I hear a hitman for the evolution lobby is in town. Thought you might need to know. 
Posted on 11/26/2002 7:57:18 AM PST by blam
To each his own. Truth and accuracy require no justification regardless what toes they may step on.
>Your comments don't really have any direct relevance to what I posted.
But I beg to differ. They are in direct response to it.
>You seem to have a gripe about the word 'science' itself.
I have no such gripe, as long as the word "science" is not coopted by non-scientific agendas such as "global warming". However, 'science' is not the bastion of purity and objective honesty that some would like to believe. It is intensely political.
>For lots of reasons (egos, budgets, political correctness) 'discoveries' in archaeology have not been subjected to the same kind of rigorous peer review one finds in physics, say.
We certainly agree on that. Of course 'peer review' is too often another political joke. Peer review is not the bastion of purity and objective honesty that some would like to believe. It is intensely political. That is the way the world works.
>Your comments about history are true.
Thank you. I was only expressing admiration for your wording of the thought:
...Most tenured American archaeologists were blindered by the 'religion' of certain prevailing belief models that prevented them from considering any evidence that went counter to their credo.
and expanding it to apply more generally. I suspect your uneasyness with my long time academic interest and research into the Lost Tribes of Israel is blindered by the 'religion' of certain prevailing belief models that prevent you from considering any evidence that goes counter to your credo.
I saw those (the post holes) and decided that they could be anything. I was impressed with the large carved human faces on the face of some of the structures though. There are natural structures on land just like these nearby, humans may have carved or altered these structures before they went underwater.
There definately is interesting 'stuff' out there to be found. (some of it may be in your back yard.)
On the other hand, if a civilization were developed during the last inter-glacial period, it probably grew up in the "best spots" and was simply covered over during the following glaciation.
Archaeologists would have found both types of civilization generally inaccessible until just about now.
I am not holding my breath waiting on someone to find a flying saucer or transistor radio, but some stacked stones would seem to be a feasible discovery.
No, it has more to do with boredom, although your statement is clever. I'm not the least bit uneasy about your work: whatever floats your boat. I've encountered so many conflicting legends about the Lost Tribes I confess to tuning such discussions out for the most part, although I've read a few things recently about possible Lost Tribe connections in India and South Africa that appear to be more scientifically based than most. But I promise to read your material as objectively as possible.
As for your comment: However, 'science' is not the bastion of purity and objective honesty that some would like to believe. It is intensely political, that was the precise point of my post. While politics always plays a major role in human affairs, I believe the political games of the past 50 years have been extraordinary (but certainly not unique). The East/West polarization since about 1941 has been intense, and the post-war impact of Marxism on academic thought has been frightening. They've both had a huge negative impact on archaeology, and have led to a continuing emphasis on archaeology of the Mediterranean instead of worldwide considerations, which was the point I was originally responding to.
Now why the hell would the author cite Plato, a Greek philosopher who shuffled off this mortal coil centuries B.C. as an authority on when the end of the Ice Age occured?
It was printed in The China Post, probably written by Chinese writers with English as a second language. This is actually good compared to some I've seen.
It was printed in The China Post, probably written by Chinese writers with English as a second language. This is actually good compared to some I've seen.
He was trying to make an Atlantis connection, underwater cities and all.
I hear a hitman for the evolution lobby is in town. Thought you might need to know.
No one could ask for more than that. {ggg}.
>... the post-war impact of Marxism on academic thought has been frightening ... had a huge negative impact on archaeology ...and led to a continuing emphasis on archaeology of the Mediterranean instead of worldwide considerations.
An interesting point. I believe Blam and others would share your apparent enthusiasm for a more global perspective.
I marvel at the academic (religious) interest of only 200 years causing intense focus on the Mediterranean. Without that religious yearning for truth, not only would Americas great educational institutions (of virtually every founding denomination) not exist, but such other assets as the Oriental Institute would not exist either. (That many have subsequently become diverted is another matter...)
It is unfortunate so few appreciate the true roots of that science we call Archeology, it's genesis being intense interest in the Israelites, and that interest almost entirely by those who did not realize (initially or publicly at least) that they were Israelites as well; the presumeably "Lost" Israelites.
Hmmm, I'm not sure which sided of this you're taking, but if you run into him will you have him Freepmail me a fee schedule?
Indeed.
On another subject: I'm reading Brian Fagan's book Floods, Famines and Emperors, he says that the world's human population in 13,000BC was 8.5 million. (I know you like population numbers)
That's as far as I'll explain. If you can't take it from there, well, that's OK.
Thanks for that number! Well-considered numbers that far back are hard to come by. Does he give his source or any supporting rationale for it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.