EARTHQUEST NEWS

Magazine Overview

Title: EARTHQUEST NEWS
Issue: Vol. 5, No. 2
Date: Autumn 2002
Publisher: Andrew Collins
Description: A newsletter from Andrew Collins, covering topics related to ancient mysteries, archaeology, and ufology.

Questing Conference and New Book Launch

The newsletter announces the upcoming Questing Conference, with details on speakers, lectures, and ticket information. It also promotes the launch of a new book by Andrew Collins and Chris Ogilvie-Herald titled "Tutankhamun – The Exodus Conspiracy," available for purchase and with a free lecture scheduled at Leigh Library.

ARE Ancient Mysteries Conference 2002

Andrew Collins recounts his attendance at the 'Ancient Mysteries and Modern Discoveries 2002' conference in Virginia Beach, hosted by the Association of Research and Enlightenment (ARE). He delivered a keynote lecture on Plato's Atlantis, its connection to Cuba and the Bahamas, and its relation to Edgar Cayce's work. Collins describes the ARE building, its hospital founded by Cayce, and the extensive library of Cayce's readings. The conference featured lectures by John van Auken on Edgar Cayce's vision of the ancient world and by Greg Little on advancements in understanding North and South American prehistory through the lens of Cayce's readings. Edgar Evans Cayce, son of Edgar Cayce, also participated in a Q&A session.

Mitochondrial DNA and Human Migration

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to a lecture by Greg Little on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The article explains how mtDNA, inherited from the mother, has revolutionized the study of human evolution and migration over the past 200,000 years. It discusses the concept of 'Mitochondrial Eve' and the spread of human populations from Africa. The findings suggest that humans arrived in the Americas much earlier than the previously accepted date of 9500 BC, with evidence pointing to arrivals as early as 30,000 BC, and potentially even 200,000 to 300,000 BP. The article also touches upon the controversial idea of European migrations, specifically the potential link between the Solutrean culture of Europe and the Clovis culture of North America, supported by the detection of haplogroup X.

mtDNA in Atlantis and Mu

Greg Little's research explores the possibility that certain mtDNA haplogroups, like haplogroup X and haplogroup B, might have originated in Atlantis or the lost continent of Mu. Haplogroup X is found in regions associated with Atlantean migrations according to Edgar Cayce, while haplogroup B appears frequently in East Asia, the South Pacific, and South America. The presence of haplogroup B in Polynesian populations and its potential origin from an unknown Pacific region supports the theory of a former landmass in the Pacific, aligning with Cayce's concept of Mu.

Gateway to Atlantis and Cuba

Andrew Collins discusses his lecture on the discovery of a potential lost city off the coast of Cuba by Advanced Digital Communications (ADC). While acknowledging the impressive sonar images, he calls for more definitive evidence of artificial construction. Collins then deconstructs Plato's Atlantis story, suggesting it might be based on inhabited Atlantic islands known to Phoenician and Carthaginian mariners. He proposes that Cuba, identified as the mysterious island of Antillia or the Island of the Seven Cities, fits Plato's description of Atlantis. The creation myths of Mesoamerican peoples, speaking of ancestors emerging from the 'Seven Caves,' are linked to this theory. The Punta del Este cave complex in Cuba is presented as a potential analogue to Chicomoztoc, with petroglyphs possibly representing a comet impact.

The 1951 ECOS Article and Atlantean Connections

A Cuban archaeological theory from a 1952 ECOS magazine article, 'Formó Cuba Parte de la Atlándida?', is discussed. The article suggested that Cuba might have been part of Atlantis, with archaeologists finding evidence of artificial cranial deformation, step monuments, and methods of cutting large rocks. Egerton Sykes' translation of this article and its connection to Ignatius Donnelly's work on Atlantis are highlighted. The article also mentions Nazi searches for Atlantis in Venezuela and Haiti.

Edgar Cayce's Psychic Quest and Bimini

The newsletter revisits Edgar Cayce's interest in Bimini, where he predicted parts of the continent Poseidia would rise. This led to ARE's efforts to find evidence of Atlantis in the Bahamas, resulting in the discovery of the Bimini Road site and rectangular foundations. The connection between the Bahaman landmass and Cuba is emphasized, with similarities noted in submerged caves and petroglyphs.

Gantenbrink's Door and Egyptian Discoveries

Information is provided about the upcoming opening of Gantenbrink's Door in the Great Pyramid, to be broadcast by the National Geographic Channel. The event will also feature the opening of a sarcophagus in the Tombs of the Workers. The 'Egyptian Hall of Records' project at the Giza Plateau is also mentioned, with ongoing attempts to find underground chambers using radar technology.

Other Mentions

The newsletter briefly mentions Ian Lawton's new book 'GENESIS UNVEILED' being available online and the general apathy of UK publishers towards the ancient mysteries market, contrasting it with the booming market in the USA.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of ancient civilizations, particularly Atlantis, and its potential connections to Cuba and the Bahamas. The role of archaeological evidence, genetic research (mtDNA), and historical texts in understanding human origins and past cataclysms is central. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these mysteries, encouraging further research and documentation while maintaining a critical perspective on claims, as seen in the discussion of the ADC discoveries and the deconstruction of Plato's Atlantis narrative. There is a strong emphasis on the work of Edgar Cayce and Andrew Collins' own research and lectures.