Institute for the Study of American Cultures
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The Institute for the Study of American Cultures is a defunct organization devoted to the study of Pre-Columbian contact between Old World and the New. Although as an organization it did not espouse any particular theory, it was strongly oriented in a general way toward the "diffusionist" view that Pre-Columbian contact had been extensive. It was greatly infuenced by the work of Barry Fell.
ISAC was founded by Dr. Joseph B. Mahan, a professional anthropologist whose career was primarily devoted to work in museums. Headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, its activities consisted of holding an annual conference and of publishing books advocating the diffusionist view.
ISAC fell into disarray on the death of its founder and President Dr. Mahan. Organizations with similar perspectives whose memberships overlapped that of ISAC are the Midwest Epigraphic Society and the Epigraphic Society.
