BREVCIRKELN

Magazine Overview

This document, titled "BREVCIRKELN" and identified as "Serie C -- brev nr 3" with volume designation "C-3", presents a geological argument for the existence of the lost continent of Atlantis. The main cover headline is "ATLANTIS – EN GEOLOGISK REALITET" (Atlantis – A Geological Reality).

Atlantis as a Geological Reality

The article begins by referencing the late 19th-century laying of a telegraph cable between Lisbon and Madeira, which was repeatedly broken. Investigations revealed the cable was snagged on two "sub-oceanic mountain ridges" that exerted immense tension. These underwater mountains are described as rising steeply from thousands of meters deep, akin to the Matterhorn or Monte Rosa above the Alps. The authors propose that the Central Atlantic Ridge, an S-shaped underwater mountain range, is the best evidence for the existence of a sunken Atlantis.

Internationally known oceanographer Hans Pettersson is quoted stating that the islands rising from this ridge are volcanic in nature, from Iceland in the north to Bouvet Island in the south. He emphasizes the significant volcanic activity along the entire Central Atlantic Ridge, particularly its equatorial section and around the Azores. A profile map, attributed to Donnelly, illustrates the "Atlantis" ridge, showing the Azores as the highest peaks. If the Azores Plateau were drained, it would resemble a lunar landscape.

Critiques and Support for Donnelly's Theory

The article notes that since the publication of Donnelly's book, "Atlantis the Antediluvian World" in 1882, the scientific community has systematically attempted to discredit his evidence. Despite these efforts, Donnelly's work is presented as having laid the groundwork for ongoing research into the Atlantis problem, remaining relevant 80 years later.

Professor P. Thermier, a prominent scientist and president of the French Geological Society, is introduced as a figure who revived hope among Atlantis believers. In 1913, Thermier presented a lecture in Paris suggesting that the Azores Plateau was a sunken continent of considerable size that had sunk approximately 9000 years before Solon's journey to Egypt. His theory was supported by a sensational finding: a piece of bedrock from off the Azores, examined by Thermier, consisted of glassy volcanic lava. Crucially, the lava's surface showed no signs of erosion from seawater, leading Thermier to conclude it must have solidified above water, surrounded by air. He deduced that this piece of lava could not have been submerged for more than 15,000 years.

Thermier drew three main conclusions from this finding:
1. Powerful volcanic eruptions must have occurred in the area.
2. A significant sea-level change must have taken place, causing an area previously above sea level to sink to a depth of about 3000 meters.
3. The catastrophe could not have occurred earlier than about 15,000 years ago, and possibly later, aligning with Plato's timeline for the destruction of Atlantis.

The article acknowledges that Thermier was labeled a "madman" by some colleagues for these radical conclusions, illustrating the adage that truth is often unwelcome.

Further Geological Evidence

Even without Thermier's findings, the article argues, there is sufficient evidence that the Central Atlantic Ridge was above water relatively recently. The sediment layers on the ridge are often only 10 cm thick. Given that sediment deposition occurs at a rate of about 1 cm per 1000 years, this indicates significant geological activity in the Atlantic in recent times.

Dr. Rene Malaise of the Swedish Museum of Natural History is mentioned for an article in the journal "Ymer" on September 22, 1956, concerning oceanographer P.W. Kolbe. While collecting sediment samples in the Atlantic at a depth of 12,000 feet, Kolbe unexpectedly found diatoms belonging to freshwater types. This finding could only be explained if the Central Atlantic Ridge had been above water ten to twelve thousand years ago.

The Peopling of America

The article then shifts to the question of how America was populated, challenging the prevailing theory of migration from Asia via the Bering Strait. It suggests that this theory is used by experts to avoid accepting the possibility of a sunken Atlantis.

Anthropological estimates for the arrival of humans in North America have been revised over time, from between 3000 and 3500 years ago to later dates, but always post-Ice Age. However, recent evidence suggests humans were in America during the last Ice Age.

A significant discovery was made in March 1956 by an amateur archaeologist in Dallas: the "Lewisville Man." According to C-14 dating, this individual was 37,000 years old. This finding caused consternation among professional archaeologists, who then questioned the reliability of the C-14 dating method.

The article explains the C-14 dating process: living organisms absorb radioactive carbon-14 from the atmosphere. When an organism dies, this absorption stops, and the existing C-14 begins to decay at a known rate, allowing for the calculation of the time of death.

The Lewisville Man discovery was a blow to the theory of Asian migration. Earlier suspicions about the theories of ancient American cultures were also raised by findings of mammoth and elephant fossils in North and Central American rock paintings, as these animals died out during the Ice Age. The presence of humans alongside mammoths is now explained by the theory that humans existed in America concurrently with these extinct animals.

Atlantis as the Origin of American Civilization

The article posits that America was populated from Atlantis. This is supported by the fact that some ancient American tribes used metal tools while people in Europe and Asia were still in the Stone Age. It is suggested that Atlanteans brought plants and animals with them when they colonized America, and subsequently Europe and Africa, explaining the similarities between these continents.

Flora and Fauna Evidence

The flora found in Europe's Miocene epoch fossil layers, abundant in Switzerland, is also found in America. Professor Ása Grey noted that many of these plants are found on the eastern side of America but fewer on the Pacific coast, suggesting they "invaded" America from the Atlantic side.

The banana is presented as a major enigma. Professor Küntze questions how this tropical plant, native to Asia and Africa, could have been transported to America, as it cannot survive temperate climates, lacks seeds for propagation, and has roots like a tree, making transport difficult without special care.

The article suggests that the banana was cultivated by the people of Atlantis and spread from their agricultural colonies. The development of a seedless fruit would have taken thousands of years.

Horse and Indigenous Traditions

It is suggested that horses may have emigrated early from Atlantis to America, or perhaps originated in America and reached Europe via Atlantis. An interesting find in Nebraska revealed fossil layers containing intermediate forms of horse evolution, suggesting a land bridge connection was necessary for the horse's presence in Europe.

Indigenous traditions also support the Atlantis theory. The Aztecs came from a place called Aztlan (Atlantis). Iowa and Dakota Native Americans believed, according to Major J. Lind, that all tribes originated from a single continent in the east, which they sailed from in large ships, reaching dry land after weeks at sea.

Atlantean Influence on Indigenous Cultures

The article cites the example of the god Quetzalcoatl, who, according to Toltec tradition (predecessors of the Aztecs), was sent from Atlantis to help colonized peoples. He taught the Toltecs to use letters, cultivate grain, and cut gemstones. Quetzalcoatl is described as a tall, white man with a beard, not typical of indigenous peoples. He arrived from the east in a snakeskin canoe and departed the same way, promising to return.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the document is the geological and anthropological evidence supporting the existence of Atlantis as a real, sunken continent. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of this theory, presenting arguments from oceanography, geology, paleontology, and archaeology, while critically examining and often dismissing conventional scientific explanations that do not accommodate the Atlantis hypothesis. The document champions alternative interpretations of scientific data, highlighting the resistance of mainstream science to unconventional ideas and emphasizing the importance of evidence that supports the Atlantis narrative. The author, Gert Carlsson, concludes by linking Atlantean civilization to the development of agriculture, metallurgy, and the spread of flora and fauna across continents.