Peru As Site Of Book Of Mormon Geography

[Joseph Antley]

From what I understand, the people at the Nephi Project are theorizing that the Book of Mormon events occurred mostly in Peru. And I believe I read tons of evidence to back that up. Except...

Where's the narrow neck of land?

[Olavarria]

From what I understand, the people at the Nephi Project are theorizing that the Book of Mormon events occurred mostly in Peru. And I believe I read tons of evidence to back that up. Except...

Where's the narrow neck of land?

Or a culture which starts at around the 1700bc climaxes at around 1000bc, decreases in around 800bc and dies at around 400bc( I cold be wrong about the dates folks). Followed by another culture which starts becoming civilized at about 600bc. Mesoamerica fits the BoM two culture requirment. Lets not forget writing, lots of writing and a host of other things.

[hagoth7]

Where's the narrow neck of land?

I read a book on that awhile back (it was written decades ago), which presented evidence which suggests that extensive portions of South America were underwater during much of the Book of Mormon era. It showed in the book where they thought the narrow neck was based on that altered geography/hydography. Don't remember the title. Anyone out there able to jog my memory?

[MormonMason]

I read a book on that awhile back (it was written decades ago), which presented evidence which suggests that extensive portions of South America were underwater during much of the Book of Mormon era. It showed in the book where they thought the narrow neck was based on that altered geography/hydography. Don't remember the title. Anyone out there able to jog my memory?

The book was Venice Priddis' The Book and the Map. I have looked at the goeological evidence. It doesn't fit. Well, it might have fit millions of years before the Book of Mormon, at any rate.

[erichard]

From what I understand, the people at the Nephi Project are theorizing that the Book of Mormon events occurred mostly in Peru. And I believe I read tons of evidence to back that up. Except...

Where's the narrow neck of land?

Hi Joseph,

The main guy at the Nephi Project told me in an email that he will have a new book out in March 09 with a new "narrow neck of land" proposal.

Which takes more faith: to believe the Book of Mormon is an authentic record

or

to believe the Amazon basin was underwater before the time of Christ?

There are farming terraces in the Andes at 12,000 feet. No such farming is done above 9,000 feet. This seems to mean that that part of the Andes rose about 3,000 feet since those terraces were built.

The mouth of the Amazon river has almost no delta. And yet it is the largest river in the world. One valid explanation is that the river is very young.

Just a couple of Venice Priddis' points.

Richard

[MormonMason]

...

There are farming terraces in the Andes at 12,000 feet. No such farming is done above 9,000 feet. This seems to mean that that part of the Andes rose about 3,000 feet since those terraces were built.

The mouth of the Amazon river has almost no delta. And yet it is the largest river in the world. One valid explanation is that the river is very young.

Just a couple of Venice Priddis' points.

Richard

The Amazon basin was under water at one time--millions of year ago.

Water flow-speed has a lot to do with delta formation as does the geological content under the river system and the hold of vegetation on the soils along the bank, as well as soil composition. Priddis did not factor these into her equations.

Priddis also did not factor into her equations why the delta cannot form there. In some places along the Amazon, the water is so clear that it almost looks as though there is no silt in it, because what is there is very fine in grit. What silt is left in the Amazon is intercepted and carried northward by strong ocean currents in the region.

In addition, there are tides and tidal bores that backwash water into the mouth of the river system from time to time. No delta can form in such circumstances. Priddis did not figure these details into her thesis, either.

As I said, I really liked Priddis' hypothesis--until I looked at the geological data. Now her book collects dust most of the time. I hang onto it mostly for nostalgia's sake.

[Joseph Antley]

Is this person a geologist? Surely if the Amazin basin was underwater just over 2,000 years ago, there would be copious amounts of evidence for this. Is it even possible, geologically, for a sea to turn into the modern Amazon in that time period? If the theory is that the natural calamities during the crucifixion of Christ caused this, then does that mean the narrow neck no longer existed after 33 A.D.?

It all seems a bit unnecessary to me.

[MormonMason]

Is this person a geologist? Surely if the Amazin basin was underwater just over 2,000 years ago, there would be copious amounts of evidence for this. Is it even possible, geologically, for a sea to turn into the modern Amazon in that time period? If the theory is that the natural calamities during the crucifixion of Christ caused this, then does that mean the narrow neck no longer existed after 33 A.D.?

It all seems a bit unnecessary to me.

She is not a geologist, which explains the particular kinds of blunders made in the book. No, the narrow neck of land postulated by Priddis was high up in the Andes and so continued to exist. She avers that portions of Panama were submerged underwater as well during Book of Mormon times. Yet another geological blunder on her part. It is true that parts of Panama were submerged at one time and even disconnected from South America for a time--again, millions of years ago as Cuba was making its way to where it now resides. 55 million years ago Cuba was in the Pacific.

[justamere10]

The Amazon basin was under water at one time--millions of year ago.

Water flow-speed has a lot to do with delta formation as does the geological content under the river system and the hold of vegetation on the soils along the bank, as well as soil composition. Priddis did not factor these into her equations.

Priddis also did not factor into her equations why the delta cannot form there. In some places along the Amazon, the water is so clear that it almost looks as though there is no silt in it, because what is there is very fine in grit. What silt is left in the Amazon is intercepted and carried northward by strong ocean currents in the region.

In addition, there are tides and tidal bores that backwash water into the mouth of the river system from time to time. No delta can form in such circumstances. Priddis did not figure these details into her thesis, either.

As I said, I really liked Priddis' hypothesis--until I looked at the geological data. Now her book collects dust most of the time. I hang onto it mostly for nostalgia's sake.

I don't know if the following information has anything at all to do with the o/p but for all it's worth I'll provide a bit of information in response to your comments about the Amazon River.

I traveled about 800 miles up the Amazon last month (to Manaus) in a cruise ship. As we entered the Amazon (including tributaries) from the Atlantic our ship had to pass over a bar where there was only two feet of water under the keel at high tide going as slow as possible. At that point I was told the Amazon was about 50 miles wide, narrowing later as we crossed the equator to about five miles during dry season, which we were in. One fifth of the water in the Atlantic comes from the Amazon.

I never saw clear water but several times saw where reddish brown and black water flowed side by side for quite a few miles before mixing (because of pH differences.) I was told by a guide that there are "pristine" waters in places, possibly further up the river than Manaus?

The river is constantly changing its banks. At one point we were sailing in 60 feet of water where the charts showed only dry land. Whole islands disappear and sometimes reappear. I went piranha fishing and alligator hunting in a "lake" that at this time of year was only narrow streams navigable only by canoe. On our return to the Atlantic the captain said the tide was affecting our speed as far as 250 miles inland.

P.S. there's a whole lot of information about the MesoAmerica theory of Book of Mormon geography, and a free monthly newsletter at http://www.mormonsites.org

[Programmer]

I find Jerry Ainsworth's postulations about geography very compelling. As found in his book 'The life and travels of Mormon and Moroni'. (Or what ever you call it).

[Verdad]

What isn't a sight for the BoM? The church, in desperation, has decided to open up the whole world to possibilities. Why not? There is not real and valid sight of the BoM so widen the field. Make it impossible for truth to seep in. That's SOP, right?

[Anijen]

What isn't a sight for the BoM? The church, in desperation, has decided to open up the whole world to possibilities. Why not? There is not real and valid sight of the BoM so widen the field. Make it impossible for truth to seep in. That's SOP, right?

Verdad if you want respectful dialog on this board you will need to follow the rules which you are very close to disobeying if you haven't yet. Oh, and as far as your response the church has not said were the BoM has been, just curious members.

If you would like to go to a board were you can disparage to your hearts delight and be a hero for doing so I invite you to go. Otherwise this is "our" home be polite.

[jadams_4242]

From what I understand, the people at the Nephi Project are theorizing that the Book of Mormon events occurred mostly in Peru. And I believe I read tons of evidence to back that up. Except...

Where's the narrow neck of land?

There was a "second" journey of faith episode on byu t,v today, that was very intersting and had extensive geographical evidences and very possible scenario, they really showed detailed maps e;t;c....It shows the land northward and the land southward. not "south" and not "north" but south"word". and north "word". this documenatary was really very well put together with lots and lots of very likely b.o.m. verifications as to itself and also the narrow neck of land just north of guatamala into the maya indian lands. Its a documentary everyone should see if the chance arises.

[orion88]

Oh, and as far as your response the church has not said were the BoM has been

I think I remember seeing somewhere on the Internet that the early church

leadership taught the last great Nephite-Lamanite battle took place on

the same hill where Smith is reported to have discovered the gold

plates.

Tony

[Muc'ul Ajwalil]

What isn't a sight for the BoM? The church, in desperation, has decided to open up the whole world to possibilities. Why not? There is not real and valid sight of the BoM so widen the field. Make it impossible for truth to seep in. That's SOP, right?

FAIL! Or judging by your name, te quedas reprobado!

The reasons why Book of Mormon geography is a touchy subject is the fact that you have several advanced civilizations both in Mesoamerica and in South America that could have a role to play in all of this. Personally I lean towards Mesoamerica...but it is not important the location in the Americas where these things took place. Slowly but surely the archaeology is showing up in favor of the Book of Mormon in these lands...

[semlogo]

I think I remember seeing somewhere on the Internet that the early church

leadership taught the last great Nephite-Lamanite battle took place on

the same hill where Smith is reported to have discovered the gold

plates.

Tony

That actually makes more sense to me than the central america theories.

[Mark Beesley]

What isn't a sight for the BoM? The church, in desperation, has decided to open up the whole world to possibilities. Why not? There is not real and valid sight of the BoM so widen the field. Make it impossible for truth to seep in. That's SOP, right?

The word is site, not sight. If you want to be critic, try not to look foolish in the process.