Forbidden archeology is a school of thought that is often propagated by individuals who argue that the civilized and technologically versed man has existed for millions of years. Forbidden archeology collides with most of the arguments and findings that support the theory of evolution.
Most of the views about forbidden archeology are contained in a 1993 book titled “Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race”. The book is jointly authored by archeologists Michael Cremo and Richard Thompson and it forwards some controversial views about human history. Proponents of forbidden archeology are of the view that archeologists have deliberately ‘ignored’ any facts that contradict the evolution theory.
Consequently, supporters of forbidden archeology have amassed a sizeable amount of evidence from several periods in history with the view of solidifying their claims. On the other hand, the opponents of forbidden archeology are of the view that their counterparts are more ‘sensational’ than ‘scientific’ as far as facts are concerned.
Proponents of forbidden archeology are also accused of gathering and compiling their views in isolation without incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach in their process. Nevertheless, forbidden archeology has had a major impact on human history especially when it comes to the history of man. This paper argues that although proponents of forbidden history have presented evidence that suggests the existence of a prehistoric civilization, it (evidence) is not enough to change popular views about human history.
Proponents of forbidden archeology repeatedly point out that human beings have used tools throughout history. Consequently, forbidden archeology proposes that human beings did not ‘evolve’ to start using tools. The evidence for prehistoric tool use is presented in the form of incised bones, palaeoliths, and eoliths. However, it is important to point out that most of the evidence that supports tool use among prehistoric human beings is often fragmented and sparse.
Furthermore, it is possible that some of the tools that proponents of forbidden archeology consider to be ‘hand-made tools’ are stone flakes that occur naturally. The authors of the book on forbidden archeology are of the view that the presence of prehistoric tools suggests that they were being used by human inhabitants.
However, both Cremo and Thomson neglect to put the use of these tools in context. For instance, the researchers do not explain how, where, and when these tools were used. This blatant lack of contextualization indicates that forbidden archeology might be an effort in futility in the long run.
In one interesting proposition in favor of forbidden archeology, archeologists have pointed out the possibility of nuclear warfare thousands of years ago. According to ancient Hindu texts, weapons that bear striking resemblances to nuclear weapons were used to decimate populations in the ancient times. Opponents of forbidden archeology have pointed out that some of these ancient records are too ‘aged’ to be used definitively.
For instance, the book by Cremo and Thompson has been found to consist at least twenty-five percent of material from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Consequently, the research methodologies of the proponents of forbidden archeologists are found to be retrogressive. Critics have questioned why Cremo, Thompson, Bauval, and Hancock’s research ignores materials from the last 50 years.
Nevertheless, the forbidden archeologists have alluded to the fact that this tactic is used to show how the incumbent researchers have deliberately ignored all materials that point towards the inexistence of forbidden archeology. The information about the possibility of nuclear warfare is contained in an ancient Hindu documents and it is never supported by any other civilization. It is possible for myths to find their way into ancient history and this might have been the case in ancient India. In addition, any research that ignores recent strides is retrogressive in nature.
Forbidden archeology is mostly made up of claims about ancient superiorities of the human race as exemplified by the existence of the Egyptian pyramids, the model airplanes that were found in an ancient tomb in Colombia, and the ancient Greek island city of Atlantis. Nevertheless, most of these vivid descriptions of an ancient but technologically advanced man indicate ‘giant leaps’ that negate progressions in human development.
For instance, forbidden archeology is concerned with the mightiness of the Pyramids of Giza as opposed to how they came into being. Opponents, of forbidden archeology such as Dr. Richard Leakey have dismissed the tendency to focus on ‘finished products’ as mere sensationalism. Dr. Leakey also questions the intentions of forbidden archeologists in respect to what they intend to achieve by finding bits of information to discredit evolution theory.
Forbidden archeology is a contentious subject among researchers, historians, and archeologists. Proponents of forbidden archeology accuse their counterparts of subjugating any fact that points out that human beings have been civilized and technologically advanced for hundreds and possibly millions of years.
On the other hand, forbidden archeology is known to forward sensational theories and ignore current and up-to-date research. Occurrences such as the Pyramids of Giza, the ancient city of Atlantis, and the availability of prehistoric tools and artifacts are used to point out that man has always been superior. However, none of the propositions in favor of forbidden archeology is strong enough to discredit mainstream evolution theories.