Rating: 
Summary: Loved it! They present a thorough, fascinating case.
Review: They present a vast array of evidence that orthodox archaeologists have either ignored or suppressed. It is a thorougly researched and intriguing account. I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Evidence belies long-held convictions on human evolution
Review: Forbidden Archeology does not propose to account for the origin of man, but it does show us that when all the available evidence regarding human fossils and other remains reported by scientists is put together - and nothing is refused for ideological reasons - the theory of human evolution from lower apelike forms becomes clearly untenable. Some might question the credibility of certain archeological finds and reports - whether rated as anomalous or not - but if just one out the reports discussed in the anomalous-evidence section of this book (well over 400 pages) is undisputable, then the authors would have made their case. And truly, quite a bit of the evidence that falls outside the official paradigms of human evolution presents a scientific reporting standard as high as - or even higher than - much of the currently accepted and vehemently advertised evidence.However, before one sets out to read Forbidden Archeology one might do well to take a look at the philosophical context in which the disciplines of Archeology and Anthropology are set. Along with a general agnostic view on man and his situation in Cosmos these sciences have also been strongly tainted by a sort of industrial-age philosophy - let us call it Transformism - which by now has been taught in our schools long enough to have become almost instinctive in our consciousness. This belief has also been strengthened by becoming entangled with the idea of an incessantly evolving technology. Just as computers get more powerful processors so would early humans have gotten larger brains. Just as airplanes get swifter and more economic so would now-extinct birds have become the efficient fliers of today. The hymn of Transformist philosophy could well be something like "new things good, old things bad". But the dogma of Transformism is - like most modern scientific and social dogmas - not based on empirical data. It starts out as a belief and a "work plan" to which its advocates may subsequently add any convenient combination of supporting facts. However, since for most people (including scientists) belief precedes actual evidence, the true nature of our fossil record (the rule being sudden appearance of entire animal groups in complete absence of transitional forms) is slyly ignored or grossly misrepresented to the public. A widespread belief in Transformism - although unsupported by plain evidence - is also a crucial element in the ideological make-up that maintains the herculean infatuation many of us have experienced for our present form of civilization. Cremo and Thompson, independently of their personal beliefs (they have searched for clues in the Hindu doctrines - the oldest knowledge tradition accessible today), have put evolutionary-minded archeologists in a veritable checkmate, employing nothing but Archeology's own productions, instruments and practices of discussion. There is not a single mention of Hindu teachings in Forbidden Archeology, although this is a favorite claim made by its critics (many of which are merely ideologically opposed to it), but there is quite a lot about the problem of disciplinary suppression and the sociology of scientific knowledge. Back in 1993, a famous anthropologist, after a quick glance at Forbidden Archeology, said that only fools would take the book seriously. But this meticulously researched and scholarly work deserves more than a hurried judgment; in fact, every page of it is worth a careful read. One might say it would be rather "foolish" not to read this book on the grounds that a few hasty archeologists and zealous transformists (not necessarily readers of the book) have come up with some sour remarks and ad hominem arguments against it. Definitely, apart from the scientists who have openly acknowledged the scientific relevance of Cremo and Thompson's work, not one critic has really faced the challenge presented by the enormous amount of evidence for extreme human antiguity amassed in this volume. Read the other and for the most part excellent reviews posted on this page...then read Forbidden Archeology and judge for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: My God...the emperor has no clothes!!!
Review: For all of you who never quite bought into the pre-packaged "education" you received regarding the origin of man...I highly recommend this book. Most of us who sat through college level biology courses learned evolution as "fact". But at the same time we were also taught about the entropic nature of the physical world in both chemistry and physics. Rather than concentrate on proving "how" evolution occurs, the status quo today is to simply accept that evolution does occur (somehow?) and go from there. There is no proof of the evolutionary mechanism nor is it known. The evolutionary argument falls apart at the molecular level because it assumes the mechanisms of "gene mutation" produce more-viable organisms whereas the entropic model dictates that mutations produce less-viable organisms. There are thousands of observable cases of the negative effects of gene mutation. In human populations, has random exposure to gene mutating agents such as radiation or chemicals ever resulted in more evolved offspring or enhancement of an individuals capabilities? Has a single documented case of a beneficial DNA mutation been observed "in nature" that did not have an offsetting negative component? Note that this is NOT the same as selection, which allows a population to emphasize certain pre-existing traits that already exist within the gene pool. While no one can prove that a "beneficial" DNA mutation could NOT occur, the theory of evolution hangs on pure speculation...it could happen, therefore it does. It is a pure leap of faith. It would be interesting to induce random gene mutations in the sex cells of a control group of organisms. If any of the offspring in the control group are clearly superior, without any corresponding negative defects...the molecular basis for beneficial gene mutation could be proven to have some solid foundation. Then, one would have to explain how these beneficial mutations (which we induced using modern technology) could occur "in nature" at a statistically high enough rate to have guided us from single-celled organisms to the readers of this note. This book addresses the real reasons that we end up with half-baked theories like "evolution"....politics, job-preservation, knowledge-filtering, and ego. This is a scholarly work which was sorely needed to bring to light the whole sordid history of how the theory of "evolution" came to be accepted as "fact". After thoroughly dismantling the theory of evolution, this book leaves the door open to the real question...what is the REAL origin of man?
Rating: 
Summary: Best resource for anomalous paleoanthropology- a must have!
Review: I was impressed by the thoroughness of the documentation and resource material. It is essential to good science that all of the data and background facts be available for all to evaluate. On the contrary, very few anthropology courses even suggest that this material exists. The point that the authors have well presented is that hominid paleoarcheology is one of the most subjective and "educated-guess-filled" realms of science, based on precious, relatively scarce, "hard" evidence. It is good science to continually question the favored theories; and, in general, the book is successful in its correct attempt to insert the selectively forgotten data of the history of mankind into the record for objective consideration. Any truly scientific mind should appreciate it as such.
Rating:
Summary: Archeo's don't like it!
Review: I read this book and I now debate if all text books written for high schools are a bunch of BS. Do Archologist REALLY know thier stuff or is it just a bunch of misconceptions? Its YOUR desicion, but read this book!
Rating:
Summary: very conservative
Review: I think that every archeology undergrad should find this of benefit. But don't expect Eric Von Danican. It will be slow going for most of you. But I do appreciate what the author is saying, and it's very, very valid. I even got some cartoon ideas out of it!
Rating:
Summary: Socalled scientists: wake up!
Review: Of course, the 'regular' scientists/archeologists won't like a book like this: it is not what they have learned to believe. But resistence to new visions and ideas is age-old... People who call themself 'scientist' are very often surprisingly conservative and shortsighted. Instead of finding new challenges in the finding in books like 'Forbidden Archeology', they like to hold on to what was already written down, what they were taught, feeling threatened and afraid that the info they know might be incomplete, or even wrong! But science should be an evolving event, often with REVOLUTIONS...wasn't Darwin scolded at first for instance? The world (and esp. the academic world) needs to wake up from their slumbering and open themselves to new insights. The ideas and possible conclusions posed are way too fascinating and too far reaching to simply disregard. Any scientist doing that, had better find another job... Also go read books from Robert Bauval, and Colin Wilson...there is more in the world than meets the eye...if you are open to it
Rating:
Summary: - A wake up call to question what you think you 'know'.
Review: Sometimes, a book review articulates nothing other than an opinion devoid of any substance whatsover. Is that how scientists in general - or archaeologists in particular - are "supposed to" debate on the (alleged) even playing field of the scientific process? I think not. Interestingly, we read in "Forbidden Archeology" that such reviews perfectly exhibit the responses of many paleoarchaeologists through the past hundred and more years when confronted (at the time) by evidence contrary to accepted theory. As a non-archaeologist, I found the book to be an eye-opener for those who think that science is, in fact, done fairly when orthodoxists' paradigms are threatened. In this book, we see over and over how they would throw out data that doesn't fit their paradigm rather than consider changing the theory when confronted by honest and well researched work which produces 'anomalous' finds. This book is a fantastic slap in the face for those who could use a wake up call, which I believe includes most of us. Through it, we see how the status quo goes kicking and screaming, not wanting to let go of a reality that is increasingly being shown to be inaccurate.
Rating:
Summary: Typical reaction!
Review: I am disappointed by some of the responses to alleged readers of this book, but I understand that they are typical propaganda efforts that we see so often with so many other ideas that upset people's views of the world and actually cause them to think. I have the book, I have read the book, and regardless of the author's credentials, I believe it is worth a read by other people.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantasy
Review: Speaking as an archaeologist, this book needs to be moved from a science section to the fantasy and science fiction section of the store.
| 
