The Epoch of Man

As I sit here these final minutes of New Years Eve 2012 (soon to be 2013), I ponder the age that we live in. Literally the epoch that we call our own. An epoch is measured in the geologic time that passes between major changes in the earth's "material," usually scientifically measured in clearly-defined rock layers. 

Technically we live in the Holocene epoch (meaning "Entirely Recent"), which started with the thawing of the last major ice age around 9700 BC. But this identification needs re-evaluation. I believe some experts are on the right path when they argue that the world has entered into a new epoch; that man has altered the earth in such a significant way that virtually no corner of it has been left unmarked in some way or another. We have entered into a new epoch, an epoch of man, or "Anthropocene." 

In fact, the International Union of Geological Sciences has called for members of the scientific community to make a decision on this matter by the year 2016. It is hard to argue whether or not man has left a permanent mark on the fabric of the earth, but how to define it in a way that relates to past epochs? Was it way back during the dawn of the agricultural age that began to transform the landscape a couple of thousand years ago? Or the atomic age in the 1950's that left radiation in soils worldwide? I believe the Industrial Revolution and the advent of production machines and chemical manufacturing processes beginning circa 1760 is an appropriate starting point of this new epoch. This is the point when everything--from the air we breathe, the earth that provides our food, and the water we drink and irrigate with--began to be significantly altered due to man's presence.

It's not a "doom and gloom" thing, but rather an opportunity for a good wake up call. I think it could be a positive thing for people to be made aware that we have made an undeniable impact on the environment and the fabric of the entire planet, enough to push us into a whole new global epoch.

So in the meantime, looking forward to the new year 2013, I suppose we could consider ourselves welcoming in the 253rd year of the Anthropocene epoch, the true Epoch of Man.

And let it be a good one!

New Shipwreck Coins Added to the Site

Hello!
I have just finished photographing and writing up a newly-acquired collection of shipwreck coins from the wreck of the Consolacion, a Spanish South Sea Armada galleon, lost in 1681 after striking a reef near Guayaquil Ecuador. These are classic "pirate treasure" coins. When the ship was attacked by pirates, the captain grounded the Consolacion on Santa Clara island, nicknamed Isla de Muerto (Island of the Dead), but struck a reef in the process. The vessel and its treasure then sank... these Consolacion coins are thus true pirate treasure coins.

Take a look!  Ancient Resource: Shipwreck Treasure Coins

B'ak'tun, baby!

Today is December 21st, 2012 AD. The "End of the Mayan calendar". It marks the final end of the 5125 year cycle (baktun, or b'ak'tun) in the Precolumbian Long Count Calendar.

A lot of people looked forward to this day with a lot of apprehension and uncertainty, fearing the "End of the World" and that apocalyptic events would unfold. But in truth, no predictions of impending doom are found in any known Mayan accounts. The beginning of this b'ak'tun began c. 3113 BC. Not much archaeological evidence from Mesoamerica exists from this far back. But in other parts of the world, the Sumerian culture was flourishing in Mesopotamia, the Ban Chiang culture was going strong in Thailand, and the first Egyptian kings were uniting the realm in what became the First Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Stonehenge in England dates to around this time, and other Neolithic cultures everywhere from Macedonia to Korea, Pakistan to Malta, India to Europe and North Africa were thriving.

World cultures have come and gone over these millennia, and those cultures who held the power have changed over and over again. The world still turns. Who knows what these next 5125 years will bring?

If ever there was a day to sing Robert Burns' poem/song Auld Lang Syne ("Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind... Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne") today would be the day.

New ancient earrings now on site!

I just finished putting up a great group of earrings made with ancient Roman, Greek, and Near-Eastern stone and glass beads. My wife Gwynne spent weeks making these. Be sure to give them a look! See: Ancient Resource Bead Jewelry.

What a great Christmas gift idea!

Bye for now!

Gabriel