opinion

Explaining the unexplained

And now the latest: Malta is what remains of the submerged continent of Atlantis. By Franklin Mamo

One of the few courses in psychology I thoroughly enjoyed, back in my University days, was one called "Anomalistic psychology". This course made a critical scientific examination of whatever lies on the fringe (what some would call parapsychology): from UFOs to weeping Madonnas, from life on Mars to faith healing, from astrology to cryptozoology (the Loch Ness monster would fall under this category). A mixed bag of stories which were great fun to read, admittedly more fun thanthe cold, rational dissection they were submitted to later.

They were a great read, first, because stories of lost civilisations building canals on Mars are highly entertaining, secondly, because they rested on the flimsiest of evidence. I remember this "archaeologist" who claimed that the Romans had reached the North American coast and established themselves there. The proof? A slab of stone showing three deep perpendicular scratches. Uh? "Yeah" said the ‘archaeologist’ "that’s the Roman numeral III".

Don’t buy it? Nor do most of the archaeological establishment. So what happens next? These fringe theorists hatch conspiracy theories. NASA won’t release all the photos of the "face" on Mars, the US government covered up an alleged crash of an alien ship in the 1940s and won’t allow anyone in "Area 52" where aliens are still kept. The US government, of course, doesn’t allow any Tom, Dick or Harry into any military installations – and for good reason.

Malta has had its fair share of bizarre theories too. Remember the cart ruts? Those parallel grooves in the stones which run quite some distance and most of which are unceremoniously covered in weeds, rubble or even built over. One theorist, who can tell nice stories of how advanced alien civilisations often visited their pre-historic earthy counterparts, thinks that those cart ruts were "runways" for alien spaceships. So, hello Earthling, at what time does Malta-Venus depart?

And now the latest: Malta is what remains of the submerged continent of Atlantis. This is not the first time that this statement has been made. But, at least, before it was touted as an hypothesis. Now there is "proof". Here goes: first, Malta was inhabited long before we had thought, a thousand years before the pyramids. Yes, and? One is expected to ask. And there were bones in Ghar Dalam which means that there was great flooding ("could", of course, is omitted). And, guess what, Malta’s pre-historic communities disappeared around the same time the Atlantidians were flushed off the face of the Earth.

Here’s more: Plato said the Atlantidians built boats and the pre-historic Maltese built boats. Plato also said that Atlantis was full of canals and Malta had cart ruts. And so on and so forth, all in that style of reasoning which says that if cats, like elephants, have four legs, a tail and two ears, then all cats are in fact elephants. No surprise that there are a few other places who have laid similar claims to being the lost continent.

And now the conspiracy theories. First, the Roman Catholic Church removed all reference to the "semi-divine" Atlantidians, which supposedly make an appearance in the Book of Genesis. Where and how we are not told. We are only told that texts referring to Atlantis made a re-appearance in the 15th century (rather than a "re-appearance" this was more of a rekindled interest when Greek refugees came to the West after the fall of Byzantium). Equally guilty, we are told, are the archaeological authorities here. They are engaged in a massive cover-up, motive unknown, to hide the fact that we are descended from people with big heads and therefore big brains.

Maybe I should add my two cents’ worth to the "Malta was Atlantis" theory. Remember the old limerick which recounts how Malta is slowly sinking and that, one day, Sicilian seamen will be sailing somewhere in the middle of the Med and will say "here is where Malta once stood"? Yeah? That is definite proof that the Sicilians know something about it and they are keeping their mouths shut. Probably to avoid greater competition with Malta for the tourist market.

Because, it ought to be said, there was someone who bought this theory. It’s the Malta Tourism Authority which, and this I read second hand, will be using the theory as part of a campaign to bring more tourists to Malta. "Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof" the French scientist Laplace once said. But then, whatever increases revenue for the country. When you consider that our real archaeological heritage seems to be valued only for its potential to milk tourists of their money, making money just by showing them the sea beyond Dingli cliffs is certainly innovative business.