#449 – Graham Hancock: Lost Civilization of the Ice Age & Ancient Human History

Graham Hancock has posited a striking hypothesis regarding human history: an advanced civilization may have existed during the last Ice Age, only to be wiped out by a global cataclysm about 12,000 years ago.

Hancock suggests there is a foundational sense of puzzlement and incompleteness in the mainstream narrative of human history.

Hancock speaks to a feeling among many that our past holds unanswered questions. He believes that mainstream archaeology's narrative feels incomplete and does not account for the long span of time during which anatomically modern humans existed without forming advanced societies. He wonders why, given that humans have been anatomically modern for at least 300,000 years, formal civilizations only began to emerge about 6,000 years ago. Hancock argues that these gaps and puzzles in the archaeological record are not mere curiosities but may point to critical lapses or overlooked aspects in our understanding of history.

Hancock hypothesizes that there may have been an advanced, seafaring civilization that existed during the last Ice Age and was destroyed in a global cataclysm around 12,000 years ago.

Hancock's hypothesis draws on various enigmas, such as the complex architectural and astronomical knowledge found in ancient sites like Göbekli Tepe. Additionally, he notes the prevalence of flood myths across cultures as potential evidence of a cataclysmic event within human memory, such as the Younger Dryas. This event, he suggests, could account for the sudden rise in sea levels and submersion of lands that were home to what might have been an advanced population.

The implications of the Giza plateau and other ancient sites

Discussing the Giza plateau, Hancock suggests that the three great pyramids may be renovations of much older structures predating dynastic Egypt. He cites the natural hill inside the Great Pyramid, which could have been regarded as the original primeval mound by ancient Egyptians. Hancock argues that the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids' alignment with specific astronomical configurations suggests a sophisticated understanding of astronomy dating back to around 10,500 BC. Additionally, the Sphinx's erosion patterns may indicate it was built around 12,500 years ago.

He also posits that survivors of this advanced Ice Age civilization might have scattered globally, seeding ancient civilizations with their advanced knowledge of astronomy, building, and navigation. Hancock points to places such as the fertile Sahara of the I ...

Graham Hancock discusses the enigmatic rise of ancient civilizations, focusing on the game-changing site of Göbekli Tepe and the global eruption of civilizations around 6,000 years ago. These topics offer intriguing challenges to the mainstream archaeological timeline of human development.

Göbekli Tepe is a game-changing archaeological site that challenges the mainstream timeline of human development.

Göbekli Tepe is the oldest known megalithic site, dating back to around 11,600 years ago, and was constructed by hunter-gatherers before the advent of agriculture in the region.

According to Hancock, Göbekli Tepe is a major megalithic site that's significantly older than previously considered the oldest megalithic sites. Its builders, whom Hancock refers to as "hunter-foragers," constructed it circa 11,600 years ago, indicating a level of organization and knowledge that predates traditionally accepted origins of civilization. The site's advanced architecture and the deliberate act of its closure and burial—being covered with earth and rubble—suggest a sophisticated level of intention.

The site's advanced architecture, sophisticated astronomical alignments, and deliberate closure and burial suggest a level of organization and knowledge that predates the traditionally accepted origins of civilization.

In discussing Göbekli Tepe, Hancock brings attention to Pillar 43 in Enclosure D, which he, alongside Martin Sweatman and Paul Burley, interprets as an astronomical diagram that memorializes a specific date 12,800 years ago, roughly 1,200 years before the established construction date. He likens Göbekli Tepe to a "Hall of Records," suggesting it contains significant information about the past, including sophisticated astronomical alignments such as those tracking the precession of the star Sirius.

The sudden and synchronous emergence of ancient civilizations around the world around 6,000 years ago is puzzling.

Major ancient civilizations like Sumer, Egypt, the Indus Valley, China, and Mesoamerica all appear to have developed at roughly the same time, despite being geographically distant.

Hancock expresses intrigue over the simultaneous rise of major civilizations such as Sumer, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China roughly 6,000 years ago—the "sudden upsurge of civilization." He observes that despite their geographical distance, these societies began exhibiting signs of civilization concurrently, suggesting that certain ideas may have been transmitted and manifested in these different civilizations.

Mainstream archaeology attributes this to independent, coincidental development, but Hancock sees this as evidence of a shared, common origin or influence.

Hancock questions the independent and simultaneous rise of these ancient civilizations proposed by mainstream archaeology, proposing instead that there might be a common connection or influence underlying these societies. He argues that the accuracy of ancient arti ...

Graham Hancock's controversial theories about humanity's ancient past are grounded in various forms of evidence and interpretations that challenge conventional historical narratives.

Hancock points to ancient myths, legends, and iconography found across cultures as potential evidence of a shared, ancient knowledge or civilization.

Hancock identifies similarities in concepts like the "path of souls" in the Milky Way across cultures such as South America, North America, Egypt, India, and Mesopotamia, which suggest the transmission of ideas from a common ancient source. He regards the widespread narrative of the afterlife as an inheritance from a distant civilization. This shared journey of the soul, echoed across different societies, indicates that life's actions determine the soul's path, a concept possibly inherited from a remote common source.

Ancient maps, like the Piri Reis map, and other Portolano maps, which seemingly depict global landmasses accurately during the last Ice Age, are considered by Hancock as a challenge to the mainstream history timeline. He finds that such maps could be evidence of a profound ancient knowledge of the globe.

Hancock also discusses the followers of Horus and the souls of Pe and Neken as secretive groups within ancient Egypt who preserved knowledge from the time of Zep Tepi. He mentions the Edfu Building Texts, which describe the seven sages—a motif he claims appears across various cultures, like the Mesopotamian seven Apkallu, indicating a dissemination of knowledge. This proposed evidence supports his theory that knowledge from an ancient, advanced civilization was preserved and transmitted over millennia.

Moreover, discussing the precision of ancient constructions, he notes the complexity of the Great Pyramid's construction, such as its internal passageways sloping at precise angles and the impossibility of its sarcophagus being moved through the entrance, which points to a sophisticated level of geometric knowledge.

Portraying the preservation of knowledge from ancient Israel as an example of how wisdom could be maintained across long periods, he compares this to the potential ways ancient Egyptians may have preserved more ancient advanced knowledge.

Hancock addresses the precession of the equinoxes, noting the occurrence of specific numbers in ancient myths worldwide, such as the number 72 and its multiples, which are embedded in various cultural narratives and monuments like the bridge to Angor Thom in Cambodia. These precessional numbers, and the broad understanding of astronomical processes they represent, he claims, could hark back to an "almost unbelievable ancestor civilization," as theorized by Santillana and von Deschend.

The Younger Dryas event, a global cataclysm around 12,800 years ago, may have been a catalyst for the destruction of an advanced Ice Age civilization.

Hancock cites the Younger Dryas event as a significant extinction event that brought the demise of the great megafauna of the Ice Age and could be the global cataclysm that many myths refer to. He believes that the survivors of this catastrophe, potentially a sophisticated civilization, could have dispersed their advanced knowledge worldwide.

The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis (YDIH) resonates with Hancock's views, suggesting that a cosmic impact triggered abrupt climate changes and extinction of megafauna, disrupting s ...

Graham Hancock discusses the profound impact that shamanism and psychedelics have had on the development of human civilization and our understanding of consciousness. He believes that the origin of many significant human advances can be traced back to shamanistic practices.

Hancock believes that shamanism may have been the origin of early human civilization and the drive towards exploration and discovery.

Hancock describes shamanism as the earliest form of science, with shamans acting as the scientists and leaders of hunter-gatherer societies. These ancient figures consistently experimented with plants in a way reminiscent of scientific inquiry, which potentially led to significant knowledge and technological advances.

He suggests that the shamanic tradition could have laid the foundation for the development of advanced navigation, astronomy, and other technologies. This hypothesis incorporates ideas from Terence McKenna and Professor David Lewis Williams, who theorized that altered states of consciousness were instrumental in awakening the modern human mind.

Hancock sees the use of psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, as potentially playing a crucial role in expanding human consciousness and accessing alternative realms of reality.

Hancock elaborates on the use of ayahuasca by shamans, noting its perceived ability to provide access to the realms of human consciousness. He shares that ayahuasca experiences often reveal an intelligent, usually feminine presence known as Mother Ayahuasca, who imparts moral lessons. The ability of this plant brew to prompt deep self-reflection and moral responsibility is highlighted as an extraordinary phenomenon.

Psychedelics, which include ayahuasca, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms, are seen by Hancock as essential tools for accessing mysterious realms of reality. The experiences these substances provide at sufficient dosages may facilitate encounters with "sentient others," and these encounters might have inspired the development of mythologies, religions, and moral frameworks that underpin human civilization.

The Western interest in ayahuasca has connections to the Amazonian tradition, with Hancock discussing similar brews like yaje, containing 5-MeO DMT. Further, he mentions studies where volunteers are given DMT to extend their peak state and understand consistent encounters with sentient beings during these altered states.

Hancock also connects these experiences to the potential impact on societal leadership. He speculates that if politicians underwent the aya ...

Graham Hancock discusses his personal views on death and its relationship to consciousness, revealing a curiosity that tends toward metaphysical speculation rather than fear.

Hancock does not fear death, but rather sees it as the beginning of a "next great adventure."

Hancock articulates a nuanced view of death, expressing that he doesn’t fear death itself, which he sees as potentially marking the start of a new, significant journey. His concerns lie more with the potential pain and decline due to old age or illness, which can bring humiliation and agony. He is more concerned with the suffering associated with the process leading to death rather than the end of life itself.

He is open to the possibility of the continuation of consciousness after death, potentially through mechanisms like reincarnation, which he sees as a plausible idea based on research into children's memories of past lives.

Hancock is intrigued by the idea of reincarnation, likely influenced by the work of researchers such as Ian Stevenson, who studied children’s memories that suggested past lives. Stevenson’s research revealed that some children could recall living details from previous existences. Hancock finds these studies and theories plausible, which influences his openness to the possibility that our consciousness does not end with death but continues in another form.

Hancock believes that consciousness is not solely generated by the brain, but may be a fundamental aspect of the universe that the brain is capable of receiving and expressing.

Hancock proposes an alternative perspective on consciousness, arguing that it may not be a product of brain activity but something more intrinsic to the universe itself. He likens the brain to a receiver, suggesting it is capable of tapping into a pre-existing stream of consciousness and expressing it.

He suggests that altered states of consciousness, facilitated by psychedelics, may provide access to parallel realms of consciousness and sentience that are not normally accessible in our everyday, problem-solving state of consciousness.

Further exploring consciousness, Hancock delves into the importance of altered states, often facilitated by the use of psychedelics such as ayahuasca or DMT. These substances, according to Hancock, might enable humans to experience parallel realities populated by non-physical consciousness entities that are generally not accessible in our typical waking state. He discusses his own experiences and alludes to ...