Talk:Augustus Le Plongeon

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[edit] Problems: "Americanist" and "hieroglyphic"

I just cleaned up this page and added some links. I think it's in pretty good shape, but there were two problems that I do not know how to solve.

First, the word "Americanist" is used twice. The first one links to a non-existent Wikipedia page. I cannot figure out what this word means in the context of this article. I looked in some dictionaries, but none of the definitions I saw stands out as being obviously the one intended in this article. This needs some clarification.

Second, the word "hieroglyphic" is problematic. In context it refers to Mayan writing. However, the Wikipedia "hieroglyphic" page is a redirect to "Egyptian hieroglyph", which is clearly not what is intended in this article (although I don't think Le Plongeon would complain). If "hieroglyphic" only properly refers to ancient Egyptian writing, then the word should not be used here. On the other hand, if it is really a more general term, then the "hieroglyphic" page should have some content indicating this, and not be merely a redirect. I wouldn't know which option is best.

— Nowhither 11:08, 12 August 2005 (UTC)

Thanks to CJLL Wright for nicely solving the first problem above. But the second problem (the "hieroglyphic" link) remains. — Nowhither 09:20, 25 August 2005 (UTC)

You're welcome, Nowhither, am merely following on from your earlier very useful clarifications and copy-edits. I'm glad that this entry was earlier rescued from VfD; the Le Plongeons are fascinating characters, no matter how silly their speculations seem to us today.

Re "hieroglyphics" vs. "Maya hieroglyphics"- I agree that the context indicates that the latter sense is meant, and I have accordingly edited to reflect this. I understand that the general basis for their (and others') theories on cultural connectedness came not so much from similarities in the two scripts (they are quite visually distinct), but rather from similarities in some recurring artistic motifs and themes in structures and decoration. Even into the 1950s some serious papers were still being written which highlighted the supposed use of the same or similar motifs in Mayan and southeast Asian architectural decorative styles (perhaps not so much with Ancient Egyptian). I'll look to dig out some references on this (my recollection is a bit vague), and perhaps update the article.--cjllw | TALK 03:12, 2005 August 26 (UTC)

[edit] Lead paragraphs

The lead says Le Plongeon "made the first attempted excavations and photographic records of the ruins of Chichen Itza". This needs to be reworded. John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood made a series of Daguerreotypes on their second expedition to Yucatán in the early 1840s. Alas they all seem to have been lost-- IIRC in a fire in New York City. I'd have to check about Chichen specifically, but I know there are at least a few surviving photos of Maya ruins of Yucatán from the decades between Stephens and Le Plongeon, including Charney. -- Infrogmation 19:48, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

I modified the lead. -- Infrogmation

[edit] Importance

While Le Plongeon is a facinating character, I don't think he's particularly important in understanding Mesoamerica, so I suggest reassessing the importance of this article in the Mesoamerican studies category from "Mid" to "Low". -- Infrogmation 19:50, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

I have changed the assesment per above. -- Infrogmation 23:52, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

Agreed, thanks.--cjllw | TALK 01:45, 11 July 2006 (UTC)