[MD] Origins of "Us"

[Arlo Bensinger]

All,

I've long been a reader of Graham Hancock, if not for groundbreaking 
historical research then for thought-provoking and entertaining 
narratives of "what if". From the construction-origins of the Sphinx 
to the ancient "Jomon", he weaves a fascinating (if not astonishingly 
convincing) tale that challenges many of our established assumptions 
about man's pre-/historical origins.

In any event, I picked up his latest "Supernatural" over the weekend, 
and thought I'd share the synopsis from B&N.

"Less than 50,000 years ago mankind had no art, no religion, no 
sophisticated symbolism, no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic 
and electrifying change, described by scientists as "the greatest 
riddle in human history," all the skills and qualities that we value 
most highly in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though 
bestowed on us by hidden powers. In Supernatural Graham Hancock sets 
out to investigate this mysterious "before-and-after moment" and to 
discover the truth about the influences that gave birth to the modern 
human mind.

Hancock's quest takes him on a detective journey from the stunningly 
beautiful painted caves of prehistoric France, Spain, and Italy to 
rock shelters in the mountains of South Africa, where he finds 
extraordinary Stone Age art. He uncovers clues that lead him to the 
depths of the Amazon rainforest to drink the powerful hallucinogen 
Ayahuasca with shamans, whose paintings contain images of 
"super-natural beings" identical to the animal-human hybrids depicted 
in prehistoric caves. Hallucinogens such as mescaline also produce 
visionary encounters with exactly the same beings.

Scientists at the cutting edge of consciousness research have begun 
to consider the possibility that such hallucinations may be real 
perceptions of other "dimensions." Could the "supernaturals" first 
depicted in the painted caves be the ancient teachers of mankind? 
Could it be that human evolution is not just the "meaningless" 
process that Darwin identified, but something more purposive and 
intelligent that we have barely begun to understand?"

More info on all of Hancock's ideas and books at: http://www.grahamhancock.com/

Arlo