Contents
Prof Melvin A. Cook:
Earth Tectonics Viewed from Rock Mechanics 2
According to Carey’s Rheid theory, which underpins modern Continental Drift theory, even granite will flow like a liquid given enough time. Prof Cook offers his alternative based on the science of rock mechanics, a rapid split of the primordial super-continent.
Bob Porter:
The Archaeology of Shiloh and Pottery Chronology 21
Bob Porter examines the excavation reports for Shiloh, noting some chronological anomalies. In resolving these he produces a radically new interpretation of pottery chronology for the MB/LB/Iron ages.
Horizons: 1991 ISIS Fellowship Lecture
given by Prof Manfred Bietak 28
Jesse Lasken:
Should the European Oak Dendrochronologies be Re-examined? 30
In the first of three articles reviewing dendrochronology and calibrated radiocarbon dates, Jesse Lasken questions the soundness of the Irish and German oak chronologies and their independence, both from one another and from the bristlecone pine chronology in the USA.
Bernard Newgrosh: Calibrated Radiocarbon and ‘the Methodological Fault-Line’ 35
Examines the difficulties caused even for conventional historians by the application of calibrated radiocarbon dates.
Alasdair Beal: A Bit Creaky? – Tree-Rings, Radiocarbon and Ancient History 38
In another critical examination of the statistics and methodology of the dendrochronologists, Alasdair Beal argues for an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of absolute dating.
Forum 1: The SIS Evolution Debate Continued 43
Forum 2: Some ‘New Chronology’ Issues 49
Review: The Cosmic Winter reviewed by Dick Atkinson 51
Two of the world’s leading neo-catastrophists, Victor Clube and Bill Napier have written a stimulating book, The Cosmic Winter, which argues that History is littered with catastrophe events. The super-comet which began the modern sequence may still be around [see p. 59].
Bernard Newgrosh: Chiron: Giant Comet, Agent of Catastrophe? 59
Review: Life Itself: Accident or Design? – a review by Prof Trevor Palmer 63
In reviewing 4 modern books on the origin of life on Earth Prof Palmer discovers gaps in our knowledge which are still unbridgeable.
Editor:
Bernard Newgrosh
107, Higher Lane,
Whitefield,
Manchester M25 7EY
Illustrations:
Jill Abery, Alasdair Beal
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,
Luton LU2 8TR
Bedfordshire
Cover photograph:
Marble Canyon tensile rift (Melvin A. Cook), Figure 15h from his article.
Contents (c) The Society for Interdisciplinary Studies, September 1991
ISSN 0953-0053