Astronomers unravel a mystery of the Dark Ages

EurekAlert ^ | 3-Feb-2004 | Dr Derek Ward-Thompson

[Sam Cree]

I think you have referenced this, haven't you, blam?

[Molly Pitcher]

Have you seen this theory?

[farmfriend]

I thought it was a massive volcano eruption.

[pabianice]

Big deal. Anyone who watches "Stargate SG-1" knows this.

[ClearCase_guy]

The book "Catastophe" by David Keys is quite interesting. He blames it on a volcano. Whatever, it sure seems like something effected the climate and civilizations around the globe at around 536 AD.

[Fitzcarraldo]

If there was this much dust in the atmosphere and it settled out there should be a soil layer that can be analyzed. Problem is where is the best place to look.

[WayneM]

I thought a large, alcohol-filled Kennedy relative fell into a bog and cased a massive release of swamp gas.

[Muleteam1]

Without evidence of deposition from the comet's ash that corresponds to the timing of the Dark Ages, it seems like a huge leap in logic to go from evidence of cool summers, crop losses, and plague to a comet exploding in the earth's atmosphere.

Muleteam1

[Dog]

Thanks ...very interesting.

[farmfriend]

I like that one.

[blam]

It was a comet that plunged into the Celtic Sea. Mike Baillie should be credited with this discovery.

The Dark Ages, Were Thay Darker Than We Imagined?

"Concluding Thoughts Ben Rudder, an anthropologist who reviewed in New Scientist magazine a recently published book by Baillie on the subject, wrote :"

"If Baillie is right, history has overlooked probably the single most important explanation for the intermittent progress of civilisation."

[The Great RJ]

No, no it was Republicans and SUV's that caused this climate disaster--Al Gore told me so.

[blam]

Catastrophic Event Preceded Dark Ages - Scientist

[LibWhacker]

Here's an interesting post that explains some of that logic. In some cases, ancient scribes wrote about the effects they witnessed firsthand. And the tree ring data testifies to how widespread the effects were.

[Mr. Lucky]

My kids' bedroom.

[blam]

"The book "Catastophe" by David Keys is quite interesting. He blames it on a volcano. Whatever, it sure seems like something effected the climate and civilizations around the globe at around 536 AD."

I read that book. I think a better book on the subject is Mike Baillie's, Exodus To Arthur

Baillie has captured a number of worldwide events in the 10,000 year tree ring record.

[blam]

Did Asteroid And Comets Turn The Tide Of Civilization?

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[LibWhacker]

You have to wonder how well modern civilization would stand up to something like that today. If the bollide were large enough, then obviously, no. But would we cave under exactly the same pressure that did in the ancients? Personally, I think not. We would understand what was happening to us and if we could maintain our infrastructure, we could weather the famine and plague. But let's not test it, okay? :-) Earth probably really does need a space shield.