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REVIEWS @ THE NEW PYRAMID AGE mountains which are in evidence, for travel and trade that may have brought by Philip Coppens instance, along the Nile and Supe valleys? African, Asian and European peoples, along O Books, UK, USA, 2007 Coppens suggests that different designs with their knowledge and customs, to the ISBN 1-84694-046-X (287pp tpb) were employed that conformed to a "point of region. Their predilection for cranial elon- Available: See http://www.o-books.net creation template" or a "pyramid template" gation is a signature look that is also seen in hen pyramids are mentioned, most that was adapted to suit local circumstances _ the ancient Egyptian culture, and the Olmecs often we think of the Great Pyramids and cultures. Built by ancestors who saw had a distinctive hieroglyphic script. Their of Egypt or perhaps the stepped pyramids of history as cyclical, the pyramids would have __ sculptural forms featuring the quizuo hands- the Maya of Mexico or the ziggurats of the been seen as signs of creation—places that on-knees meditative postures have similari- ancient Sumerians. But the territory of the were outside time, and time unaffected by ties in many Old World cultures. pyramid-builders was much more extensive _SPace. He presents a highly readable The heyday of the Olmecs seems to have says UK-based Belgian investigator Philip overview of the subject, with lots of black- been from at least 1500 to 400 BC, and it Coppens, who has finally put together over a and-white photos throughout. may have been natural disaster that caused decade's research into one volume (and will their demise. It's evident, says Childress, surely be featuring this subject when he THE MYSTERY OF THE OLMECS that they preceded the Maya —an inconve- speaks at our conference in October). by David Hatcher Childress nient truth for many archaeologists—but Long-time NEXUS readers will have some Adventures Unlimited Press, Kempton, they also heavily influenced this and other familiarity with the territory covered, as our __ Illinois, USA, 2007 central American civilisations such ihe the pages have included articles from Coppens ISBN 1-931882-77-0 (261 pp tpb) ° ne kth; ztecs. IT on ee ad the keys and other authors on pyramids as far afield Available: adventuresunlimitedpress.com '° kn Ock U " sey we i "Childe as Caral in the Supe Valley in Peru (identi- races of the Olmecs were first described hides of the edb % . hi mores fied in 1948 and rediscovered in 1994), in by archaeologists in the late 1860s, but it includes many colour an W photos, diagrams and maps to illustrate his archaeo- Shanxii Province in China (first described in —_ wasn't until 1942 that they were acknowl- lool : logical and anthropological travelogue. the early 20th century but not confirmed till edged as a civilisation in their own right. As 1994), as well as in Italy and Bosnia (first you'll read in David Hatcher Childress's lat- explored by archaeologists in 2005). est tome, the Olmecs were arguably the In The New Pyramid Age, Coppens mother civilisation of the Mesoamerican describes all these pyramids and more (even __ region, although there were precursor cul- on Mars) in terms of what is known of their tures about which even less is known. history, archaeological excavations and an The most striking artefacts passed down by _ OF THE array of theories proposed as to their age, the Olmecs are the colossal carved stone *OLMECS' siting, purposes and the belief systems heads, often with distinctly African features J behind them. Ultimately he argues for a and headdresses (like African Rugby play- largely contemporaneous pyramid-building ers!), unearthed in increasing numbers with explosion in the Old and New Worlds in expeditions from the 1920s. Even today, around 3000 BC, the purpose being to there are new discoveries being made that express the Creation myth, perhaps as acos- _ are shedding light on this enduringly myste- mic imperative, but not to serve as tombs for _ rious people. Here, Childress includes his- departed royalty. Could it be that these torical sources in his narrative that covers structures were inspired by naturally occur- _ the origin, rise and fall of the Olmecs, and ring "creation mounds" or pyramid-shaped speculates on the influence of transoceanic mountains which are in evidence, for instance, along the Nile and Supe valleys? Coppens suggests that different designs were employed that conformed to a "point of creation template" or a "pyramid template" that was adapted to suit local circumstances and cultures. Built by ancestors who saw history as cyclical, the pyramids would have been seen as signs of creation—places that were outside time, and time unaffected by space. He presents a highly readable overview of the subject, with lots of black- and-white photos throughout. 68 = NEXUS travel and trade that may have brought African, Asian and European peoples, along with their knowledge and customs, to the region. Their predilection for cranial elon- gation is a signature look that is also seen in the ancient Egyptian culture, and the Olmecs had a distinctive hieroglyphic script. Their sculptural forms featuring the guizuo hands- on-knees meditative postures have similari- ties in many Old World cultures. The heyday of the Olmecs seems to have been from at least 1500 to 400 BC, and it may have been natural disaster that caused their demise. It's evident, says Childress, that they preceded the Maya—an inconve- nient truth for many archaeologists—but they also heavily influenced this and other Central American civilisations such as the Toltecs and Aztecs. If only we had the keys to unlock this mystery, we'd solve many unknowns of the ancient world. Childress includes many colour and b&w photos, diagrams and maps to illustrate his archaeo- logical and anthropological travelogue. www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2007