Zealand.
At
the moment I am doing a book on the Breeds
of Domestic Fowl Created in Australia. When I finish that I will be
getting on to Diffusion question and sort out what material I have.
I
think I mentioned earlier it feel Thor Heyerdahl’s voyages have great
significance. From memory I think he carried a duck with him across the
Atlantic on the Ra expedition.
Kimball’s
articles were very interesting and have given me some ideas.
Some
18 years ago as you will observe in my Jungle
Fowl book I contacted Zoological Gardens in Asia who have in their
collection Jungle Fowls. I may contact them again and perhaps seen if any new
developments have come to light.
Although
frustrating at times I find the study fascinating and satisfying and a number
of my correspondents have told me the work of collecting the material and
putting into one package does have some value. I will just keep on working on
it as long as I am able.
Had
a letter from George Carter (in haste as usual). He tells me that the evidence
is mounting supporting early contacts with the Americas, a lot from Japan,
Norse, Ireland, Celtic.
He
says the Oceans were highways at least by 3,000 BC. I would like to meet him.
I think it would be quite an experience. I have asked him for a contact to
obtain a specific details.
I
am an ham radio operator (from 1939). I have frequent contacts with Japan
and will ask one of my contacts if he can organise someone at the Universities
over there in an endeavour to gain some info at that end. So it goes on the
quest for further info. However I’m enjoying it. All for now.
Regards.