Well met, I’m Basil. Whether you’re reading this for the first time or retracing your steps, the heartiest of greetings and jubilations for seeing you once again.
I reckon if you are coming all the way back here there must be a reason. I wonder what it is. It must be something very important, something that you’re hoping I know. It sparks the imagination wildly, does it not? To think: I could be sitting here in 2023, typing little words together and someone, you perhaps, long after my time has passed reads them; embraced by my emotion like the warm greeting of a dear old friend. And so, I greet you, again and again I greet you, anamchara.
What wraps my mind to tell you first are of intentions, mine precisely. Although, I imagine somehow you knew that to be the case. First an inscrutable fact:
One of the greatest acts of all conscious, intelligent beings, is the recording and retelling of our stories for a future generation.
Synthesis of knowledge over a grand scale of time, consuming many lifetimes, many individuals, passed down from one generation to the next, inscribed upon stone monoliths, steeped in oral traditions and painted across the sky— It encourages leaping in one’s heart, does it not!? Think of the Palawa Aboriginal stories from Tasmania recalling the creation of Bass Strait 12,000 years ago.
Further back still the Gunditjmara people intimately related the volcanic eruption of Mount Eccles from around 30,000 years ago, when the ancestral creation-being revealed himself in the landscape of Budj Bim. cough. Excuse me, I digress.
My thoughts are directly to you. Somehow… I don’t know how… this is the only place we’ll meet. It’s one sided- I know. Perhaps that’s the price we pay for the burden we bare. What’s important is that I do know you and here, in this moment, we are together. Before we delve deeper, there are things you should know about me.
History is a race between education and catastrophe.
— H.G. Wells
Truths about me I’d like you to know
- I bare the intensity of my feelings, and regret their ferocity for minutia.
- I came to this world with a fascination for Ancient Cosmoarchaeology and Symbolism1. Would I jump at the chance for a formal education? You bet I would! However, being an amateur doesn’t dull the ecstasy of the Eureka! moment.
- I uphold a scientific approach: open to facts, freely admit errors, and evolve my views as new truths emerge.
- At times I utilize Ai as a research assistant, otherwise for grammar and punctuation. My words, however, remain my own. If generative text is used it is clearly notated as such and with purpose pertaining to the subject I’m discussing.
Questions: I’m full of them too.
I don’t know what you’ll need exactly, or what your world will be like when this reaches you, though I imagine it often. Where once I believed we may achieve a Star Trek-like evolution of humanity ,we steer ever closer to Bladerunner. What I do know: The world is undergoing great change. In some instances, unparalleled change brought about by humanity’s own hand. The internet changed how we do everything. What could be more influential than that? What will be the next generation’s “internet”?
The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.
― George Orwell.
You are who I wanted to find.
I hope that if you’re reading this you know that I, and all strewn throughout time like we, are beside you always. Our love of story-telling, history, and the instinctual drive to report to the future. And there’s so much more we have in common, isn’t there. It is my greatest hope that you feel invited in; that as you read, you and I are sitting together, engrossed in discussing the facts and dreaming aloud the possibilities. You and I, in front of a warm fire, surrounded by old books and journals, solving the mysteries of all the universe.
Finally, what I can offer to you, in this moment, in your moment; what was important to me in my life, right here, right now. I intend to update this when necessary. I’ll be sure they are notated for you properly.
- The family chosen, and the family inherited; know, honor, and retell your histories. Recognize peace as a time to gather what is known, condense what is known into one exhaustive source, and report it to the future. Know your family history, if you don’t, consider it your first step.
- Accept what is provable, acknowledge what is possible, and prepare for what is probable. When and where these align the impossible may strike. Truth must prevail.
- Ancient Cosmoarchaeology and Symbolism (Ai Assisted)
Description:
This field is an interdisciplinary exploration of ancient civilizations, their understanding of the cosmos, and the symbols they used to represent their knowledge and beliefs. It combines methodologies and insights from ancient history, astronomy, archaeology, and the study of ancient symbols to uncover how early societies perceived, interacted with, and represented the universe.
Key Components:
Ancient History: Examines the chronicles, narratives, and records of ancient civilizations to understand their cultures, beliefs, and societal structures. Source: Studying Classical Archaeology and Ancient History in Sweden by C. Scheffer
Astronomy: Investigates the celestial knowledge of ancient societies, including their understanding of stars, planets, and cosmic events, and how these influenced their myths, rituals, and daily lives. Source: Thomas Gough and Peter Harris, A New Dimension to Ancient Measures and John Hill, The Recumbent Stone Circles of Aberdeenshire: Archaeology, Design, Astronomy and Methods by Liz Henty
Archaeology: Through the excavation of ancient sites and the analysis of artifacts, this component seeks tangible evidence of how ancient civilizations interacted with the cosmos. This includes ancient observatories, celestial alignments in architecture, and artifacts used in astronomical observations. Source: HISTIA: NAVAL HISTORY AND TEXTILE ARCHAEOLOGY. INVESTIGATING THE SAILS OF THE ANCIENT RHODIAN NAVY by M. Stefanakis, Stella Spantidaki, and Ioannis Mpardanis
Ancient Symbology: Studies the symbols, motifs, and iconography used by ancient cultures to represent their cosmological beliefs and observations. This includes deciphering the meaning behind these symbols and understanding their significance in religious, cultural, and societal contexts. Source: Baltic Archaeology, Cultural History, Ancient Lithuanian Symbolism, Old Europe, and the Archaeomythology of Marija Gimbutas by J. Marler
Objective: To unravel the cosmological beliefs and knowledge of ancient civilizations and understand how they integrated this knowledge into their cultures, rituals, and daily lives. This field seeks to bridge the gap between the tangible (archaeological findings) and the intangible (beliefs and symbols) to provide a holistic understanding of ancient societies’ relationship with the cosmos.
Applications:
Cultural Understanding: Gaining insights into the spiritual and cultural significance of celestial bodies and events in ancient societies.
Historical Astronomy: Understanding the astronomical knowledge and practices of ancient civilizations, which can shed light on historical events (e.g., dating events based on celestial occurrences).
Heritage Preservation: Identifying and preserving ancient sites of astronomical significance.
Interdisciplinary Research: Collaborating with experts from various fields to provide a multi-faceted understanding of ancient cosmological beliefs and practices. ↩︎