Is Atlantis a Victim of Academic Bias or a Lost Civilisation Just Around the Corner?
The legend of Atlantis has captivated the imaginations of scholars, archaeologists, and conspiracy theorists alike for centuries. One viewpoint suggests that Atlantis is not the subject of a conspiracy but rather a historical phenomenon overshadowed by academic biases. This perspective posits that the lack of tangible evidence in mainstream historical and archaeological records is not due to conspiracy but rather the limitations of academia and its tendency to maintain the status quo.
Academic Bias and the Historical Record
In recent years, scholars have begun to question the bias within academia regarding the subject of Atlantis. Dr. Michael A. Cremo, an independent researcher who has dedicated much of his career to exploring the historical existence of Atlantis, argues that the academic community has intentionally downplayed or ignored evidence that could challenge traditional narratives. This bias, he claims, keeps the historical record aligned with established beliefs and paradigms.
Academics, acting within their respected institutions, have often dismissed accounts of Atlantis as mere myths or fables. This dismissal, however, may simply be a reflection of their professional training and the frameworks within which they operate. Academia, like any institution, can be prone to confirmation bias, where evidence that aligns with their established knowledge is preferred, and evidence that contradicts it is sidelined.
Recent Discoveries Challenge Traditional Narratives
Despite these biases, recent archaeological discoveries have begun to push back against the traditional historical record. For instance, excavations in Turkey and California have unearthed artefacts and structures that date back to periods far earlier than previously documented. These findings are both academically significant and controversial, as they challenge the established timeline of human development and historical understanding.
In Turkey, the site of G?bekli Tepe has revealed evidence of human construction dating back to around 10, 000 BC. This site predates the first known human settlements and challenges the false narrative that humans took millennia to develop this level of sophistication. Meanwhile, in California, stones have been discovered that have been carbon-dated to be over 7000 years old, indicating human activity in the Americas earlier than previously thought.
These findings, while not directly related to Atlantis, do suggest a broader trend of human activity stretching further back into prehistory than is currently taught. The acceptance of such discoveries marks a shift in academic discourse, where the traditional boundaries between myth and history are beginning to blur.
The Potential Discovery of Atlantis
The academic community's acceptance of older historical narratives raises the intriguing possibility that Atlantis could be discovered. As more researchers and archaeologists adopt a more open-minded approach to historical evidence, there is a growing possibility that the lost city of Atlantis could be rediscovered.
Dr. Cremo, for instance, believes that with the right mindset and investigative methods, it is just a matter of time before Atlantis is uncovered. He argues that the current lack of evidence for Atlantis is not because it never existed but rather because scholars have not been looking in the right places with the right tools. The new academic permision to look further back in time may lead to breakthroughs that bring Atlantis to the forefront of historical consciousness.
Conclusion
Is Atlantis a victim of academic bias, or is it merely a lost civilisation waiting to be rediscovered? The current academic framework within which these questions are posed may be the very limitation that obscures the truth. By embracing a more open and unbiased approach to historical evidence, there is a growing possibility that we may one day uncover the lost city of Atlantis. The only certainty is that the historical record we have is only a fraction of the complete story, and as our understanding continues to evolve, so too will our perception of the ancient past.
As we continue to dig deeper into the past, it is important to approach the question of Atlantis with a critical and open mind. The path to rediscovering it may be long, but the reward of uncovering one of history's greatest mysteries could be immeasurable.