PaleoSeti Magazine - No 11

Magazine Overview

PaleoSeti Magazine Issue 11, published in April 2017, marks a transition to a pay-per-issue model at US$1.50, citing the significant time commitment required for production. The magazine, subtitled 'The magazine for Ancient Astronaut & Lost Civilizations research ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES, CULTURES AND ADVENTURE,' is edited by Herbert Eisengruber and published by Eisen gruber Publishing.

Letter from the Editor

Herbert Eisengruber welcomes readers to Issue 11, explaining the decision to move from free to paid issues due to the demanding nature of producing the content. He expresses hope that readers will find the unique content worth the price. Eisengruber highlights the key articles in this issue: a deep dive into Jade, the 'Stone of Kings,' and an examination of the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek mechanical puzzle. He also teases future content, promising more ancient mysteries and encouraging readers to explore the past as a source of calm in a negative world.

Contents

The issue features several articles, including:

• Letter from the Editor (Page 2)
• Masthead (Page 2)
• Contents (Page 3)
• Jade - The Stone of Kings (Page 4)
• The Antikythera Mechanism - Out of Place, Out of Time (Page 15)
• Misunderstood Technology? Ancient Computer Terminals (Page 26)
• Book and Film recommendations (Page 29)
• Next Issue (Page 30)

The cover image is accompanied by a note about the ancient ruins of Mesa Verde in the USA, and their astronomical connections.

Jade! The Stone of Kings

This extensive article, authored by Herbert Eisengruber, explores the profound significance of Jade across various ancient cultures. It begins by acknowledging the general fascination with gemstones for status, beauty, and practical uses, citing Obsidian as an example of a mineral used for tools. The article references a previous discussion on Quartz in Issue 6 and then focuses on Jade, a stone that held special attention globally.

Jade Facts and Origins

According to Wikipedia, Jade is an ornamental green rock, referring to two metamorphic rocks: Nephrite and Jadeite. Both have a Mohs Hardness of 6.5-7. Jadeite is found in rocks, pebbles, and boulders, with significant deposits in Myanmar and Guatemala, and also in Japan and the western US. Nephrite's largest deposits are in China, Central Asia, and Myanmar, with later discoveries in Russia, Siberia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, and the USA. While Jade comes in various colors, green is the most common, with rare shades like imperial green being highly valuable. Historically, Jade was considered very special, particularly by ancient Mesoamerican peoples (Maya, Aztec) who called it the 'Stone of Kings,' and by ancient Asian cultures (India, Japan, Korea, China) who associated it with gods, royalty, wealth, good fortune, and luck.

Jade's Historical Significance

The article notes that while Jade is not as practically useful as diamonds, its demand remains high due to historical reasons. In Asian markets, Jade jewelry fetches high prices, and it is also prized in Latin America. A visit to a Jade factory in Guatemala is mentioned, highlighting the industry's importance. The article debunks the misconception that Jade is always green, noting its availability in various shades. It emphasizes that Jade's ancient significance was profound, with many cultures viewing it as a stone connected to the divine.

The Connection to Ancient Technologies and Destruction

The article then pivots to explore whether Jade possesses other special properties that connect it to the 'gods' and ancient kings. It delves into ancient scripts and holy books, particularly the Hindu texts of the Mahabarata and Ramayana, which describe advanced technologies used by 'gods' in ancient times. Two specific weapons are detailed: the Brahmastra, described as capable of releasing millions of missiles and great fires, comparable to a nuclear weapon; and the Brahmashirsha astra, an even more destructive weapon, likened to a modern hydrogen or thermonuclear bomb.

Trinitite and Nuclear Parallels

Eisengruber draws a parallel between these ancient destructive weapons and modern nuclear technology. He recounts a personal experience driving through New Mexico and visiting the Trinity National Historic Site, the location of the first nuclear explosion on July 16, 1945. He describes encountering roadside businesses selling 'Local Trinitite,' a greenish, glassy substance formed from melted sand and rocks due to the extreme heat and pressure of the explosion. This substance, once advertised as 'Bomb-site Jewelry,' resembles raw Jade. The article notes that Trinitite-like substances and glasses are found at ancient sites like Mohenjo-Daro, in the Gobi desert, and in places like Libya, often without the presence of meteor impact craters, which are typically associated with such glassy residues.

The 'Flash Event' Hypothesis

The article discusses the work of Steven Collins, who excavated Tall el-Hammam in Jordan, a site believed to match the biblical description of Sodom. Collins's team found evidence of a 'flash event' that heated pottery so rapidly that its surface turned to glass, a phenomenon material engineers suggest is similar to what happens when sand is subjected to a nuclear blast. The absence of impact craters at these ancient sites, despite the presence of Trinitite-like substances, leads to a thought experiment: Could ancient civilizations have witnessed nuclear explosions, associated the resulting green stones (Jade) with the 'gods,' and thus created a mythological narrative around these events and artifacts?

The Antikythera Mechanism - Out of Place, Out of Time

This section, starting on page 15, likely delves into the details of the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek artifact discovered in the early 20th century. Its complexity and advanced nature for its time suggest a level of technological understanding that challenges conventional historical timelines, potentially linking to themes of lost or advanced ancient civilizations.

Misunderstood Technology? Ancient Computer Terminals

Beginning on page 26, this article explores the possibility that certain ancient artifacts might be interpreted as forms of 'ancient computer terminals.' This suggests a re-evaluation of ancient artifacts through the lens of advanced technology, potentially connecting to the magazine's broader themes of ancient astronaut theories and lost civilizations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of PaleoSeti Magazine revolve around the reinterpretation of ancient history through the lens of advanced technologies, extraterrestrial influence, and lost civilizations. The magazine consistently questions conventional archaeological and historical narratives, proposing that ancient peoples possessed knowledge and capabilities far beyond what is commonly accepted. The editorial stance, as articulated by Herbert Eisengruber, is one of exploration and discovery, seeking to uncover hidden truths about humanity's past and stimulate the mind. There is a clear interest in connecting ancient myths and artifacts to phenomena like advanced weaponry and potentially extraterrestrial intervention, as evidenced by the discussion of Jade, ancient texts, and nuclear parallels.

This issue of Paleoseti, identified as issue 11, features two main articles: one exploring the potential non-decorative purposes of ancient Chinese jade burial suits and another detailing the discovery and complexity of the Antikythera Mechanism. The magazine is published by Paleoseti and includes contributions from Herbert Eisengruber.

Jade: More Than Just Decoration?

The article begins by questioning the common perception of Jade, particularly its association with 'pure Trinitite' and its value as an ornamental stone. It delves into the definition of Nephrite, highlighting its composition as a microcrystalline fibrous matrix of calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole minerals, including actinolite, which is a form of asbestos. The article notes the historical use of asbestos for its flame and heat resistant properties, particularly from the late 1800s onwards, and its continued health risks.

It then poses the question of whether Jade was used in ancient times for purposes beyond decoration, given its durability. The article recounts the discovery in China, starting in 1968, of complete jade burial suits found in graves from ancient Chinese dynasties. These suits are described as stunning in their workmanship, covering the body from head to toe, with details like glove-like hands. They are made from hundreds of jade pieces tightly woven with durable silk thread and appear remarkably well-preserved.

While generally considered burial suits for Chinese Emperors, the article speculates if they served a different primary purpose. It draws a parallel to Egyptian pharaohs being buried with important items, suggesting that the jade suits might have had a functional role during the owner's life. The article further references the 'Jade mask of Pakal the Great' from Palenque, depicted with flames shooting from a 'craft,' questioning if this mask was more than just decoration or a burial item, and if it provided protection from heat or other 'undesirable side effects of a technical nature.' The author poses these as questions requiring further research.

The Antikythera Mechanism: Out of Place, Out of Time

This article, written by Herbert Eisengruber, recounts the discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism. It begins by setting the scene in the early 20th century, a period of scientific progress and archaeological excitement, particularly in Egypt. The discovery was made by a party of six sponge fishermen from Rhodes in 1900, who were forced to anchor near the almost uninhabited island of Antikythera due to an upcoming storm.

While diving for sponges in the waters around Antikythera, one of the divers, Elias Stadiatis, spotted what appeared to be the outline of a large shipwreck at a depth of about 45 meters. He also observed ancient amphoras, a common sign of old shipwrecks, and then, more excitingly, a pile of bronze and marble statues.

The crew marked the site and returned with a life-sized arm of a bronze statue as proof of their find. This led to several recovery expeditions mounted by the Greek Archaeological Society and the Greek Archaeological Museum in Athens, where most of the recovered artifacts are housed. The shipwreck yielded a wealth of items, including pottery, amphoras, statues, and sculptures.

Among the artifacts examined by archaeologist Valerios Stais was a strange 'rock' with gears embedded in it. He was perplexed, comparing its appearance to an astronomical clock, but concluded the gears were too complex for the time of the other shipwreck finds, suggesting a later origin. The artifact was mentioned in a few papers but then disappeared into the vault of the National Museum of Athens for about 50 years.

In 1951, Yale University Professor and science historian Derek de Solla Price became interested in the item after finding notes about it. Over the next 20 years, he studied the artifact, culminating in the publication 'Gears from the Greeks – The Antikythera Mechanism. A calendar Computer from ca. 80 B.C.' Price, along with Greek nuclear physicist Charalampos Karakalos, used X-Ray and Gamma Ray imaging to study the artifact in detail without damage. The 82 X-ray images revealed the mechanism's complexity, consisting of fine and extremely complex gearing, with Greek writing on many fragments, symbols, and holes for levers and handles. It was likely housed in a wooden box, and material analysis indicated the gears were made from bronze.

Professor de Solla Price dated the mechanism back to at least 80 B.C. The complexity of the device stunned scientists, who counted at least 30 different gears of various sizes. The book 'Gears of the Greeks' painstakingly reconstructs and recalculates its function. The article emphasizes that machines comparable in complexity to the Antikythera Mechanism were not seen again until the invention of astronomical clocks in the 1400s.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores ancient mysteries, advanced ancient technologies, and alternative interpretations of historical artifacts and texts. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, encouraging readers to question conventional historical narratives and consider possibilities beyond established scientific and archaeological consensus. The articles often highlight unexplained phenomena or artifacts that challenge our understanding of ancient capabilities, suggesting a fascination with the potential for lost knowledge and advanced civilizations in the past. The inclusion of references and citations indicates an effort to ground these explorations in research, even when posing speculative questions.

This issue of PaleoSeti Magazine, titled "GEARS FROM THE GREEKS", issue number 21, dated February 2017, focuses on ancient technologies and theories surrounding lost civilizations. The cover prominently features the Antikythera Mechanism, described as a calendar computer from circa 80 B.C., with a subtitle highlighting its complexity and origin.

The Antikythera Mechanism: A Calendar Computer

The main article delves into the Antikythera Mechanism, a complex device reconstructed through modern computer models and replicas. It explains how the mechanism, operated by a hand-crank, drives various gear sets to model astronomical phenomena. The Sun gear (b1/b2) drives the date/mean sun pointer. The Moon train, featuring an epicyclic gear system with gears k1 and k2, models the moon's elliptical orbit and phases, achieving a synodic month period of 29.53 days, remarkably close to the modern value. The Metonic, Olympiad, Callippic, Saros, and Exeligmos trains are also detailed, each calculating different astronomical cycles with impressive accuracy for their time. The article notes that some gears (m3, n1-3, p1-2, and q1) did not survive the wreckage, and their functions were deduced. The mechanism is credited with calculating planetary movements, sun and moon positions, lunar anomalies, eclipses, and other calendar functions, all originating from around 80 B.C., with some estimates pushing the date back to 200 B.C.

The Uniqueness of the Antikythera Mechanism

The author emphasizes the Antikythera Mechanism's unique status, noting its lack of any documented predecessors or similar devices in ancient literature. This stands in contrast to other technological advancements like cars or computers, which show a clear evolutionary progression. The article posits that for the mechanism to be built, its creators must have possessed advanced knowledge of planetary motions, a heliocentric solar system, basic gravitational laws, and complex mathematics for gearings and ratios. While the Greeks had sophisticated scientific knowledge and mathematics, the precision required for manufacturing such a device by hand is highlighted as a significant challenge, suggesting it was likely a collaborative effort by top mathematicians and metalworkers.

The puzzling absence of any mention of the Antikythera Mechanism in ancient texts is discussed, leading to a hypothesis that it might have been built from ancient plans or blueprints found in sources like the Library of Alexandria, possibly from a lost civilization influenced by 'gods'. This would explain why it appears as an 'outlier' without apparent predecessors.

Misunderstood Technology in Ancient Artifacts

Another article by Herbert Eisengruber explores the idea of "Misunderstood technology" represented in ancient artifacts. He discusses a drawing from an 1892 archaeological study of Puma Punku and Tiwanaku, which he likens to a modern stand-alone computer terminal. He also recounts his wife spotting a carving in a Guatemalan museum that resembles a stylized computer workstation, complete with a screen and keyboard. These interpretations suggest that ancient cultures may have encountered and attempted to depict advanced technologies, which are only now being recognized as our own technology advances.

Book Recommendation: 'Magicians of the Gods'

The "Book & Film Recommendations" section reviews Graham Hancock's book "Magicians of the Gods", a follow-up to "Fingerprints of the Gods". The review praises Hancock's clear writing and arguments, particularly his admission of speculation and hypothesis. The book explores the theory of survivors from a lost civilization attempting to rebuild society after a cataclysm, with a notable focus on the ancient site of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey. The reviewer suggests that the book will intrigue both general readers and "orthodox" archaeologists.

Reader Feedback and Future Issues

The magazine concludes with an invitation for reader feedback and contributions, emphasizing a focus on archaeology, Ancient Astronaut theories, and Lost Civilization theories. It also promotes the PaleoSeti website as a resource for research. The "Next Issue 12" preview highlights upcoming topics including "The Silent Stones of Europe", "News from Nazca", "Starmap of the Ancients?", and "The Case for Ancient Astronauts - Part 7", with an expected release at the end of June 2017.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently explores themes of advanced ancient technology, particularly the Antikythera Mechanism, and the possibility of lost civilizations or extraterrestrial influence on ancient cultures. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unconventional historical and archaeological theories, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond mainstream interpretations. There is a clear interest in uncovering and understanding the technological capabilities and knowledge of ancient peoples, and in re-evaluating historical artifacts through the lens of modern scientific understanding.