Robert Schoch
From The Red Pill
Contents |
History
Schoch received his Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from Yale in 1983, and became a tenured professor of general studies at Boston University in 2000. In 1990 his life was changed when he teamed up with John Anthony West to investigate whether the orthodox dating of the Great Sphinx at Giza was correct. West had noticed that erosion marks on the ancient monument suggested water had played a part in its history, which appeared to argue against the orthodox dating (to around 2400 BCE, and the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Khafre), bringing Schoch on board to give a geological opinion.
Sphinx Controversy
Schoch studied the erosion patterns on the limestone body of the Sphinx, analysed sub-surface weathering patterns via seismic surveys, and compared the climatic history of the Giza area. His conclusion was stunning: the Great Sphinx was not only built before Khafre's time, but that its origins must go back into the fog of pre-history, at the very least to 5000 BCE and perhaps even earlier. His analysis was featured in an Emmy-winning documentary, The Mystery of the Sphinx, hosted by Charlton Heston, and also Graham Hancock's controversial best-seller, Fingerprints of the Gods - both of which brought the Age of the Sphinx controversy into the public spotlight.
Schoch's support for such a controversial 'alternative Egypt' theory (with many books using his findings to promulgate an Atlantis-like mother culture as the original builders of the Sphinx) amounted to academic heresy. In his words:
I diligently wrote papers on the subject and presented talks at geological and Egyptological conferences, and despite the animosity toward the implications of my analysis, the analysis itself stood up to scrutiny.
Yonaguni Analysis
In 1997, Schoch was brought in to give his expert opinion on the underwater Yonaguni 'monument', diving the site alongside Graham Hancock and John Anthony West. He returned to the site in 1998 as part of the Team Atlantis expedition. However, Schoch concluded that the site was a natural formation, although he did accept the possibility that it had been enhanced through human terraforming. In an interview with Sub Rosa magazine, Schoch commented:
I believe that the Yonaguni structure is natural, with the slight possibility of some human use and possible subtle human modification of what is primarily a natural feature. There is independent evidence of ancient human habitation on Yonaguni Island, but that is a far cry from “proving” that the so-called Yonaguni Monument is an artificial human-made construct.
Bosnian Pyramid Investigation
In June 2006 Schoch was invited to examine the alleged Bosnian Pyramid in the Visoko Valley of Bosnia, with Dr Colette Dowell. Schoch and Dowell were guests of Samir Osmanagic and the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation.
Interest in Parapsychology
In January 2008, Schoch released a new book on psi research, titled The Parapsychology Revolution.
Other Work
In 1999, Schoch published a 'popular book' - , Voices of the Rocks: A Scientist Looks at Catastrophes and Ancient Civilizations - which explained his work on the re-dating of the Sphinx, along with commentary on the ancient origins of various cultures and monuments, and Earth’s environmental changes. In 2003 Schoch released a follow-up book, with a slight change of direction. Voyages of the Pyramid Builders departed from his work on the Sphinx and moved into the controversial area of diffusionism, and the question of an ancient 'high culture' which spread its influence around the globe. In June 2005, he followed this book with another, titled Pyramid Quest which focused particularly on the enigmatic Great Pyramid of Giza.
Schoch has also published scholarly works such as Horns, Tusks, & Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals, Phylogeny Reconstruction in Paleontology, and the textbook Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions. In 1993 the new genus Schochia', an extinct group of fossil mammals, was named in his honor in recognition of his contributions in paleontology.
External Links
- Official website of Dr Robert M. Schoch
- Interview with Dr Robert M. Schoch for Sub Rosa Magazine (reprinted on The Daily Grail website)
- Book review of Voyages of the Pyramid Builders on The Daily Grail website
- Video interview with the Conscious Media Network
