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[sheptel]

I'm a new poster so I'd like to begin by saying I fully approve of Gavin's work and support all his major hypotheses. However I have to add he is prone to silly statements and fundamental errors.
For example on page 100 of 1434 he states that 2,500 miles is a third of the earth's circumference at latitude 15*N. I'm surprised that as a RN navigator he can make such a mistake. You dont even have to be a navigator, rudimentary maths reveal the error. Here's a rule of thumb, do it in your head calculation.
A circle whose diameter is three times 2,500 has a diameter of approx 2,500. Actually a bit less because pi is more than 3. (C=piD) So the circle has a radius of 1,200 miles or 20* which if dropped on the globe lands around latitude 70*N. Subtract a bit for pi and add abit for curvature and 70* is about right.
Also Japan is not on latitude 15*N so the route is a great circle.

Another error on page 260 is probably a typo - the Snare islands are not 48*10N but 48*10S.

Changing the subject, I have always thought there are great similarities between Olmec statues and ancient Chinese ones. I read once a chinese professor of ancient chinese could read some Olmec inscriptions.

[sheptel]

typing error: That should have been - A circle whose circumference is...