| Subj: | ARE Conference on the Hall of Records/Underwater Sites |
| Date: | 8/12/01 10:33:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time |
| From: beazur@angelfire.com (B E) |
|
(00ps....thought I sent this days ago. Sometimes do you ever wonder what
I'm talking about? <G> Note locations and 'power stone' references.
IN love
Exploring Ancient Mysteries:
The A.R.E. Annual Egypt Conference 2000
by Dr. Lora Little
% Note: This article is a text reprint from Alternate Perceptions Journal,
Summer 2000, Issue #51. The article in the journal is accompanied by several
photographs. The full 68-page issue can be obtained by sending $6
to:
Alternate Perceptions
P.O. Box 9972
Memphis, TN 38190
Be sure to ask for issue #51. %
The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.), the organization
that studies and preserves the Edgar Cayce readings held its annual Egypt
conference August 17-20, 2000. This year's conference was unique in that
information was included regarding Cayce's Maya Hall of Records as well as
the link between Atlantis and the Mound Builders of North America.
It was also an unusual conference for Greg and I since we were both speakers.
Over the past year we have had the great pleasure of working with noted A.R.E.
speaker, author, tour leader, and researcher, John Van Auken, on two new
books. One of these, The Lost Hall of Records: Edgar Cayce's Forgotten Record
of Human History in the Ancient Yucatan, was published (literally) just a
few days before the conference. The second book, which reviews the archaeological
evidence for Cayce's story of the North American Mound Builders, will be
released sometime around the end of 2000. I spoke on the archaeological evidence
regarding the Maya ruins at Piedras Negras, Guatemala which may well be the
site of Cayce's Yucatan Hall of Records. Greg correlated North American
archaeological information to Cayce's story of the Mound
Builders.
Other speakers at the conference included Dr. Fred Wendorf, professor of
Prehistory at Southern Methodist University and Dr. Robert Schoch, geologist
at Boston University who is internationally known for his research on the
antiquity of the Sphinx. In addition, Egyptologist Ahmed Fayed and John Van
Auken gave several presentations. Although progress toward finding the Atlantean
Hall of Records in Egypt has been stalled recently, the conference did include
some new information regarding the internal structures of the 2nd and 3rd
Giza Pyramids as well as the discovery of 7000 year old Egyptian settlements
which include stonehenge-like stone circles. Also, Dr. Schoch reviewed his
intriguing new theory regarding the relationship between comets, major historical
shifts, and pyramid building around the world. In this article I will attempt
to give you the highlights of the conference and provide an update on the
search for Edgar Cayce's Atlantean Hall of Records.
What Is In The Hall of Records
During the conference John Van Auken reviewed Cayce's story of the history
and origin of mankind which begins millions of years ago. In addition the
Cayce readings state specifically that record caches were deposited in three
places around the world (Egypt, Yucatan, and Bimini) by immigrants fleeing
the final destruction of Atlantis around 10,500 B.C. These records are said
to include stone tablets, linens, gold, and other artifacts. Cayce stated
that the records tell the story of the beginnings "when the Spirit took form
or began the encasements" in physical bodies in the ancient lands of Mu (Lemuria)
and Atlantis. They also contain information about the ancient practice of
building pyramids.
As Van Auken explained, The Lost Hall of Records book devotes nearly 60 pages
to detailing the entire story that Cayce said was written and placed in the
Hall of Records. This story is derived from Cayce's many akashic readings
on the past lives of various individuals. The story tells of the ongoing
struggle between two groups of humans: those called the Children or Sons
of The Law of One and the Sons of Belial. Cayce tells that a series of cataclysms
occurred from roughly 50,000 B.C. to 10,000 B.C. necessitating that the people
of Mu and Atlantis migrate elsewhere. Both the Sons of the Law of One and
the Sons of Belial were forced to migrate thus continuing their conflict.
In many ways, the struggle between these two groups is the struggle between
good and evil and also mirrors the internal struggle all humans face. In
essence, Cayce stated that all humans are spirit forms trapped in the physical
world and that most of us have forgotten our origin. Our struggle is to
eventually find a way to return to spirit before it becomes too late.
Relating Cayce's Story to Egypt, Israel and Central America
Van Auken also reviewed the correlations between Cayce's story, and the mysticism
and mythology of Egypt and Israel and as well as that of the Aztecs and Maya.
If the Cayce story of Atlantean migration is true, then similarities would
be expected among these cultures. As Van Auken so aptly demonstrated, there
are many connections among the ancient stories of these civilizations which
may be less myth and more historically based than is currently suspected.
Even more important, Van Auken was able to communicate the relevance of these
ancient times to our lives today and to the importance of individual spiritual
development.
Does Science Confirm Cayce's Yucatan Story?
Cayce gave over 400 readings about the Yucatan and the ancient origins of
the Maya. Most of these were given as part of past life readings for individuals.
One of particular interest occurred during the end of 1933 when a group of
ARE members from New York requested a reading specifically focusing on the
origin and history of the Maya. My talk at the conference concerned these
readings and reviewed the findings of modern archaeological research which
confirm Cayce's story amazingly well. The readings give some very solid clues
on three subjects: the location of the Hall of Records in the Yucatan and
an emblem of the Atlantean, laser-like, power producing device, called the
firestone, as well as other artifacts and customs among the Maya that were
due to Atlantean and other outside influences including the Lost Tribes of
Israel.
The Location of the
Yucatan Hall of Records
Cayce indicated that the Yucatan Hall of Records could be found where stones
were being uncovered during 1933 by the University of Pennsylvania (Penn).
Cayce further stated that the Atlantean "firestone" emblem, a sundial, and
several altars would also be found at this location by the University of
Pennsylvania. From 1931 until 1939 Penn archaeologists were excavating in
the remote jungle covered site of Piedras Negras.
In order to follow-up on Cayce's clues I conducted an extensive search of
the records at the University of Pennsylvania which is detailed in The Lost
Hall of Records book. As a result we found artifacts that matched Cayce's
descriptions and even believe that we have identified the hexagonal, crystalline
stones that Cayce stated were the emblems of the Atlantean firestone.
In addition, it appears very likely that the Yucatan Hall of Records is in
an underground location at the site, which is loaded with caves and cenotes
(large caverns created by underground rivers). Interestingly, we found that
the hieroglyphic emblem for Piedras Negras used throughout the area contained
a symbol that denotes burial and yet an unusually small number of human burials
have been found at the site.
Links between Piedras Negras and the Maya Creation Stories
Our research also revealed that the Maya creation stories contain many aspects
that resemble Cayce's story of the Atlantean immigrant Iltar who, with 10
companions, arrived in the Yucatan in 10,500 B.C. transporting the Atlantean
records. Piedras Negras is linked to the Maya creation story in several ways.
First, it contains an altar upon which is carved the creation story and some
very old pre-Maya dates (5,000, 4,000 and 3114 B.C.). It is also the location
where the firestone emblems were carefully placed by the Classic Maya. In
addition, one of the ruling families at Piedras Negras was named Turtleshell
who claimed to be descendants of the gods. Also, the turtleshell was a sacred
symbol for the Maya since it is the place from which the gods (Atlanteans?)
were said to have emerged during the last creation (August 14, 3114 B.C.).
Even more compelling is the fact that the Maya creation story directly involves
the 3 stars making up the belt of Orion. Several pyramid alignments at Piedras
Negras show the characteristic Orion placement earlier identified at Giza
by Bauval and Gilbert. Perhaps more startling is the finding that several
pyramids at Piedras Negras show astonishing alignments with Orion at both
the beginning of the current Maya era (on August 13, 3114 B.C.) and its end
(December 22, 2012 A.D.). And these represent only a small sampling of the
many correlations found between Piedras Negras and Cayce's story.
In recent years, Brigham Young University has been conducting digs at the
site. Brigham Young archaeologists have found that several pyramids at the
site were built over older structures made with megalithic stones indicating
the possible existence of a more ancient pre-Maya civilization. These pyramids
are located in the same area that The Lost Hall of Records indicates as the
likely site of the Hall of Records. The early excavations at Piedras Negras
are also detailed in the book with numerous pictures and illustrations (some
dating to 1895 expeditions at the site).
Lost Tribes & Moundbuilders
in the Americas
At the conference Greg outlined Cayce's story of the Moundbuilders and their
link with the Lost Tribes of Israel. Not too long after 10,000 B.C. according
to Cayce, the Yucatan, Central Mexico, Southern California, Arizona, and
New Mexico were fast becoming lands of mixed peoples from around the world.
The Incas of Peru were also on the move, journeying north to join in the
great Mayan development. According to Cayce, the remnants of Iltar's initial
group from Atlantis also journeyed north to become the Mound Builders in
the United States along the Mississippi and Ohio valleys. Around 3,000 B.C.
Cayce asserted that remnants of the Lost Tribes of Israel also came to this
area of the world. Coming first to the "southernmost portions" of the United
States, the members of the "Lost Tribes" then moved to the Yucatan merging
with the groups already established there. Sometime later, this mixture of
people moved north into America eventually becoming the
moundbuilders.
Evidence Supporting Cayce's Moundbuilder Assertions
Greg presented 10 separate, specific statements made by Cayce about the
moundbuilders and ancient American history. These included:
1) That various people from the east and west came to the Americas by 50,000
B.C.
2) That the Lost Tribes entered southern North America in about 3,000 B.C.
establishing a settlement. They then moved to the Yucatan.
3) That the main moundbuilding period occurred after 3000 B.C.
4) That a mixture of races from the east (Atlantis), west (Mu and China),
the Pacific (Polynesia), and Lost Tribes combined with Siberian nomads to
eventually become moundbuilders.
5) That mounds would show alignments and purposes similar to those in the
Yucatan and China.
Greg admitted that prior to 1997, virtually none of Cayce's statements about
the moundbuilders or ancient American history could have been taken seriously.
He also related his earlier skepticism regarding Cayce's outline of history
simply because it completely contradicted known archaeological findings.
However, since the collapse of the "Clovis First" theory in 1997, an astonishing
series of finds have almost totally supported Cayce's statements. For example,
11 sites in the Americas have been dated before Clovis' 9500 B.C. date with
several showing occupation dates at 50,000 B.C. Analysis of skulls found
in the Americas show evidence of coming from Polynesia, Asia, China, Australia,
and Europe.
In addition, Greg cited DNA research showing that a leukemia virus found
in mummies recently excavated in Chile are identical only to that found among
a highly specialized subgroup of people residing in Japan. DNA analysis on
cellular mitochondria (mtDNA) found in Native American tribes shows five
distinct groupings. These are called haplogroups. Haplogroups A, B, C, and
D are found in Mongolia, China, Japan, and Tibet in addition to Native Americans.
Another haplogroup, labeled X, is rare. A small percentage of Native Americans
show the X haplotype. The X haplotype is also found in only a few European
or west-European groups. Geneticists conducting the mtDNA analyses have been
able to date the time that each group came into the Americas. Haplogroups
A, B, C, and D appeared to enter the Americas by 41,000 B.C. a date consistent
with Cayce's timetable. Haplogroup X appears to have entered America around
10,000 B.C. the same time it appears to have entered Europe. Greg asserted
that the people bearing the mitochondrial DNA X-type could very well have
come from a land between both Europe and America
simultaneously.
Regarding the entry of the "Lost Tribes" into southern North America in about
3000 B.C., Greg noted that the traditional story of the Lost Tribes of Israel
takes place in 721 B.C. not 3000 B.C. However, he speculated that there
were other possible meanings Cayce could have been applying to the idea of
Lost Tribes related most likely to the special problems experienced by
the many tribes of pre-Israel as they first came together about 3000 B.C.
As Greg pointed out, Cayce was a devoted Christian and a Sunday-school teacher,
thus it was a virtual certainty that he knew the 3000 B.C. date didn't fit
the traditional Lost Tribes idea. However Cayce appears to be on to something
since, as Greg revealed, a newly discovered circular mound site at Watson
Brake in Louisiana has just been subjected to 200 separate carbon datings.
It has been shown to be the first known mound site in the U.S. dated at
3400 B.C. By 2800 B.C., the mysterious people who came up the Mississippi
to Watson Brake for some reason went back down it. Also, in 2000 B.C.
archaeologists agree that people from the Yucatan went up the Mississippi
and established the beginning of the moundbuilding era at Poverty Point in
Louisiana. All of these activities, locations, and dates are consistent with
Cayce.
Greg also showed a host of evidence and artifacts recovered in America indicating
that ancient Hebrews did, in fact, migrate here. The Bat Creek Stone and
the now-confirmed Hanukkah earthworks in Ohio are only two examples of dozens
shown.
Regarding Cayce's assertion that the mounds were built to simulate the Yucatan
and Chinese mound/pyramid sites, Greg showed massive evidence supporting
Cayce. Many American mound sites are constructed to represent the belt of
Orion and predict eclipses. The rituals employed at the sites, according
to Greg, were designed to alter brain chemistry by the use of magnetic fields,
utilizing the magnetic anomalies found at sacred sites, and the solar winds.
Greg's books People of the Web (1990) and Grand Illusions (1994) go into
detail on the electromagnetic energy spectrum theory of shamanic practices.
"Atlantis" & "Mu"
Greg acknowledged that the terms Atlantis and Mu are both taboo in archaeology
and are essentially "dirty words." The mention of these mythical places brings
immediate derision and ridicule by archaeologists. However, he pointed out
the irony of the fact that the more acceptable terms archaeologists employ
to describe places or eras are simply made up by them. He cited the Poverty
Point "culture" as being named for the plantation later established at the
site. The moundbuilding eras called "Adena" and "Hopewell" were both named
for the farms where the initial excavations were made. In addition, he reminded
us that the word "Troy" also once brought ridicule and derision from
archaeologists. He noted that the ancient Aztecs clearly told the earliest
explorers they came from an island in the east called Atlan. Also, many Asian
archaeologists accept the existence of the mythical Mu (Lemuria) and a Mu
museum exists in Japan. In other words, we need to remember that the terms
(Atlantis, Mu) aren't as important as the historical events attributed to
them.
Egypt Update
Status of Underground Cavern Near Sphinx
Since much of the conference was focused on Egypt, a comment should be made
as to the status of the underground cavern reported by A.R.E. sponsored
researchers, Joseph Schor and Joe Jahoda in 1997. As was reported in Alternate
Perception issue #45, Schor and Jahoda were allowed to use ground penetrating
radar near the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid to search for underground cavities
which might indicate the location of the Hall of Records. In 1997 they identified
a 25 x 40 foot cavity near the right front paw of the Sphinx. The finding
was verified by NASA scientists who analyzed the radar data. As a result,
the team was allowed to drill and drop cameras into the cavity which revealed
only a natural rock formation. Since the cavity also appeared to make an
unnatural 90 degree turn, the researchers obtained permission to return during
1999 to do more sophisticated radar analysis. However, due to bureaucratic
tie ups and logistical problems Schor and Jahoda have not been able to begin
their work.
In addition, it appears that the relationship between the mainstream and
speculative archaeologists has cooled somewhat. An Atlantis Rising magazine
article reports that the BBC recently aired a program that was very critical
of the research done by Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval regarding Egypt
and other ancient civilizations. The columnist speculated that this could
signal the beginning of an organized backlash against the recent challenges
to the more conservative views of the mainstream scientists.
Exploring the Shaft in the Queen's Chamber
Another area of exploration that was due to begin during the Fall of 1999
involved the so-called "door" with copper handles discovered 65 meters into
one of the air shafts of the Queen's Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza.
It was first reported by Rudolph Gatenbrink in 1994 while using a robotic
camera to clean out the air shaft. During the 1999 A.R.E. conference Zahi
Hawass, Director General of the Giza Plateau, reported that the National
Geographic Society had been commissioned to further explore the door and
shaft. So far, this too has not been completed. According to Ahmed Fayed,
the Egyptians are now negotiating to award this project to Japanese researchers.
Ahmed also stated that although widely reported to the contrary, the door
does not have a gap which would allow the insertion of a fiber optic camera.
He did not elaborate as to how this was confirmed
Mysteries in the 2nd and 3rd Pyramids of Giza
Beside the well-known Great Pyramid of Giza, stand two other smaller pyramids.
The largest of these two (not too much smaller than the Great Pyramid), often
called the 2nd Pyramid, has been closed to the public over the past year
for renovation and exploration. Ahmed Fayed stated that it appears to contain
mysteries of its own. Three relieving chambers have been found over the main
burial chamber which is located 15 feet above the level of bedrock. A second
burial chamber is located at the bedrock level. Previous scans of the 2nd
Pyramid failed to detect all of the tunnels now found within it. In fact,
Fayed went on to describe several attempts to scan the pyramids for cosmic
radiation which resulted in such a wide range of readings that the scientists
concluded the pyramids contained "some kind of funny energy" which was
interfering with the equipment. Dr. Schoch commented that his research on
the 3rd pyramid indicates that it might be the earliest built on the plateau.
He believes there may be an earlier structure underneath it that will be
found to predate the current pyramids.
The Sphinx and the Hall of Records
In an interesting footnote to the debate as to the origins of the water erosion
on the Sphinx and to its true age, Fayed explained that during the early
1900s his current home was surrounded by water at certain times of the year.
In fact he describes this area as swamp-like. This is particularly significant
since Fayed lives in a home which was built by his grandfather in 1917 directly
across from the Sphinx. His home offers a spectacular and close view of the
Sphinx as our visit to his roof-top observation deck showed a few years ago.
During the 1960s, 1 million cubic feet of sand was moved from around the
Sphinx and some was deposited around the foundation of his house to reduce
the water problem. Fayed further stated that he believes that the Hall of
Records is most likely located in front of the Sphinx and described a tunnel
that leads from the old harbor area in which he used to swim as a boy. Another
possible location is under the theater stage area in front of the Sphinx
which contains stones that he believes may conceal a tunnel. A third possibility
is a box-like construction next to the left shoulder of the Sphinx. It may
have served as a pedestal for a statue although its true purpose has never
been determined.
Other research in Egypt
Ahmed Fayed also reported on several different archaeological projects underway
in Egypt including:
% The Egyptian Antiquities group is seeking funding from the Japanese to
excavate a second funerary boat located under flagstones near the base of
the Great Pyramid. Drilling was done to obtain pictures which show a wooden
boat of cedar and sycamore believed to date to around 2600 B.C.
% There is believed to be a lower level of rooms under the 50 tombs discovered
in the Ramses tomb in the Valley of the Kings a few years ago. There also
has been some additional evidence supporting the hypothesis that Ramses II
was the Pharaoh during the time of Moses in the Old Testament.
% A tomb containing a sixteen pointed Macedonian star was found in the Western
Egyptian desert which may be the long lost burial place of Alexander the
Great. This location once held the Temple of the Oracles which was known
to have been visited by Alexander the Great who held it in such high esteem
that he asked to be buried there.
% The Bent Pyramid located 27 kilometers south of the Giza Plateau has been
determined to have entrances on both its western and northern sides which
makes it the only one to have this design. It is to be opened to the public
beginning October 6, 2000.
Prehistoric Egyptian Settlements and Rock Circles
Dr. Fred Wendorf is a mainstream archaeologist who has been excavating in
the remote southern desert area of Egypt near Aswan since 1969. He ended
up there after Egyptian authorities reassigned him to a location out of the
way of numerous desert missile bases. During the past 30 years his group
has made several significant discoveries. First of all, he discovered that
there were people present in that area as early as 450,000 B.C. when the
climate was wetter and the area contained a permanent lake. The area was
deserted periodically as it became dry.
Around 10,000 B. C. it was in a wet period and people returned. What is
especially remarkable and actually shook up the archaeological community
for awhile, was evidence that domesticated cows were being utilized as early
as 10,000 B.C. This was disputed by the Wendorf's mainstream colleagues until
recent advances in genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA confirmed that African
cattle had separated from Eurasian cows over 25,000 years ago.
This early group of Egyptians were also found to have used pottery. By 7000
B.C. they were building huge crop storage huts and water troughs for cows.
Around 6000 years ago these early Egyptians constructed what Wendorf and
his staff believe to be astronomically aligned megalithic rock circles.
Alignments were found to mark the star Sirius, the summer solstice and the
brightest star in the Big Dipper. They also found burials that indicated
a cow worshipping cult which appears to be related to a similar cult known
to have existed during the later Old Kingdom era of Egypt.
But most amazing was the discovery of 8 large sculpted stones weighing up
to 5 tons each buried under the old lake bed. They are believed to be complex
shrines constructed by an ancient people who were obviously very committed
to ceremonial ritual. Last year Wendorf and his group finally located the
burials of the elite members of the group which date to around 4500 B.C.
All of this indicates that the history of Egypt may be more in line with
the Cayce story than science has so far been able to show.
Dr. Robert Schoch on Comets and Pyramids
Schoch, a geologist at Boston University, reported the premise of a new book
he is writing on the relationship between comet activity over history and
the construction of pyramids. Schoch estimates that there are over 100,000
pyramids worldwide, most of which are in Central America and that they all
contain the same "architecture of mass." He includes not only pyramids of
stone, but also earthen mounds such as those found throughout North America.
His theory is based on six main hypotheses. First, that pyramids around the
world have a common cultural origin. Second, they reflect historical patterns
of cometary activity which occur in cycles of 500-1000 years. Third, pyramids
reflect an interest in the heavens and are a response to and commemoration
of sky events. Fourth, pyramids trace migration and dispersal of peoples
first to the Old World and later to the New World. Fifth, pyramids appear
to have primordial origins and some were most likely lost under the waters
during the end of the last ice age. Sixth, comets were a driving factor for
climatic change including the end of the last ice age and often influences
catastrophic changes.
Evidence for the climatic effects of comets has been suggested scientifically
by recent correlational analysis of tree rings. Interestingly, Schoch noted
that many comets seem to emerge out of the Pleiades constellation which may
explain the tendency for many ancient civilizations such as the Maya and
the Egyptians to focus on this star grouping. Although this theory at first
seems to be a stretch, Schoch's professional integrity, diligence and adherence
to solid scientific techniques came through clearly. For example, since his
public re-dating of the Sphinx based on geological evidence his expertise
has been requested to provide verification that certain underwater structures
thought to be remnants of ancient civilizations are indeed manmade and not
natural formations. Although he stated that he does not like to be in water
he did agree to provide underwater analysis of several of these sites. In
spite of the potential book sales and celebrity he could attain by confirming
these potential lost cities, he refuses to do so until he is presented with
definitive evidence that can be supported by the scientific standards of
his profession.
Conclusion
As usual, the A.R.E. Egypt Conference offered a unique blend of science and
speculation that indicates we are in a very exciting time of change. Our
perceptions of ourselves and our origins are being expanded as new evidence
forces the scientific community to rethink and ultimately rewrite the history
of man. But when will the Halls of Records be opened? Although we are getting
closer, it appears that we will have to be