Introduction
In my continued research as I work on other parts of the project, I have question about possible correlations between old cultures and the BOM. Being those peoples would be from a long past time, im curious what remains out there in any form of those cultures mentioned in the BOM.
My Original Request For Research
I requested an in-depth investigation into possible correlations between the Book of Mormon and indigenous cultures of the Americas — with a focus on Mexico, Central America, South America, and connections to indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada.
The research was to:
Seek supportive evidence — archaeological, historical, and cultural — rather than primarily critical views, while still noting scholarly perspectives for context.
Include pre-Columbian and post-Columbian sources, recognizing that oral traditions passed down for generations can preserve fragments of historical truth.
Examine artifacts, recorded history, architecture, and cultural practices that might parallel Book of Mormon narratives.
Investigate possible reasons for cultural disappearance or assimilation, including the idea that later Mesoamerican powers (such as the Maya) could have absorbed or “stamped out” earlier cultures linked to the Book of Mormon peoples.
Explore links between indigenous groups across the Americas — from Canada to South America — and the peoples, locations, or events described in the Book of Mormon.
The end goal was to compile a balanced but faith-supportive resource combining archaeological findings, historical records, linguistic clues, architectural parallels, and indigenous oral histories that might align with the timeframes, events, and migrations described in the Book of Mormon.
A Summary of the Responses From the LLM
Parallels Between the Book of Mormon and Ancient American Cultures
Introduction
The Book of Mormon describes ancient peoples in the Americas (Jaredites, Nephites, Lamanites, etc.) with Old World origins. Ever since its publication, believers and researchers have looked for correlations in Mesoamerican and other indigenous histories – through archaeology, artifacts, architecture, and oral traditions – that might parallel the Book of Mormon narrative. While definitive proof remains elusive, a number of intriguing parallels and perspectives (both supportive and skeptical) have emerged over time.
Archaeological Parallels in Mesoamerica
Advanced Cities and Architecture
During the Late Preclassic era (last centuries B.C.), societies like the Maya transitioned from small villages to large cities with temples, palaces, and public spaces (1). This matches the Book of Mormon’s accounts of Nephite and Lamanite cities, temples, and marketplaces.
Fortifications and Warfare
The Book of Mormon describes fortified cities with ditches, earth banks, and wooden palisades. Archaeology shows similar designs, such as the Becán site in Campeche, Mexico, with deep moats, embankments, and controlled entry points dating before A.D. 300 (2).
Cement Construction
Helaman 3:7 notes Nephites “became expert in cement” around 46 B.C. Archaeological evidence shows true cement in central Mexico (including Teotihuacan) from the same time period (3).
Written Records and Language
The Book of Mormon describes records kept on metal plates in “reformed Egyptian.” While no such plates have been found in the Americas, ancient Mesoamerica had complex writing systems, such as Maya glyphs and Olmec/Izapa scripts (4). The controversial Izapa Stela 5 has been interpreted by some LDS scholars as depicting Lehi’s Tree of Life vision (5).
Indigenous Peoples and Geographic Links
Mesoamerican Model
Many LDS scholars place Book of Mormon events in southern Mexico and Guatemala, aligning the “narrow neck of land” with the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The Olmec are often associated with the Jaredites, while early Maya civilizations fit Nephite/Lamanite timeframes (6).
Heartland Model
Some believe events took place in North America, pointing to mound-building cultures like the Hopewell (500 B.C.–A.D. 400) and Adena (1000–200 B.C.) as possible Nephite and Jaredite analogs (7).
South America
19th-century LDS leaders believed Book of Mormon peoples spanned the hemisphere, with traditions like the Andean Viracocha legend seen as echoes of Christ’s visit in 3 Nephi (8).
Indigenous Legends and Oral Histories
Title of the Lords of Totonicapán (K’iche’ Maya) claims ancestors came “from the other part of the sea” near Babylonia (9).
Quetzalcoatl/Kukulkan (Mesoamerica) and Viracocha (Andes) legends describe a fair-skinned, bearded teacher who came from across the sea, taught the people, and promised to return (10).
North American tribes, like the Choctaw and Comanche, preserve tales of a giant white race or advanced ancient people destroyed in great wars (11).
Scholarly and Scientific Perspectives
Mainstream archaeology and genetics attribute Native American ancestry to migrations from Asia (12). LDS scholars counter that Book of Mormon peoples were a small group among larger populations, explaining why genetic and archaeological evidence might be scarce. Some discoveries, like ancient American barley, show unexpected consistencies with the text (13).
Conclusion
There are many intriguing parallels between the Book of Mormon and the histories, cultures, and legends of ancient America. These include city building, fortifications, cement use, written language, and shared oral traditions. Believers see these as faith-affirming; skeptics see them as coincidental or influenced by post-Columbian contact. The search for connections continues to inspire exploration from both religious and scholarly perspectives.
References
Sharer, Robert J., and Loa P. Traxler. The Ancient Maya. Stanford University Press, 2006.
Webster, David, et al. “The Defensive Earthworks of Becán.” Middle American Research Institute, 1976.
Sorenson, John L. An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon. FARMS, 1985.
Coe, Michael D. Breaking the Maya Code. Thames & Hudson, 1992.
Jakeman, M. Wells. Stela 5, Izapa Chiapas, Mexico: A Major Archaeological Discovery of Book of Mormon Significance. BYU Archaeological Society, 1958.
Clark, John E. “Archaeology, Relics, and Book of Mormon Belief.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 2005.
Roper, Matthew. “Limited Geography and the Book of Mormon: Historical Antecedents and Early Interpretations.” FARMS Review, 2004.
Sorenson, John L. “Viva Zapato! Hurray for the Shoe! – A Response to Deanne G. Matheny.” Review of Books on the Book of Mormon, 1994.
Recinos, Adrian, translator. Title of the Lords of Totonicapán. University of Oklahoma Press, 1953.
Allen, Joseph L. Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon. Covenant Communications, 2008.
Schoolcraft, Henry R. Historical and Statistical Information Respecting the History, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States. 1851.
Raff, Jennifer A., and Deborah A. Bolnick. “Does Mitochondrial Haplogroup X Indicate Ancient Trans-Atlantic Migration to the Americas? A Critical Re-Evaluation.” PaleoAmerica, 2015.
Daines, Garrett W. “Ancient Barley in the Americas.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 2004.