Catastrophism through the Ages, and a Cosmic Catastrophe at the Origin of Civilization by Martin B Sweatman* in AAOA
Developments in the Earth Sciences over the last decade point towards a great cosmic catastrophe at the onset of the Younger Dryas period, towards the end of the Paleolithic. It has been suggested this event was caused by a collision with a swarm of comet fragments, consistent with the theory of Coherent Catastrophism. Earlier this year, it was shown how symbols at the ancient archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe can be interpreted as supporting this view. This convergence of geochemical, astronomical and archaeological evidence has potentially profound consequences for our understanding of the emergence of civilization and ancient history.
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Origin of life in universe is most debating and interesting topic for all scientist .which divided in 3 parts chemosynthesis theory ,RNA world hypothesis and some evidence about extraterrestrial life.
Origin of life in universe is most debating and interesting topic for all scientist .which divided in 3 parts chemosynthesis theory ,RNA world hypothesis and some evidence about extraterrestrial life.
Origin of life-where did life come fromArosek Padhi
this chapter prompts you to wonder where did life as we know it came from. this is a presentation from Dr.Tithi Parija (asst professor) from KIIT school of biotechnology including different theories from different thinkers and scientists
New articles were published at the end of the 2017 about "chicken-the-egg" question: which organic molecules were the first: nucleotides or amino acids. RNA world is still the predominant theory, but new studies on proteins could change that.
Dr. Bruce Damer: Hot Spring Hypothesis of the Origin of Life & Future of Life...Bruce Damer
Dr. Bruce Damer covers the new science of the origin of life (the Hot Spring Hypothesis) and its relationship to our future in space (the expansion of the biosphere into the Solar System). The was presented at the 2018 Bay Area Society for Information Display at the Stanford Golf Course/Club on September 8, 2018.
Delivered this as talk series on Evolution to some of my colleagues interested in systems thinking. It was a great learning for me and will incorporate it into a sequel later.
Updates:
1. Version 2013.11.23 - Reorganized some slides, added images and credits
2. Version 2013.11.25 - Reorganized presentation around three aspects. Added better intro.
3. Version 2013.11.26 - Updated implications aspect for global warming and behavioral sink.
4. Version 2013.11.27 - Updated taxonomy discussion.
5. V 2013.12.05 - Updated natural selection, convergent evolution and punctuated equilibrium. Reorg of slides.
6. V 2013.12.16 - Added chaos and self-organization slides.
7. V 2013.12.21 - Added extinctions and explosions.
8. V2013.12.23 - Added more chaos explanation and Wikipedia logo.
9. V2014.05.05 - Corrected spelling mistakes and cleaned up slides.
Origin of life-where did life come fromArosek Padhi
this chapter prompts you to wonder where did life as we know it came from. this is a presentation from Dr.Tithi Parija (asst professor) from KIIT school of biotechnology including different theories from different thinkers and scientists
New articles were published at the end of the 2017 about "chicken-the-egg" question: which organic molecules were the first: nucleotides or amino acids. RNA world is still the predominant theory, but new studies on proteins could change that.
Dr. Bruce Damer: Hot Spring Hypothesis of the Origin of Life & Future of Life...Bruce Damer
Dr. Bruce Damer covers the new science of the origin of life (the Hot Spring Hypothesis) and its relationship to our future in space (the expansion of the biosphere into the Solar System). The was presented at the 2018 Bay Area Society for Information Display at the Stanford Golf Course/Club on September 8, 2018.
Delivered this as talk series on Evolution to some of my colleagues interested in systems thinking. It was a great learning for me and will incorporate it into a sequel later.
Updates:
1. Version 2013.11.23 - Reorganized some slides, added images and credits
2. Version 2013.11.25 - Reorganized presentation around three aspects. Added better intro.
3. Version 2013.11.26 - Updated implications aspect for global warming and behavioral sink.
4. Version 2013.11.27 - Updated taxonomy discussion.
5. V 2013.12.05 - Updated natural selection, convergent evolution and punctuated equilibrium. Reorg of slides.
6. V 2013.12.16 - Added chaos and self-organization slides.
7. V 2013.12.21 - Added extinctions and explosions.
8. V2013.12.23 - Added more chaos explanation and Wikipedia logo.
9. V2014.05.05 - Corrected spelling mistakes and cleaned up slides.
SHS - Earth and Life Science, Theories on the Origin of the Universe.
Universe and the Solar System
Objectives:
1. State the different hypotheses explaining the origin of the universe
2. Describe the different hypotheses explaining the origin of the Solar System.
What curiosity in the structure hollow earth in scienceMarcus 2012
http://marcusvannini2012.blogspot.com/
http://www.marcusmoon2022.org/designcontest.htm
Shoot for the moon and if you miss you'll land among the stars...
China: Dimensions of the Dragon’s Rise in International Influence and Its Imp...CrimsonPublishersAAOA
Mao said, “The world is in chaos, the situation is excellent” [1].
China has achieved spectacular progress in face of immense difficulties. It has maintained a rapid pace of economic growth for over twenty-five years without significant political liberalization. In only three decades, China has risen to become a global economic power.
https://crimsonpublishers.com/aaoa/fulltext/AAOA.000507.php
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Connection among Water, Agriculture, and Human Rights, and Its Concerns in Ba...CrimsonPublishersAAOA
The Ganges Basin communities in Bangladesh are entirely dependent on the Ganges River flow for their agricultural production; river flows determine whether most people will have access to employment, food, education, housing, and health care. For the vast majority of people in this region, this production includes the ability to match cropping strategies effectively to river water flows during both rainy and summer seasons, to utilize a variety of common property resources, such as fisheries, and to augment subsistence food production with some shareholder activities, and agricultural employment. However, this pattern of agricultural production is increasingly undermined by government driven processes of water and agricultural development, many of which, now, follow explicitly neoliberal economic agendas.
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Transference of Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Threat & Conservation Status of ...CrimsonPublishersAAOA
Transference of Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Threat & Conservation Status of Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia: Anthropological and Ethnobotanical Perspectives by Alemayehu Kefalew in Archaeology & Anthropology: Open Access
In Ethiopia, the use of traditional medicine for primary health care is becoming accepted and popular. However, it is under great risks when looked from the point of losing the knowledge transfer and the degradation of the vital medicinal plants. Thus, this review was initiated to briefly look into how is the very common way of transferring indigenous knowledge and to look at the threats & conservation effort of medicinal plants in the country. The review indicates that indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants is transferred from a practitioner father to elder son as he is he is getting older. However, if there is no elder son it would be passed over to any one among the family who is supposed to be loyal to keep the knowledge secret; but if the practitioner does not have families, the knowledge passes to any one among his relatives who is believed to keep the knowledge secret. This review also showed that the main reasons for the degradation of medicinal plants in Ethiopia are environmental degradation, agricultural expansion, deforestation, over harvesting of species and invasive alien species.
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Architectural Prototype in Ambiguity Contexts: Degree Zero and Multidimension...CrimsonPublishersAAOA
Architectural Prototype in Ambiguity Contexts: Degree
Zero and Multidimension by Jiang Wang in Archaeology & Anthropology: Open Access
Based on the multi-semantic context of Chinese contemporary architectural design language, a new idea of purified design language was put forward in this paper. The smallest unit and the implied logic of architectural works were studied through relating Roland Barthes’s interpretation of Degree Zero of writing to architects’ confusion about architectural design. It was concluded that the true meaning of works lies in the unchanging prototype and even the idea behind the infinitely changing architectural form. By studying Degree Zero and dimension of architectural prototype, this paper analyzed the dialectical relationship between purity and diversity of architectural form, and then proposed the transformation strategy of architectural prototype.
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Tell El-Hibeh Limestone: Ancient and Modern Egyptian Quarrying Technology wit...CrimsonPublishersAAOA
Limestone and its interbedded marl deposits form an economic resource that was utilized at El-Hibeh, ancient Teudjoi/Ankyrononpolis, a tell mound in middle Egypt. The archaeological site contains the small Amun temple, at least two limestone (packstone) quarries, statues, sarcophagus lids and bases, limestone (packstone) construction blocks with and without relief, and major mudbrick structures. The temple blocks are made from a local packstone-limestone that has been saturated by Nile River water and is deteriorating at a rapid pace. The limestone at El-Hibeh is a packstone. Several packstone quarries occur in the archaeological site. One appears to be of recent vintage and was mined using modern drilling and blasting techniques. Another is an ancient quarry that utilized natural sedimentary and structural features of the packstone-marl deposits to manufacture blocks for various utilitarian purposes.
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HANUMAN STORIES: TIMELESS TEACHINGS FOR TODAY’S WORLDLearnyoga
Hanuman Stories: Timeless Teachings for Today’s World" delves into the inspiring tales of Hanuman, highlighting lessons of devotion, strength, and selfless service that resonate in modern life. These stories illustrate how Hanuman's unwavering faith and courage can guide us through challenges and foster resilience. Through these timeless narratives, readers can find profound wisdom to apply in their daily lives.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
2 Peter 3: Because some scriptures are hard to understand and some will force them to say things God never intended, Peter warns us to take care.
https://youtu.be/nV4kGHFsEHw
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
Why is this So? ~ Do Seek to KNOW (English & Chinese).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma teaching of Kamma-Vipaka (Intentional Actions-Ripening Effects).
A Presentation for developing morality, concentration and wisdom and to spur us to practice the Dhamma diligently.
The texts are in English and Chinese.
2. How to cite this article: Martin B S. Catastrophism through the Ages, and a Cosmic Catastrophe at the Origin of Civilization. Arch & Anthropol Open Acc. 1(2).
AAOA.000506. 2017. DOI: 10.31031/AAOA.2017.01.000506
Archaeology & Anthropology: Open Access
2/5
Arch & Anthropol Open Acc
observations of sedimentary strata containing abrupt changes in
the fossil record, he proposed in 1812 a theory of extinctions and
episodes of catastrophic change at Earth’s surface [7].
But Charles Lyell, an influential geologist, supported Hutton’s
gradualist interpretation of change [8]. In his three volume work
Principles of Geology published between 1830 and 1833, he argued
that sudden changes in geological strata, and therefore abrupt
changes in the fossil record, were an illusion generated by wholesale
erosion of strata over geological timescales. Moreover, catastrophic
changes required speculation about forces and mechanisms that
are not currently observed, and therefore run contrary to the
principle of uniformitarianism.
With a copy of Lyell’s Principles on board the Beagle, Darwin
ventured to the Southern Ocean to find evidence for this theory
of natural selection. After his return, a committed gradualist, he
published his Origin of Species in 1859 [9]. This was a decisive
move in favor of gradualism. There was now a mutually consistent
gradualistic framework, with Newton’s mechanical universe that
ran like clockwork, Hutton and Lyell’s uniformitarian geology, and
Darwin’s biological evolution. Moreover, observations of comets
showed their nuclei were quite small, and there were too few of
them to provide a threat to Earth, especially on the timescale of
human evolution. Whether, or not, this gradualistic paradigm
supported the Christian doctrine depended on your point of view.
On the one hand, it supported the view that catastrophes on human
timescales could only occur through God’s will. However, it also
supported the view that God was no longer needed at all to explain
the workings of the Universe, except perhaps as an initial creator,
and that the Bible could not be trusted for historical accuracy. But
this initial divergence of science from religion was quite limited.
Christianity maintained a powerful hold over the establishment,
and Darwin faced considerable criticism from those who could
not accept evolution through natural law, rather than God’s hand,
and specifically the evolution of man from ape. The gradualistic
paradigm solidified further well into the 20th
Century. First Gregor
Mendel and then Avery and colleagues and Crick and Watson
provided the mechanism for biological evolution; the inheritance
of genes encoded in molecular DNA [10-12]. Darwin’s theory of
evolution through natural selection was now firmly established.
Although it still did not demand a gradualistic basis, Darwin’s
support for gradualism was very influential. By the 1950s, a modern
synthesis of Darwinism had developed in which slow changes in the
environment, consistent with Hutton’s uniformitarian principle of
geology, provoked equally slow changes in species through natural
selection [13,14]. That this gradual change in the biosphere was not
reflected in the fossil record did not seem to matter. Nevertheless,
gradualism was now the dominant paradigm, and catastrophism
was generally the reserve of supposed cranks. Confirmation of
the slow creeps of continents in the mid-60s, i.e. continental drift
though plate tectonics provided further support to the gradualistic
paradigm, and another mechanism for the diversification of species.
The intervention of Immanuel Velikovsky only served to
reinforce this dominance. On the basis of his expertise in psycho-
analysis, he proposed in 1950 there had been major catastrophes on
the time scale of human civilization, and also proposed a revisionist
version of history to account for them [15]. By themselves, these
ideas could have been worthy of debate, however he coupled his
theory with an un-physical mechanism; that part of Jupiter had
been ejected as a comet, and collided with Earth before being
transformed into Venus. While not taken seriously by the academic
community generally, his ideas took hold within the public
imagination.
However, in the early 1970s Eldridge and Gould proposed their
theory of punctuated equilibrium to account for the abrupt changes
seeninthefossilrecord,whichitwasnowrecognizedwerenotinfact
an artifact of slow geological processes [16]. This was supposedly a
modification of the modern synthesis, and therefore of Darwinism,
that allowed periods of rapid change in speciation together with
rapid changes in the environment. Although the novelty of this idea
continues to be debated within that research community, in that
manypaleontologistsandevolutionarybiologistsarguethatthenew
synthesis and even Darwinism already allowed for rapid changes in
the rate of speciation on geological timescales, the key point is that
it recognizes that a complete theory of biological evolution must
cater for mass extinctions and rapid bursts in evolution. Although
catastrophism was not thought necessary by most, at the time, to
explain these rapid bursts of evolution and extinction events, the
tide had clearly turned.
Furthermore, by 1980 it was known that near-Earth space
was teeming with asteroids with a wide range of sizes. Indeed, the
Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter contained objects up to
900km in diameter. Moreover, impact craters on the moon and inner
solar system planets confirmed a similar impact history for Earth,
even if craters on Earth remained relatively elusive. Catastrophic
mechanisms were now easy to provide if evidence on the ground
required them.
Everything changed in 1980 when Alvarez et al. proposed a
massive asteroid impact at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary that
ended the age of dinosaurs [17]. Their evidence was compelling,
especially a global iridium anomaly at the geological boundary.
When the Chicxulub crater, at 180km in diameter, was located off
the Yucatan peninsula, the case was practically confirmed. Earth
was under threat after all, and catastrophism via cosmic events
was revived. Today, the debate has moved on to the causes of
major catastrophes and extinction-level events, and in particular
the relative importance and correlation between cosmic impact
and massive volcanism [18]. But the possibility that more recent
extinction-level catastrophes could have occurred within the time
span of human civilization as a result of cosmic impacts (since it
is clear there have been no recent super-volcanic eruptions since
Toba) is generally thought to be negligible, and dismissed by many
academics.
This, despite the famous Shoemaker-Levy 9 event of 1994 in
which a comet impacted Jupiter. The comet, fragmented by Jupiter’s
tidal forces into a long string of over 20 large pieces, collided with
3. Archaeology & Anthropology: Open Access
How to cite this article: Martin B S. Catastrophism through the Ages, and a Cosmic Catastrophe at the Origin of Civilization. Arch & Anthropol Open Acc. 1(2).
AAOA.000506. 2017. DOI: 10.31031/AAOA.2017.01.000506
3/5
Arch & Anthropol Open Acc
Jupiter to produce intense surface explosions, each large enough
to have devastated Earth’s biosphere, in the short space of a few
days. Once again, this event challenged the prevailing gradualistic
view: here was a massive collision of a comet with a planet of the
solar system within our own lifetime. Clearly, these events could
no longer be considered exceptionally rare, at least for Jupiter.
Gradualistic views were no longer tenable, you might think, as
cosmic catastrophism had been proven to occur. But, of course, it
can be argued that Jupiter’s gravity places it at special risk and that
the same risks simply don’t apply to Earth. Indeed, one can argue
that Jupiter shields Earth from such violent events by ‘mopping up’
errant comets.
To summarize the debate, until the 1970s science had provided
the ammunition to separate itself from the catastrophes of myth
of religion. But over the next quarter century a rapid reversal
occurred with the realization that (i) the fossil record really does
exhibit abrupt extinctions followed by rapid bursts of evolution, (ii)
near-Earth space contains millions of hazardous bodies, and (iii)
such catastrophic impacts have been observed on Jupiter in our
own lifetime.
A Catastrophe at The Origin of Civilization
Despite all this, the possibility that human civilization could
have been significantly affected by such events is still denied by
many to the present day. Although a risk on the timescale of millions
of years is recognized, it is generally considered implausible that a
global cosmic catastrophe could have occurred over the last, say,
ten or twenty thousand years. The argument given to support
this denial is usually probabilistic; assuming the number and size
distribution of near-Earth asteroids is fixed over time, a major
cosmic collision within the timescale of human civilization remains
unlikely; not impossible of course, just very unlikely. But notice
the assumption here; is it really reasonable to assume that the
population of asteroids and comets in near-Earth space has not
changed significantly over the course of human civilization? What
evidence is there for this?
Recent research indicates, almost certainly, that the above
assumption is incorrect. Over the last two decades, it has become
clear that the Taurid meteor complex is very large, very old, and has
been generated by the break-up of a giant comet in the inner solar
system. Moreover, this fragmentation process would have resulted
in a greatly enhanced risk of bombardment for Earth, which is likely
to be reflected in the archaeological record [19]. Strong evidence for
this comes in two main forms [20]. First, the orbits of some of the
largest near-Earth objects in orbits similar to that of comet Encke,
which is associated with the Taurid meteor complex, are highly
correlated, indicating that most of them are fragmentation products
of a single very large and very old progenitor comet [19]. Second,
the mass of the zodiacal dust cloud (to which comets trapped in
the inner solar system eventually decay) cannot be accounted for
by the cometary population currently observed; it instead points
strongly towards the input of a very large cometary mass into the
inner solar system over the timescale of human civilization or
somewhat longer [21].
In addition, geochemical evidence, accrued over the last
decade, points very strongly to a catastrophic cosmic encounter
with an asteroid or comet at the onset of the Younger Dryas period
[22,23]. Indeed, recent evidence from the last few years from three
independent research groups has revealed a platinum anomaly that
extends at least across North America, Greenland and North-West
Europe, coeval with other evidence for a cosmic impact, including
impact spherules, magnetic grains and nano diamonds [24-26].
Although disputed by several prominent and vocal research groups,
their counter-arguments are generally weak to non-existent
while evidence from independent research groups continues to
accumulate [27-34].
Finally, and quite astonishingly, this event appears to be
recorded in stone by its survivors in the Fertile Crescent at Göbekli
Tepe, southern Anatolia, currently perhaps the World’s most
important archaeological site. With Dimitrios Tsikritsis, I recently
provided an interpretation of symbolism at Göbekli Tepe, a site that
appears at the nexus of the Neolithic revolution, consistent with the
astronomical, geochemical and archaeological evidence [35,36].
Moreover, our statistical analysis of this interpretation indicates it
is very likely to be correct. In particular,
Figure 1: Pillar 43, the Vulture Stone, at Göbekli Tepe,
embedded into the rough stone wall of enclosure D (courtesy
of Alistair Coombs).
• Pillar 43 at Göbekli Tepe (Figure 1), popularly known as the
Vulture Stone, can be interpreted as the date of the event (which
agrees very well with the timing of the platinum anomaly in the
Greenland GISP2 ice core at the onset of the Younger Dryas cooling
[24]) encoded using precession of the equinoxes, with animal
4. How to cite this article: Martin B S. Catastrophism through the Ages, and a Cosmic Catastrophe at the Origin of Civilization. Arch & Anthropol Open Acc. 1(2).
AAOA.000506. 2017. DOI: 10.31031/AAOA.2017.01.000506
Archaeology & Anthropology: Open Access
4/5
Arch & Anthropol Open Acc
symbols representing specific constellations similar to those
known today in Western Europe, thought to be acquired from the
ancient Greeks.
Figure 2: Pillar 2, Enclosure a of Göbekli Tepe (image by
Teomancimit from Wikipedia).
• Pillar 2 at Göbekli Tepe (Figure 2) can be interpreted as
an observation of the track of the radiant of the Northern Taurid
meteor stream, also using animal symbols as constellations.
Figure 3: Left: Close-up of the bottom of Pillar 18. Right:
Pillars 31 (foreground) and 18 (background) in Enclosure D
at Göbekli Tepe (both courtesy of Alistair Coombs).
• Pillar 18, one of the main central pillars (Figure 3), can be
interpreted as providing the mechanism of the event corresponding
to the date on Pillar 43, i.e. an encounter with the Northern Taurids.
Specifically, its vulpine symbolism corresponds to the northern
asterism of our Aquarius constellation, which in turn likely
corresponds to the position of maximum intensity of Northern
Taurid meteors at the time of the event.
Conclusion
This convergence of the astronomical, geochemical and
archaeological evidence suggests it is very likely that the theory
of Coherent Catastrophism, pioneered by Victor Clube and Bill
Napier in the Early 1980s, is correct [37,38]. The implications
for archaeology and anthropology, at least, are profound, in
that Coherent Catastrophism implies other catastrophic cosmic
encounters with the Taurids, with a wide range of magnitudes,
likely occurred both before and after this main event. Indeed, due to
orbital precession of the Taurid complex, we can expect to observe
an enhanced risk of bombardment to occur for a period of 500
years or so, due to overlap of two separate risk peaks, every 3000
years over the Holocene, although that enhanced risk might have
decayed, along with the offending giant comet, towards background
levels today.
Normally, any evidence of cosmic catastrophes over the
course of human civilization is interpreted as being the result of
other causes. Clearly, it is now important that existing scientific
data indicating pre-historic and historical catastrophes, including
major and correlated episodes of cultural transition, civilization
collapse, population migration, climate change, earthquake, war,
famine, pestilence and conflagration and flooding, is re-assessed
to properly consider cosmic bombardment as a possible causal
mechanism. Moreover, it appears the capabilities of people in the
Fertile Crescent at the Paleolithic to Neolithic transition have been
underestimated, and a key influence on the Neolithic revolution
might have been over-looked.
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