Contents
Michael G. Reade:
The Ninsianna tablets, a preliminary reconstruction 2
Working on the assumption that the data recorded on the so-called ‘Venus Tablets of Ammisaduqa’ are accurate, Michael Reade reconstructs the ancient era of their observations, which seems to coincide with that of the Panchasiddhantika and the construction of megalithic monuments such as Stonehenge. The reality of a one-time 360 day year is confirmed. The Ninsianna tablets record a series of catastrophes of extra-terrestrial origin in which Earth’s spin rate altered and there was a mild Solar System expansion.
Ian C. Johnson:
Anomalous Occurrence of Crocodilia in Eocene Polar Forests 7
The second of two articles on the curious flora and fauna of the Canadian High Arctic islands in the Eocene epoch concentrates on the fauna. The conditions required for the survival of the flora in polar latitudes would result in often-freezing winter temperatures and prove lethal to much of the fauna, but especially the reptilians.
Ev Cochrane: The Origins of the Latin God Mars 27
The Romans venerated Mars as the god of war. Ev Cochrane’s exercise in comparative mythology discovers that Mars is very similar to other gods of war, including Heracles and Nergal, and that their common origin derives from the celestially active planet Mars.
Peter van der Veen: The habiru as the ‘ibrim of I Samuel and the implications for the ‘new chronology’ 31
In this article, Peter van der Veen explains the major features of his thesis, equating the ‘ibrim of I Samuel with the habiru of the Amarna Letters. He presents new evidence for the assimilation of the latter at the end of the Late Bronze Age and argues for new Hittite-Assyrian synchronisms in a ‘new chronology’ context.
Centuries of Darkness: a challenge to the conventional chronology of Old World archaeology reviewed by Geoffrey Gammon 36
This major work, proposing a c.250 year revision of ancient chronology, is outlined, critically appraised and recommended for our study.
The published reviews of Centuries of Darkness
reviewed by Bernard Newgrosh 43
Forum: continuing the discussion on cosmology, catastrophism and chronology 40
David Salkeld, Ev Cochrane, Dick Atkinson, Michael Reade and John Bimson continue the debate begun in Review volume XIV.
Editor:
Bernard Newgrosh
107, Higher Lane,
Whitefield,
Manchester M25 7EY
Editorial Consultants:
Dr John J. Bimson (Biblical Archaeology)
Peter van der Veen (Israelite Monarchy)
Geoffrey Gammon (Egyptology)
Alasdair Beal,
Moe M. Mandelkehr,
C. Leroy Ellenberger,
Wal Thornhill (Physical Sciences)
Prof Trevor Palmer (Life Sciences)
Dr Richard Huggett (Earth Sciences)
Dwardu Cardona (Mythology and Cosmogony)
Michael G. Reade (Observational Astronomy)
Carl O. Jonsson (neo-Babylonian History)
The views expressed in this journal are those of the contributors and are not necessarily shared by the Editorial Consultants.
All Society enquiries should be addressed to the Hon. Membership Secretary:
Mrs Val Pearce,
10, Witley Green,
Darley Heights,
Stopsley LU2 8TR
Bedfordshire
Cover photograph:
K. 160, the best preserved of the ‘Venus Tablets of Ammisaduqa’, which contains the enigmatic reference to the ‘Year of the Golden Throne’. Photograph reproduced courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum.
Contents (c) The Society for Interdisciplinary Studies, June 1993
ISSN 0953-0053