Fingerprints of the Gods

Introduction

1995 book by Graham Hancock Fingerprints of the Gods: The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization is a 1995 pseudoarcheology book by British writer Graham Hancock, which contends that an advanced civilization existed in prehistory, one which served as the common progenitor civilization to all subsequent known ancient historical ones.1995 book by Graham Hancock Fingerprints of the Gods: The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization is a 1995 pseudoarcheology book by British writer Graham Hancock, which contends that an advanced civilization existed in prehistory, one which served as the common progenitor civilization to all subsequent known ancient historical ones.

The author proposes that sometime around the end of the last ice age this civilization ended in cataclysm, but passed on to its inheritors profound knowledge of such things as astronomy, architecture and mathematics.The author proposes that sometime around the end of the last ice age this civilization ended in cataclysm, but passed on to its inheritors profound knowledge of such things as astronomy, architecture and mathematics.

The book was followed by Magicians of the Gods.The book was followed by Magicians of the Gods.

Reception

Members of the scholarly and scientific community have described the proposals put forward in the book as pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology.Members of the scholarly and scientific community have described the proposals put forward in the book as pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology.

Canadian author Heather Pringle has placed Fingerprints specifically within a pseudo scientific tradition going back through the writings of H. S. Bellamy and Denis Saurat to the work of Heinrich Himmler's notorious racial research institute, the Ahnenerbe, and the "crackpot theories" of Nazi archaeologist Edmund Kiss.Canadian author Heather Pringle has placed Fingerprints specifically within a pseudo scientific tradition going back through the writings of H. S. Bellamy and Denis Saurat to the work of Heinrich Himmler's notorious racial research institute, the Ahnenerbe, and the "crackpot theories" of Nazi archaeologist Edmund Kiss.

Pringle draws attention to Fingerprints''' "wild speculations" on the origins of Tiwanaku and describes Hancock as a "fabulist".Pringle draws attention to Fingerprints''' "wild speculations" on the origins of Tiwanaku and describes Hancock as a "fabulist".

Kenneth Feder said that the book reads like the "Victorian travelogue" of a writer untrained in archeology, who credits a mysterious white people for the achievements of the ancient civilizations he visits, Hancock notably referring to the Maya as "jungle dwelling Indians" who could not possibly come up with a sophisticated calendar.Kenneth Feder said that the book reads like the "Victorian travelogue" of a writer untrained in archeology, who credits a mysterious white people for the achievements of the ancient civilizations he visits, Hancock notably referring to the Maya as "jungle dwelling Indians" who could not possibly come up with a sophisticated calendar.

Feder sees Hancock's synthesis of a variety of fringe writers such as Ignatius Donnelly, Charles Hapgood, Arthur Posnansky, Robert Bauval and Anthony West "very hard to swallow, indeed.Feder sees Hancock's synthesis of a variety of fringe writers such as Ignatius Donnelly, Charles Hapgood, Arthur Posnansky, Robert Bauval and Anthony West "very hard to swallow, indeed.

"Fingerprints of the Gods has been translated into 27 languages and is estimated to have sold five million copies around the world."Fingerprints of the Gods has been translated into 27 languages and is estimated to have sold five million copies around the world.

Hancock responded to some of his critics with an updated edition of the book published in 2001 with a new introduction and new appendices, Fingerprints of the Gods: The Quest Continues.Hancock responded to some of his critics with an updated edition of the book published in 2001 with a new introduction and new appendices, Fingerprints of the Gods: The Quest Continues.

InfluenceFingerprints of the Gods was cited as an inspiration for the 2009 disaster film 2012.InfluenceFingerprints of the Gods was cited as an inspiration for the 2009 disaster film 2012.

In a November 2009 interview with the London magazine Time Out, the film's director Roland Emmerich stated, "I always wanted to do a biblical flood movie, but I never felt I had the hook.In a November 2009 interview with the London magazine Time Out, the film's director Roland Emmerich stated, "I always wanted to do a biblical flood movie, but I never felt I had the hook.

I first read about the Earth's crust displacement theory in Graham Hancock's Fingerprints of the Gods."I first read about the Earth's crust displacement theory in Graham Hancock's Fingerprints of the Gods."

In the extras of the Blu ray 10,000 BC'', the director Emmerich and his co writer Harald Kloser said that they had found inspiration in the same book.In the extras of the Blu ray 10,000 BC'', the director Emmerich and his co writer Harald Kloser said that they had found inspiration in the same book.