Rating:  Summary: Reactions to Forbidden Archeology Review: Readers interested in scientific reactions to Forbidden Archeology may want to check out my recently released book Forbidden Archeology's Impact, which includes all reviews from scientific publications and my responses.
Rating:  Summary: Forbidden Archaeology or just wishful thinking? Review: Anyone interested in the origins of humankind and the physical evidence of the past should avoid this book until they have a firm grasp of the philosophy and methodologies of science. The 'evidence' presented invariabley lacks suitable provenance and would not be admitted in any law court since it takes the form of heresay or conjecture. Virtually all of the data presented fails the following tests, as required by science: 1) are the 'sites' real? That is, are there no alternative explanations for these patterns? 2) are the artifacts definitely the result of human manufacture or are they 'geofacts' or 'ecofacts' ... materials which nature sporadically produces which appear to resemble intentional human manufacture and/or use? 3) is the evidence reliably dated? Can the dates be independently verified and tested? 4) where was the information originally published? Unfortunately, unless data can be independently verified and tested science cannot accept it. If all four of the above criteria can be independently verified through scientific inquiry, then the hypothesis (the working explanation or the data) can be accepted. Unfortunately, the evidence presented in this book fails most of the above tests and must be rejected. I would avoid this book since it is 'anti-scientific' in its approach ... regardless of the position taken by the authors. A hint ... check the authors' credentials. Stanley A. Copp
Rating:  Summary: Don't read--may cause you to think. Review: This book is a must read for anyone interested
in human origins. We've been told over and
over that the fossil record supports the theory
of evolution, but Thompson and Cremo
demonstrate otherwise. Don't believe what they
say? The book is fully documented so it is easy
enough to check what they say. My own conversations with dedicated evolutionists
about the book reveal that they
1) Haven't read the book, but dismiss it anyway,
2) Misrepresent what the book says, or
3) Rely on refutations that misrepresent original
sources.
The only failing of the book is that it doesn't provide
an alternate explanation for the fossil record
Rating:  Summary: Impeccable research demands complete revamp of human origins Review: A level-headed, painstakingly researched tome documenting the systematic suppression of paleontological evidence militating against currently popular theories of human evolution. A chilling, non-sensationalistic look at the "sloppiness" and general lack of integrity of members of the scientific establishment who, in their devotion to defending the current models of human origins, reject or ignore unwelcome data - much of it seemingly impeccably researched - that would throw much of their field into utter confusion.
The sheer volume and detailed discussion of "anomolous" data compiled in this book is staggering: traces of the hand of man (tools, etc.) found in strata millions of years before his supposed appearance on the evolutionary scene; off-the-cuff dismissals of such evidence by influential scientists for sometimes contradictory reasons (and sometimes almost none at all, save that "it simply cannot be"); the findings of distinguished, top-notch scientists ridiculed and being branded as heresy for going against the prevailing wisdom.
It is instructive that most scientists today are totally unaware of the controversial evidence presented here, even in their fields of specialty. If we are able to do as the authors ask and evaluate the evidence as it stands without prejudice against their (eastern) religious beliefs, we might well find that the underpinnings for their belief in the great antiquity of the human race is at least as solid as that of the ruling paradigm - and probably even more so. Even if we do not agree with their conclusions, an open-minded inquiry into these findings will certainly show current theories to be, at best, serious negligence in blissful ignorance - Mr. Magoo in a lab coat - or, at worst, anti-science.
Rating:  Summary: Be Careful Review: Cremo and Thompson are known for their slanted views of archeology formed from Hindu theology. What they claim as fact, others have shown as false. Certainly, this is not the "hidden history of the human race." I suggest you check the web for resources. (Geologist, writer, and former professor)
Rating:  Summary: A Call for the Return of Science Review: (This is an edit of my previous review which has mysteriously reverted to "a reader.") A level-headed, painstakingly researched tome documenting the systematic suppression of paleontological evidence militating against currently popular theories of human evolution. A chilling, non-sensationalistic look at the "sloppiness" and general lack of integrity of members of the scientific establishment who, in their devotion to defending the current models of human origins, reject or ignore unwelcome data - much of it seemingly impeccably researched - that would throw much of their field into (even more) utter confusion. It is hilarious and tragic to see this book being ridiculed by "reviewers" who have obviously never read it, but another symptom of the close-mindedness of the keepers of evolutionist dogma, as lamented by Richard Milton ("Shattering the Myths of Darwinism"). Now that their religion has been debunked by Behe's "Darwin's Black Box," it remains to be seen their level of true scientific curiosity as regards Cremo & Thompson's findings. There are the howls about Cremo's religion. Do they reject Newtonian physics because of Newton's creationist beliefs? Do they likewise pooh-pooh the contributions of Lister, Pasteur, Boyle, Maxwell, Peirce? Cremo admits his beliefs up front, and never do they impinge on his detailed, sober analyses in this book. They would do better to reject Darwinism ("[T]he literalists are absolutely right. Evolution is a religion" - M. Ruse, atheist), a religion whose adherents see fit to fit false feet to fossils ("Lucy" was modeled with human feet and hands for public consumption although she was known to have had apelike ones). Any objective reading will show that Cremo is ironically more scientific than his detractors, and has a thorough grasp of the subject matter. The sheer volume and detailed discussion of "anomalous" data compiled in this book is staggering: traces of the hand of man (tools, etc.) found in strata millions of years before his supposed appearance on the evolutionary scene; off-the-cuff dismissals of such evidence by influential scientists for sometimes contradictory reasons (and sometimes almost none at all!); the findings of distinguished, top-notch scientists ridiculed and being branded as heresy for going against the prevailing dogma. It is instructive that most scientists today are totally unaware of the controversial evidence presented here, even in their fields of specialty. If we are able to do as the authors ask and evaluate the evidence as it stands without prejudice against their (eastern) religious beliefs, we might well find that the underpinnings for their belief in the great antiquity of the human race is at least as solid as that of the ruling paradigm - and probably even more so. Even if we do not agree with their conclusions (I don't), an open-minded inquiry into these findings will certainly show current theories to be, at best, seriously negligent in blissful ignorance - Mr. Magoo in a lab coat - or, at worst, anti-science. Remember, Piltdown was "scientifically" worshipped as our ancestor for near 40 years. Whereas science may be self-correcting, evolutionists are obviously somewhat deficient in this regard.
Rating:  Summary: A Unique and in-depth study of an "Untouchable" Subject. Review: Oh, if only we could see all the data generated by Scientists! But alas, that is never the case. Especially in regions governed by the Ivory Tower. Publish findings that will help you keep your job...and discard all else. Well, this book is but some of the items from the discard pile. It will make you think and open your eyes. Maybe give you a headache too, but don't say that I didn't warn you!
Rating:  Summary: Creationism from left field Review: This is a large book that begins with the authors exhortations to his "Spiritual Master" the "Divine Grace Swami" blah blah blah. Clearly someone who is a spiritual slave cannot be an independent thinker and in this Cremo does not dissapoint. This book reminds me of two things: First, the tactic used by Conservative Christian talk show hosts who talk over their guests incessantly to cover the trail left by their weak arguements and shallow grasp of facts; Secondly, it reminds me of the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail which covers such a variety of fields that it is impossible to fact check by the layman and therefore extremely popular with those of us missing the seven PhD's necessary to even begin to question the book.
The tactic of flooding the unprepared defense with paperwork is a time honored, and universally despised practice of lawyers with lots of time and money and little regard for the truth. It's one that the authors here use to their advantage with equal facility.
Rating:  Summary: Still believe in Darwin? Review: Now when "the Hobbit", i.e. Homo Floresiensis, was discovered, now when even the official archaeology and paleoanthropology accept the fact that some 30 to 50 thousand years ago there existed (and co-existed) at least (at least - since we know those "hobbits" were around Indonesia islands as recently as 12 thousand years ago) three human species: Homo Sapiens, Homo Neanderthalensis and the Ngandong Homo Erectus (the Asian branch of Homo Erectus), does still the human evolution look to some as something strictly linear and so much gradual? Does still anyone believe in Darwin, an evolution, and simplistic linear models?
The answer is yes, many still do, since it always takes time to know and get used to something new that at times contradict a widely accepted scientific dogma.
The book by Cremo and Thompson is never a panacea or the answer to all the questions about human origins. It is rather just a good chance to start thinking of man's past a little more freely, a little less standardly.
And while the great antiquity of man (leaving aside the "devolution") may still be left as a big question to many (and a matter for a further investigation to others), the idea of the co-existence of different human species in the remote and recent past has been proved to be true already.
This century will, hopefully, bring much more discoveries concerning the human origins and history. It will never take long for most of us to understand that man, just like any other animal, in the process of the evolution should rather have followed the very same general trends (some of which are still not understood by science) that were taken by thousands and may be millions of other animals' species. And if it is difficult to imagine a linear model of evolution (anda single-species existence) of a bird, or a mammal, or an insect species, then it should be as much difficult to see a single line of man progress and believe that only one human species must have existed at a time.
The reality is much more striking and unexpected than the ideas developed by the authors of "Forbidden Archaeology". Even the H.Floresiensis case clearly shows that we can easily find so much new and unknown only fifteen feet underground: now we know that a human species being isolated, just again as any other animal, may evolve in unpredictable courses, and, what is more groundbreaking and almost heretical, a brain size (considering the minimal brain capacity of "the Hobbit") does not matter in terms of doing anything intelligent.
More news form modern archaeology and we find out that even official representatives of the science start to finally put humans in North America at least 50000 years ago, which is, to say least, just revolutionary.
More news about human's history, more news about us. The best one is we get wiser, we tend to quit being narrow-minded and scared of the new.
Rating:  Summary: The best book on archaeology I've ever read. Review: Although the subject of this book exposes the authors to injury by the scurrilous slugs of humanity, the authors have unselfishly forged ahead and brought to us a brilliant and informative work. This book is a must read for every informed person on this planet.
There are humans in this world who contribute to the human condition. Then there are those who detract. Some do so with selfish motives and use amoral tactics. I consider these people to be the scourge of humanity. They twist the truth, lie and cheat, and in doing so they deprive the good people of this world of greatly beneficial information. The authors of this book have done us a great service while placing their person's at risk. They are my heroes.
|