TSE – Introduction
Book Extract……………………………..
This book and trilogy has been written to explain and prove a hypothesis that I have been working on over the last 30 years.
In publishing this work, I understand that it represents a fundamental change to not only British history but the history of the world. Consequently, I have not undertaken this task lightly, but there are moments in the evolution of any science – and yes, archaeology is a science – when a new theory will challenge the fundamental beliefs of that science’s existing structure, and that is the objective of this book.
These progressive challenges should in no way be viewed as a criticism of the current theories, but a logical succession, creating a more coherent set of beliefs that moves the science forwards and helps everyone involved to develop a greater understanding of the subject. It allows experts to re-examine the subject matter in a new light and can extract the truth from the myth – which has sometimes been responsible for creating false realities.
In my view, archaeology (and in some respects geology) has not been challenged enough over the years mainly to the same extent as we have seen in other better-funded sciences such as chemistry, physics or biology. If these unchallenged acceptances were extended to the real sciences, we would probably still be living in a world without Quantum Mechanics or even Darwin’s theory of evolution.
What you will see contained in this book is a newer progressive form of ‘deductive’ archaeology, which I refer to as ‘Landscape Dating’. It allows us to date sites, not only from the findings on the site but critically, from their location in the prehistoric landscape. This science can bring a new interpretation and understanding of the structural complexities and the philosophies of our ancestors.
The evidence for Landscape Dating presented in this book, will allow us to paint a more balanced view of past humanity as an intelligent trading society rather than fur-covered hairy men, running half-naked, chasing deer and mammoths over Salisbury plain – which is owed to the past flights of fancy of Victorian archaeologists and anthropologists. Furthermore, this unique civilisation can be classified as ‘advanced’ as it invented the boat that allowed it to migrate at a rapid rate and to travel the ‘known’ world trading, teaching and inbreeding with the local populations ultimately sharing their engineering and philosophical knowledge as shown by the history of the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians civilisations, amongst others.
History of any site can best be seen within the landscape and at the location of the magnificent monuments. When you see henges or stone circles on the edge of cliffs or peninsulas, the power and awe of these ancient monuments are absolutely breath-taking.
As I have examined these ancient monuments in-depth, I have considered them from the perspective of the engineer and as a social philosopher rather than as an archaeologist, and that attitude and style are represented in the context this book. I have tried to lay out my hypothesis in a jargon-free, logical and sensible way with evidence that I hope you will consider being sufficient proof to enable you to reconsider what you currently believe to be accepted history.
But just for the purists, I have also included the required references, to show that there are real science and evidence behind the conjecture. In some instances, I will, in turn, accepted theories on their head, as the evidence can be interpreted in a completely different way to the currently accepted theories.
Other Archaeology books I have read in the past have frustrated and confused me. They either ramble on about the author’s friends and endless lunches they have had while researching the book or focus on irrelevant issues. I will do neither in this book – I will simply try to present ‘the facts’ and my views based on these facts in ‘layman’s terms’ and an informative, interesting manner. It’s only by engaging in the evidence that future debates can be progressed and by so doing, our understanding enhanced.
What we must bear in mind is that no evidence is ‘absolute’ but just the current best interpretation at present, which in science is always open to scrutiny, debate and reinterpretation. I will then go briefly through the evidence to date, as found in detail in the first book of the trilogy ‘The Post-Glacial Flooding Hypothesis’ that shows that rivers were higher in the past – nothing more and nothing less! And then we will look at the sites around one of the first book’s case study the river ‘Avon’ and the four sites of Stonehenge, Woodhenge (Durrington Walls), Avebury and Old Sarum.
I have always admired writers and recently, during my many university courses, presenters who can take complex subjects and turn them into simple analogies, which allow anyone to understand the concepts without reverting to jargon or technical references. If you have ever studied philosophy or quantum mechanics, as I have, you appreciate how necessary, such tools are to explain concepts and which lecturers do understand their subject and the ones who are just treading water.
Indeed, one of my favourite film scenes is from ‘Philadelphia’ when Denzel Washington turns to Tom Hanks, who is in the process of explaining a complex legal problem and asks him to “tell it to me as if I was a six-year-old”. A sure way of saying, give it to me straight, simple and without convoluted language! Well, I hope this book doesn’t quite talk to you as if you’re a six-year-old. Still, I will explain some of the complexities and mysteries of archaeology in a down to earth, clear and precise manner, and sometimes using analogies when necessary.
To help compartmentalise the topic or subject matter, Sherlock will appear to conclude the debate and clarify what I term as ‘proof of my hypotheses’. They will be thirty or so proofs which are the basis of the evidence in the formulation of this book; a complete list will be shown in Appendix A regarding the pages the evidence is gathered
A large part of this book is my landscape surveys of Mesolithic and Neolithic Sites in the Stonehenge area. This and other ‘case studies’ are central to the book as I see them as the ‘best evidence’ for my hypothesis. Too many good ideas look feasible on paper, but when they are studied in detail, they are shown to be ‘just ideas’ without actual substance or methodology.
I could have chosen any area in Britain to test my hypothesis, but Stonehenge provided me with more archaeological evidence than any other as it had been the centre of prehistoric interest since the Roman invasion 2,000 years ago. It also has the most detailed analysis of any site in Britain as money has been invested in this location, unlike most other places – and sadly, even then that is still not enough.
It has always been recognised that the post-glacial landscape is still a mystery to both geologists and archaeologist alike, as quoted in the book ‘Stonehenge in the Landscape’ by Michael Allen “In short, we are dealing with a period from the upper Palaeolithic to the Late Neolithic covering nearly five millennia for which, realistically, we know little from the environment except by assumption and inference from the adjacent area away from the chalk.”
Archaeologists have always sadly failed to understand the type of culture that was required to socially organise and manage the large numbers to create these types of structures. For this ‘lost civilisation’ has enormous consequences for the history of not only Britain but also Europe and the World. We will show you that this civilisation uses (for its time) engineering skills and mathematics way beyond what archaeologists and historians have to date recognised and given credit for their unique abilities.
Enjoy the book, and I hope it will encourage you to go out and re-explore these ancient sites armed with a new vision and knowledge of how our landscape really used to look some 10,000 years ago. For each unexplored prehistoric site still holds great secrets of our ‘lost civilisation’ past just waiting to be rediscovered. Those who dare to venture forth ‘with an open mind’ could be actively participating in solving the disentanglement of the greatest historical mystery of all time.
For more information about British Prehistory and other articles/books, go to our BLOG WEBSITE for daily updates or our VIDEO CHANNEL for interactive media and documentaries. The TRILOGY of books that ‘changed history’ can be found with chapter extracts at DAWN OF THE LOST CIVILISATION, THE STONEHENGE ENIGMA and THE POST-GLACIAL FLOODING HYPOTHESIS. Other associated books are also available such as 13 THINGS THAT DON’T MAKE SENSE IN HISTORY and other ‘short’ budget priced books can be found on our AUTHOR SITE. For active discussion on the findings of the TRILOGY and recent LiDAR investigations that is published on our WEBSITE you can join our FACEBOOK GROUP.
