The following Presentation Article titled “Lake Sevan Underwater City – Pre-Neolithic (Telosolithic) Mystery or Missing Link of Historical Past” is based on materials presented at 10-th international Symposium on Underwater Research...
moreThe following Presentation Article titled “Lake Sevan Underwater City – Pre-Neolithic (Telosolithic) Mystery or Missing Link of Historical Past” is based on materials presented at 10-th international Symposium on Underwater Research “Black Sea Archaeology” held at Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey on December 16, 2016. It is dedicated to sensational underwater finding deep beneath the water surface of lake Sevan, one of the largest lakes of Asia Minor (Anatolia) and the biggest lake in the Republic of Armenia. The team of underwater archaeologists of “Ayas” maritime club led by Rafayel Mkrtchyan accidentally found an underwater city at the bottom of lake Sevan, the clear indication that the mysterious Proto-historic settlement existed long time ago, i.e. before the time of origination of lake Sevan due to cataclysmic flooding, as a result of “Eternal Ice” melting that covered the earthly surface during the Ice Age period. The article itself consists from three parts – 1. Part I (Pre-Article), 2. Part II (Core Article), and, Part III (Post-Article – Conclusion and Hypothesis). In Part I (Pre-Article) – Systematical Review of Various Historical-Archaeological, Ethnographical and Linguistical Data Sources for Making the Comprehensive Overview on the Subject of Research of Lake Sevan’s Historical Past, the basic introduction to lake Sevan area and general information about lake Sevan is given – the location of the lake, its overall altitude, size, surface area, length, widths and depth. The description of nearby tributary rivers and adjacent water basins is provided, along with the description of main mountain ranges surrounding the lake. The big importance of lake Sevan as precious sources of drinking water is emphasized, according to data of UNESCO organization. Then the essential information about fishes, flora and fauna of Sevan basin is furnished, along with important data about Sevan as one of the best touristic destinations for rest, recreational and cultural activities. Next segment of Pre-Article is elucidating the details about the beginning of lake Sevan origination, its formation in the Late Quaternary period, some 20,000 to 15,000 years ago, active stage of its forming at the time when the Pleistocene or Last Glacial Period ended around 11,700 years ago and final period of lake Sevan’s creation in the Holocene Period that happened around 9,700 BC. Then the lake Sevan area is reviewed in historical-archaeological context, and the survey of ancient archaeological sites and monuments is provided, along with historical-linguistical analyses of their names’ origination in distant historical past. The major significance of ancient Lchashen city as the ancient center of mysterious ZU/ZULUM/ZULAL mythological bird that created Mankind, World and Universe is described. The translation of various ancient written sources is cited, including Urartian cuneiform inscriptions about lake Sevan conquest and its kingdoms and cities. Then the history of lake Sevan is investigated in historical-etymological context of various historical periods, words, expressions and etymologies of Sumerian, Hittite, Hurrian, Urartian, Assyrian, Latin, Armenian and other linguistic origin are carefully examined. Then, based on an historical-linguistical analyses of settlements, sites, villages and cities around lake Sevan, studied one after another in counter-clockwise direction the intriguing and breathtaking mythological story of lake Sevan birth is restored and revealed. After that the folklore stories and fairy tales of Sevan are put in review, including the remarkable Tsamakaberd village folk story about Good and Evil forces that dwell since prehistoric times in waters of lake Sevan. The given research continues with mythological analyses of deities related to folk stories, as well as various ancient accounts and literary sources about Deluge are brought to light. The historical facts of lake Sevan’s origination as the Real Deluge Event is given, based on eyewitnesses of the past, various archeological, historical, linguistic, mythological data, actual facts and factual parallels. Various historical written sources since the beginning of civilization till our modernity are provided, testifying the Realness of Flood or Great Deluge and its direct connection with lake Sevan Origination and ZUL Pre-Neolithic or Telosolithic city’s drowning and destruction by tidal waves of flooding catastrophe. In Part II (Core Article) – The Discovery of underwater ZUL city of lake Sevan – circumstances, activities, analyses, methodologies, observations, photo materials and objects of research, the general information about “Ayas” maritime club is told, along with introduction to my close friend and colleague, captain of various ships, excellently skilled diver and experienced underwater archaeologist Rafayel Mkrtchyan. The remarkable story of finding of prehistoric Caucasian Bison’s remains, and the sensational and historically important discovery of Pre-Neolithic city that existed in Proto-Historical Times, before lake Sevan origination due to Deluge or Cataclysmic Flooding, i.e. before 12,000 year ago or 10,000 BC. The phenomenal proof of the existence of Proto-Historical societies with the evidence of extensive human activities in building very First Civilized forms of Existence is brought to light. Various stunning parallels of worshipped animals and creatures, artistic styles and mythological meanings with artifacts and architectural and artistic fragments of another Anatolian Proto-Historic settlement of Göbekli Tepe settlement are shown. The archeological-historical and religious-mythological affinities between Sevan underwater city and Göbekli Tepe civilizational traits, despite the significant distance of more than 1000 km, are serving as a scientific platform on newer approaches to the overall research of Earliest Civilizations’ Origin research. The detailed description of outstanding discovery of underwater city is revealed along with methodical explaining of the photographic material about the archaeological-historical ruins, erections, monuments, sculptural fragments, carvings, frescoes and pictures and their religious, worshipping, ritual, sacral and mythological context. Finally, in Part III (Post-Article – Conclusion and Hypothesis) – Great Flood or Deluge as the End of Proto-Civilization (Original Genesis of Civilization) and Beginning of Civilization, the fact that the very existence of territorially vast and culturally rich Anatolian Proto-Civilization is put at the center of research theme, with the major emphasis on the urgent need to focus archeological, historical, linguistical and mythological data research on thoughtful and meticulous elucidation of very interesting historical timeframe – the period between end of Last Stone Age or Telosolith (happened from 18,000 to 12,000 years ago or from 16,000 BC to 12,000 BC) and the beginning of Neolith – the first appropriation of civilized attributes, including the very beginning of metal usage by humans, beginning of wheel transportation, architecture and urban development, writing, art, mythology and religion. The definition of LIC (Land Isolate Communities) during Ice Age or Cold Age Periods as Sanctuary Places of Telosolithic Communities is given. The social, cultural and religious significance of Telosolithic Intellectual Revolutions is thoroughly explained, along with the various aspects of the life of Telosolithic people. Modernity. The historical components of ICE AGE or COLD AGE, GREAT FLOOD or DELUGE and POST-DELLUVIAL PERIOD are unfolded, with unconditional Timely Division of Mankind’s History on BEFORE and AFTER DELUGE. Mankind’s main four historical Time Span Definitions are given: 1. ICE AGE or COLD AGE Period; 2. PRE-NEOLITHIC or TELOSOLITHIC Period; 3. DELUGE or GREAT FLOOD Period; 4. POST-DELUGE or NEOLITHIC Period. The historical roles and significances of Telosolith versus Neolith is given – while, TELOSOLITH INAUGURATED A REVOLUTION IN HUMAN HISTORY, in its turn, NEOLITH MARKED THE BEGINNING OF EVOLUTION IN HUMAN HISTORY.
Appreciating the outstanding manifestations of Telosolithic Culture, Religion and Mythology, as well as the overwhelming significance of Telosolithic Revolutions, marking it as the DAWN OF MANKIND or PRE-ORIGINATION OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION provided. Also, name of PROTO-CIVILIZATION is provided, since Telosolithic Period provided all necessary Pre-Conditions before Conditions for certain Human Innovations, according to innovative principles of Revolutionary Innovativeness, as its preceded main law-governing principles of Evolutionary Development. Telosolith is the Measuring Time Span for Timescale of Evolutionary Development of Ingenious Human Inventions and Innovations, for each and every Human Invention and Innovation following to four Core Principles: 1. Discovery; 2. Initial Utilization; 3. Limited Use; 4. Widespread or Worldwide Usage. Telosolithic Civilization also can be remembered as CIVILIZATION OF PERMANENCE and PERMANENT SOCIAL-CULTURAL VALUES, NEVER CEASING TO EXIST FROM ITS VERY BEGINNING TO VERY END. Broad perspectives of further scientific investigation of lake Sevan’s ZUL underwater city are outlined, along with possibilities of exploring the Historical Period of Telosolith in Armenia, Asia Minor (Anatolia), Near East and Caucasus. The article is very illustrative with color photos of various relevant historical artifacts and wonderful findings of Sevan underwater city, something that will not only visually contribute to the unfolding of the story this most interesting and intriguing discovery, but also will spark the passionate scientific interest to the overall research of the most mysterious and unexplored period in the history of Mankind – the Dawn of Mankind, Appearance of Proto-Civilization and Birth of Global Civilization.