If we’re talking about “discovery” in its absolute sense, then the answer is the first group of people who likely traversed over the Bering Strait. I saw a really interesting show – I think on the Discovery Channel – where a scientiest went all around the world, looking for clues to where man originated, and where he emigrated to. He was able to do this by tracking something in blood samples which give clues as to how old one’s lineage really is.

I think he theory was that man originated in Africa, and went to other places (Oceana/Australia, Middle East to Europe). Some when up through modern-Mongolia and likely crossed the Bering Strait, I believe because they were following herds that they needed for survival. From there, only a handful of them were needed to keep going south through the Americas.

It was a fascinating show to watch. I'll have to dig up a link to the show's website sometime.

It most certainly was not Columbus. Not taking away from his feat of sailing across the atlantic at a time when it was not so easy to do, but I think this whole 'Columbus discovered America' thing is certainly one of the biggest historical myths of all time.  Not only were 'native americans' here but the vikings had made it here long before columbus.

I will have to get back to you but I know thee has been extensive research and archeological digging that has showed beyond a doubt that the Vikings were here begore colombus. And as far as the American Indian that goes with out saying. Maybe he was the first italian? 😀

Ok i am only 13 but i know it was named after Amerigo Vesspuci

You are most correct sir.  He mapped the North American continent and did a remarkable job at that considering he didn't have satellite imaging like we do nowadays.

I recall reading about a Chinese map but I thought it was of uncertain origin and there was criticism raised that it was a fake.  I believe this issue has been raised within the last few years.

It is hard to beleive that hundreds if not thousands of years could go by and no one new about the western hemisphere? columbus was a latecomer.

I have no idea how those Polynesians supposedly sailed across open ocean to South America.  If they could do it, you'd think they also would have built structures in Chile that we could find remnants of today.  According to that article Polynesians were in Chile in the Middle Ages….recent enough that you'd think we could find traces of their settlements there, if they had any.