Afrikans in science - Dr Ivan Van Sertima

It is very difficult to learn something from the myth-teller that is Ivan Van Sertima. Better research serious schoolars. Fields such as the archaoelogy of ancient Nigeria are fascinating, but we don't need clowns as Van Sertima to mislead us.

"Van Sertima has been criticized by academics for making ill-founded Afrocentric claims. A lengthy 1997 Journal of Current Anthropology article criticized in detail many elements of Van Sertima's 1976 book They Came Before Columbus. The book had not earlier received a thorough professional academic review. They stated that in claiming African origins for prehistoric Olmec culture (in present-day Mexico), Van Sertima had ignored the work of Central American researchers. They stated no evidence of a prehistoric African influence or presence had been found in controlled archeological excavations in the New World. The reviewers also wrote that Olmec stone heads only superficially appear to be African and did not resemble the Nubian populations which Van Sertima claimed as their originators. They ruled as "fallacious" his claims for the diffusion of pyramid building and mummification. In addition, they accused Van Sertima's cultural outlook of being disparaging to Native American achievements. Van Sertima has sparred with some of his critics, but he did not respond to the 1997 Journal of Current Anthropology criticism.

In a New York Times 1977 review of Van Sertima works, British scholar Glyn Daniel called Van Sertima's work "ignorant rubbish”, concluding that the writings of Van Sertima (and Barry Fell, whom he was also reviewing) “give us badly argued theories based on fantasies.”. Dean R. Snow, a professor of anthropology, in 1981 wrote that Van Sertima "uses the now familiar technique of stringing together bits of carefully selected evidence, each surgically removed from the context that would give it a rational explanation." He goes on, "The findings of professional archaeologists and physical anthropologists are misrepresented so that they seem to support the [Van Sertima] hypothesis.""

http://www.answers.com/topic/ivan-van-sertima

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1981/6/1981_6_102.shtml

His study of the lost sciences of Africa could be interesting, but his work on Black Egyptians and Black influence on Pre-Columbian American civilization seem like the usual afrocentrist fare.