Ancient Mysteries [Paperback]

Discerning readers know that books about "ancient mysteries" are often characterised by poor scholarship, some authors cynically manipulating the facts to sell more copies, while others show a genuine but misguided commitment to a particular point of view. Peter James, a freelance writer on historical subjects, and Nick Thorpe, archaeology lecturer at King Alfred's College, Winchester, prove exceptions to this general rule, being neither deceitful nor detached from reality. Furthermore, they avoid the equally reprehensible dogmatism of those "experts" who dismiss unorthodox arguments out-of-hand, without giving them serious consideration, or thinking that there is any necessity to provide counter-arguments. In the introduction to Ancient Mysteries, James and Thorpe claim, "We have tried to chart a middle course between the uncritical enthusiasts and the professional skeptics" and, without question, they have achieved their aim. The format of Ancient Mysteries is exactly the same as that of their previous book, Ancient Inventions. Each section can be read independently of the rest, and there are frequent cross-references to related material, regardless of whether it comes before or after that particular section. Nevertheless, Ancient Mysteries can be read from cover to cover, without any difficulty. The 621 pages of the book, comprising 44 sections in total, are divided into 8 chapters. These are: lost lands and catastrophes; watching the skies; architectural wonders; earth patterns; voyagers and discoveries; legendary history; hoax; and archaeology and the supernatural. There are several themes which recur throughout. One is that many of those who write popular works about the artifacts at certain ancient sites (e.g. Giza, Great Zimbabwe, Tiahuanaco and Nasca) exhibit a form of racism in denying that they could have been produced by the people who live in the vicinity today, preferring, against all the evidence, to see them as the work of European travellers, refugees from Atlantis or even extraterrestrials. Related to that is the way in which "alternative researchers" frequently cite old arguments for theories (e.g. for the extreme old age of Tiahuanaco, or for a major crustal displacement of the Earth within the past 20,000 years) without mentioning that these are generally considered to have been discredited by more recent discoveries. Another recurring them is the way that several theories (e.g. about ley lines, the Somerset zodiac and ancient astronomical observatories) have been formulated by the arbitrary bringing together of features belonging to widely different times. Generally, the approach taken in Ancient Mysteries is open-minded. Nevertheless, James and Thorpe do not disengage their critical faculties, nor their powers of discrimination. Although, like anyone else, they may sometimes be guided by personal preferences, they make a genuine attempt to distinguish between those theories which, on the basis of the available evidence, could well be correct, and those which, while they cannot be discarded entirely, are much less plausible. Thus, they go along with the orthodox verdict on the authenticity of the Kensington (Minnesota) Rune Stone, which is, "Possible, but not at all likely". If that seems boring and unimaginative to some, it is nevertheless a very fair assessment, on a balance of probabilities. Similarly, and on the same basis, the authors of Ancient Mysteries come to generally negative conclusions about many other challenges to the conventional point of view. Included amongst these is Immanuel Velikovsky's theory that other planets have caused catastrophes on Earth by making close approaches in recent times, giving rise to myths of warring gods. James and Thorpe explain how Velikovsky's writings initially produced impassioned responses, for as well as against his ideas. However, in their view, the Velikovskian bubble finally burst during the 1980s, because of the development of the theory of coherent catastrophism by astronomers Victor Clube and Bill Napier. This had no requirement for wandering planets as a means of explaining Bronze Age catastrophes and the myths derived from them, proposing instead the more plausible mechanism of the disintegration of a large comet in the vicinity of the Earth. Indeed, another of the recurring themes of Ancient Mysteries is the likely role of disintegrating comets in causing Bronze Age catastrophes, particularly those around 2300 BC (including Tell Leilan, the end of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, and possibly Sodom and Gomorrah). Throughout, the authors show an excellent grasp of theor material, and they place the various controversies within their proper historical and scientific context. Inevitably, however, there are some errors. For example, James and Thorpe attribute the unfinished pyramid near Abu Ruwash to Nebka, and that at Zawyat al Aryan to Djedefra, rather than vice versa. Then, apparently having similar problems in the conversion of metric measurements as NASA Mars-probe scientists, they quote diameters of 12.5-25 miles for the nucleus of Halley's comet and the projectile which produced the Chicxulub crater, both normally reckoned to be in the range 10-15 km. However, these are just minor quibbles. Overall, James and Thorpe have produced an invaluable reference work for those with a genuine interest in ancient mysteries. Even though they state that some topics could not be included because of limitations of space, the book still covers a very wide range. Inevitably, that means that no individual subject is discussed in any great detail. Nevertheless, the key arguments for and against each theory are summarised and, although the authors may indicate their own views, there is no attempt to force these on anyone. Indeed, they write, "We have tried to condense and present enough evidence on each mystery for readers to judge for themselves and, we hope, have fun in devising their own solutions". That approach will surely appeal to many.

This is a great book, one of my favourites. Its well written, easy to read and fascinating. For anyone interested in mysteries of the ancient world i recommend it.

A more poorly rearched and ineptly reasoned book would be hard to find. To give just one example of its slapdash approach: in dealing with great floods the authors never once mention the Epic of Gilgamesh. Worse still, over and over again the authors treat myths and legends as if they were factual accounts waiting to be proved. Research of this kind has been far better accomplished elsewhere.