Full Article Title
The Significance of Caves in Post-Flood History of Mankind
Proposal
Caves have been a shelter and a site for religious sanctuaries for humans living shortly after the Flood. Cave art emerged as a result of human habitation of caves and their interpretation as entrance to the womb of a primordial mother goddess, holding the secret of animal souls. Dating of cave art performed either stylistically or “technically” (radiometric and other lab methods) is far from congruent, resulting in serious disagreements amongst scientists. In the meantime, nobody seems to have addressed the question of why cave artists made no use of speleothems, though they skilfully used wall relief to layout their art. Nevertheless many speleothems located close to cave art have features that shouldn’t have escaped the trained eyes of the ancient cave artists. This strongly suggests that those speleothems were not present when the artists were at work. This at its turn casts a serious doubt on the thousands of radiometric datings of speleothems, which yielded many ages far older than those of the paintings. And there is yet another problem with the age of cave art: if it is as old as claimed by specialists, it means it had survived virtually unchanged for at least ten times longer than the Egyptian hieratic art. This is most unlikely since tools and social behaviour did change significantly. There is a simple solution to all these contradictions: a Young Earth speleogenetic model, according to which caves – rapidly excavated by hydrothermal solutions coming from inside the earth, as a result of the great geological changes induced by the Flood - became available to humans only after the Flood. Noah’s descendants used caves gradually, according to their availability and the pattern of human dispersion. Hence their different use, from mere shelters to religious sanctuaries. Caves appear to have played a major role in the survival of important human groups during the Ice Age, thus contributing to the repopulation of the planet.
Keywords
Caves, mythology, Biblical Flood, shelters, human habitation of caves, cave art, cave art longevity, religious sanctuaries in caves, Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe, Altamira, Bluefish Caves, Chauvet, Fumane, Kafzeh, Kebara, Lascaux, Longgupo, Pedra Pintada, Shanidar, Skhül, Tabun, Twin Rivers Cave, Zhoukoudian, Ice Age, radiometric dating of speleothems
Print Reference
Pages 551-560
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Recommended Citation
Silvestru, Emil(2003)"The Significance of Caves in Post-Flood History of Mankind,"Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism: Vol. 5, Article 44.
Available at:https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/icc_proceedings/vol5/iss1/44
As a seasoned researcher and enthusiast in the field of archaeology, particularly focused on the role of caves in human history, my expertise is deeply rooted in both theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence. Having extensively studied various publications, including the article titled "The Significance of Caves in Post-Flood History of Mankind" by Emil Silvestru in the Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism, I can provide valuable insights into the concepts discussed.
The article posits a unique perspective on the importance of caves in post-Flood human history, attributing them to be shelters and religious sanctuaries for humans shortly after the biblical Flood. Emil Silvestru, associated with Answers in Genesis Canada, introduces the idea that cave art emerged as a result of human habitation of caves and their interpretation as entrances to a primordial mother goddess's womb, holding the secret of animal souls.
One key aspect addressed in the article is the dating of cave art, performed through various methods such as stylistic analysis and radiometric techniques. The author highlights a significant disagreement among scientists regarding the dating, suggesting that the use of speleothems (mineral deposits in caves) has not been considered adequately in relation to cave art. The absence of speleothems in cave art creation raises questions about the reliability of radiometric dating of these formations, with implications for the claimed ages of cave paintings.
A proposed solution to these contradictions is presented in the form of a Young Earth speleogenetic model. According to this model, caves were rapidly formed by hydrothermal solutions following geological changes induced by the Flood. The availability of caves to humans occurred gradually after the Flood, influencing their different uses—from shelters to religious sanctuaries. The article further suggests that caves played a crucial role in the survival of human groups during the Ice Age, contributing to the repopulation of the planet.
The keywords provided offer a comprehensive overview of the topics covered, including caves, mythology, the Biblical Flood, shelters, human habitation of caves, cave art, religious sanctuaries in caves, and the Ice Age. Notable archaeological sites such as Altamira, Bluefish Caves, Chauvet, Fumane, Kafzeh, Kebara, Lascaux, Longgupo, Pedra Pintada, Shanidar, Skhül, Tabun, Twin Rivers Cave, and Zhoukoudian are mentioned, emphasizing the global significance of caves in different regions.
In conclusion, the article by Emil Silvestru presents a thought-provoking exploration of the role of caves in post-Flood human history, backed by a proposed speleogenetic model and critical examination of cave art dating methods. The interdisciplinary approach combining geology, archaeology, and mythology adds depth to the understanding of the subject matter.
