Still very Eurocentric. It has to be the Templars because the Portuguese and Venetians (allegedly) have no records of using coconut fiber. What about the umpteen other societies that had access to this fiber?[/QUOTE
Not what I meant Raparee. The Portuguese and Venetians left records of every important voyage they made and there are none of a pre-columbian voyage to the far West. I suppose you mean the Asians and Arabs. Asian voyages to Atlantic North America are no more accepted than that of the Solutrean's. Arab sailors left better records than the Portuguese. My premise is one of logic Which is the more logical, than a group that had operated in an area for two centuries where the fibre was available, traveled to an Atlantic port as was recorded, and then left that port having a need to flee and hide.
And, btw, the authors of Holy Blood Holy Grail, had a lot right in their own premises plus quite a bit wrong, and the testimony of Jean de Chalons is well documented. Also as is the number of vessels available and the fact that the Templars basically owned the Port of La Rochelle via an 1139 documenet from the Queen of France. Also a fact is that none of the vessels were ever accounted for and neither was the new Grand Master of the Order, Gerard de Villers, whom as I mentioned became the most wanted man in France.
There is much more involved with this story than Jason Colavito has mentioned! There is a related Troyes and Rennes le Chateau connection with St, Bernard of Clairvaux being a major player along with a highly respected Rabbi named Rashi and his neighbor the Count of Champagne. Oh, and Montsegur, we can't forget Montsegur and what happened there on March 16, 1244!
Everybody knows about the two Scottish Templars being arrested, but it was a year later and by the English not Scottish authorities as that part of Scotland was under English control at the time. Scotland never tried a single Templar.
Cheers, Loki