Testing Mormon Archeology

Does history and archaeology (the study of the remains of the culture of a people) support the "account of the former inhabitants of this continent" as recorded in the Book of Mormon?

In the Book of Alma 50:15 it is stated "and they also began in the same year to build many cities in the north..." Also in Ether 9:23 we read that "...it came to pass...and (they) did build many mighty cities..." The names of some 38 cities are found in the Book of Mormon.

The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. states, "The Smithsonian Institute has never used the Book of Mormon as a scientific guide. Smithsonian archaeologists see no connection between the archaeology of the New World and the subject matter of the Book of Mormon." In fact, no known non-Mormon archaeologist gives any credence at all to the "history" recorded in the Book of Mormon!

In addition, the Book of Ether 9:17-19 records horses, asses, oxen, cows, sheep, "swine" (and these folks were descendants of the Jews?), and elephants, which scientists claim were not on the American continent until the Europeans brought them many years later. In other places in Mormon writings, steel and other metals are mentioned which were unheard of at the time of the writing of the events in the Book of Mormon.¹

1. Gordon H. Fraser, What Does the Book of Mormon Teach?, (Moody Press, Chicago, Ill, 1964), pp. 58-63