Thanks! This picture is so much better - really shows the scale and the detail.
My intuitions and my knowledge of statistics hints that there's really no reason much, much older somewhat advanced "societies" couldn't have existed but have just not been excavated or have vanished because of porous materials.
Does anyone know of any good podcasts / books that delves into topics like this?
I've always found fringe theories of lost or "hyper-ancient" civilisations fascinating.
> Does anyone know of any good podcasts / books that delves into topics like this?
"Civilization is always older than we think; and under whatever sod we tread are the bones of men and women who also worked and loved, wrote songs and made beautiful things, but whose names and very being have been lost in the careless flow of time."
- Will Durant
While I have only read his "The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time", his wife Ariel Durant and him co-wrote an 11 volume "biography" of civilization called "The Story of Civilization", which I believe deals with such things.
It’s not so much about ancient civilizations, but Michael Mann’s 1491 does a spectacular job expanding on the size and complexity of the civilizations of the Americas, which has only really become clear in the last couple decades.
Maybe you know Dan Carlin? His Hardcore History podcasts are amazing. History how it should be.
In this case try the King of King, series.
Although almost all of his podcasts are spellbinding and thoughtful.
For all ages too. Excellent for road trips.
https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/
There is also the extent to which settlements would have been on the coast and are now submerged well offshore thanks to sea level rises after the last glacial period.
If you're looking for lost and re-found civilizations, maybe look into the archeological history of Troy, or maybe the Olmec culture of south America. (There are many)
My favorite though is this documentary series on YouTube. The 2nd installment is especially good. Highly recommend:
there's always graham Hancock. he has a couple books and has done some podcasts.
the JRE podcast with graham and Randall Carlson always gets my imagination going on ancient societies...
My intuitions and my knowledge of statistics hints that there's really no reason much, much older somewhat advanced "societies" couldn't have existed but have just not been excavated or have vanished because of porous materials.
Does anyone know of any good podcasts / books that delves into topics like this?
I've always found fringe theories of lost or "hyper-ancient" civilisations fascinating.