Ancient Civilization may be Hidden Under Persian Gulf

(Dive Travel Business - February 28, 2011) -- New research suggests that the  waters of the Persian Gulf may be hiding a lost civilization.  If found, this civilization could change our understanding of human history. In a paper recently published in Current Anthropology, this huge fertile stretch of land may have been home to humans from about 74,000 years ago until about 8,000 years ago. 

But when the waters around them began to rise, these early humans moved to what is now the Gulf shoreline, founding new settlements that archeologists have recently discovered. Over 60 settlements have been discovered, and boast well-built, permanent stone houses, long-distance trade networks, elaborately decorated pottery, domesticated animals, and even evidence for one of the oldest boats in the world.

According to Jeffrey Rose of the University of Birmingham, such sophisticated settlements couldn't have developed so quickly, which is why he believes even older settlements lie beneath gulf waters. If true, Rose's hypothesis could offer a clue as to how and when human beings first departed Africa and settled in the Middle East.

The now-submerged slice of land would have been about the size of Great Britain, Rose said. Finding some physical evidence beneath the waves of the ocean would be a major advance in proving that his theory is correct.   

The waters of the Persian Gulf rose 8,000 years ago, perhaps because of the collapse of a huge glacial dam in Canada. This event caused water levels to rise across the world and may have forced humans out of the Gulf basin.  Some researchers believe it may have given rise to ancient stories such as Noah's Ark.

"Certainly, I think there is compelling evidence to suggest that both the flood and Eden myths may be rooted in these events around the Gulf basin, says Rose.

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