In the history of the americas the pre columbian era spans from the original settlement of north and south america in the upper paleolithic period through european colonization which began with christopher columbuss voyage of 1492 usually the era covers the history of indigenous american cultures until significant influence by europeans this may have occurred decades or even centuries . More recently ivan van sertima speculated an african influence on mesoamerican culture in his book they came before columbus 1976 his claims included the attribution of mesoamerican pyramids calendar technology mummification and mythology to the arrival of africans by boat on currents running from western africa to the americas. Ivan gladstone van sertima 26 january 1935 25 may 2009 was a guyanese born british associate professor of africana studies at rutgers university in the united states he was best known for his olmec alternative origin speculations a brand of pre columbian contact theory which he proposed in his book they came before columbus 1976 while his olmec theory has spread widely in . They came before columbus the african presence amazoncom they came before columbus the african presence in ancient america journal of african civilizations ivan van sertima on amazoncom free shipping ivan van sertima wikipedia the free encyclopedia ivan gladstone van sertima 26 january 1935 25 may 2009 was a . They came before columbus reveals a compelling dramatic and superbly detailed documentation of the presence and legacy of africans in ancient america examining navigation and shipbuilding cultural analogies between native americans and africans the transportation of plants animals and textiles between the continents and the diaries journals and oral accounts of the explorers