Graham Hancock argues an ancient culture in Antarctica was obliterated — but subjects such as astronomy and mathematics were passed to later civilisations.
By Sarah Ridley, Mirror
The author of a controversial new book claims a comet struck the Earth nearly 13,000 years ago and wiped out a highly advanced ancient civilisation.
When Graham Hancock wrote Fingerprints of the Gods, it was derided by academics but became a commercial sensation.
He argued an ancient culture in Antarctica was obliterated – but subjects such as astronomy and mathematics were passed to later civilisations.
Despite selling an estimated 3m copies, a BBC Horizon programme sought to demolish his theory.
Paul V Heinrich, a US geologist, wrote:
“Rather than stumbling upon an archaeological mystery, he has merely created one.”
Now, 20 years later, he is set to publish a 500-page sequel — Magicians of the Gods — that he believes will prove his critics wrong.
Citing scientific and archaeological research, Hancock, a former journalist, told the Sunday Times:
“In 1995, I wrote a book about all the clues — the fingerprints — that pointed to the existence of this lost civilisation. But what I lacked was a smoking gun. Now we have it.
“A series of papers in geophysics and geological journals have been bringing forward evidence that the Earth was indeed hit by a comet 12,800 years ago, which is exactly what I proposed in my book.”
Hancock argues that the existence of the comet has been masked because it struck ice and did not leave a crater.
But he acknowledges that many will ridicule his new book, which is to be published in September.
