Man: 12,000 Years Under the Sea is the dramatic story of underwater archaeology. It starts when Greek sponge divers discover ancient statues in the sea, and covers the history of marine archaeology from this early beginning to the present. It des... Read more

Man: 12,000 Years Under the Sea is the dramatic story of underwater archaeology. It starts when Greek sponge divers discover ancient statues in the sea, and covers the history of marine archaeology from this early beginning to the present. It describes such things as the discovery of a primitive bronze device later believed to be a marvelous combination of cogs and wheels that was used as an early computer, one in use by Greek navigators 82 years before Christ! It takes us along with the earliest of wreck hunters whose efforts off North Africa reveal to them The Cannons of the Gods. They are all here, searching out the unbelievable including modern day divers finding the remnants of a prehistoric forest, one the author photographed 52 feet under water that carbon-dated to over 30,000 years before present time! Even more intriguing are the dives of pioneer Bill Royal who first found and then urged scientists to investigate Ice Age Man's 12,000 year old remains deep down in once dry Florida springs where no one had ever been before. The reader joins that expedition recovering saber-tooth tiger skeletons among those of Early Man whose underwater cave wall contained the embedded hand-sized fossil tooth of a prehistoric shark over 50 feet long. After that we journey to the Greek Isles with Dr. George Bass and his divers to find and explore a 3,000 year old Bonze Age shipwreck with its cargo still intact. Later we dive warm tropical seas on a long lost Spanish treasure galleon, then join a crew in a submersible making their first dive to the long lost Monitor. And still later we follow scientists combing Loch Ness to discover something more than a monster exists there. Burgess writes of these adventures with the eye of one who was on hand to witness some of the earliest contemporary archaeological efforts to understand the meaning of these long overlooked mysteries. For example, how was it possible for searchers to recover a skull of an Ice Age cave man from the depths of a Florida spring only to find that it contained his brain still intact? Working closely with today's deep diving scientists Robert Burgess reveals answers to these and other mysteries that enable us to have a clearer view of Early Man and his world. You will find this photographically illustrated e-book an exciting read from beginning to end. : In Man 12,000 Years Under the Sea Robert Burgess gives us a peek at the work done by sponge divers, treasure hunters and underwater archaeologists. The excitement and hazard of underwater exploration is so clearly described that I was tempted to get a diving suit to join them. -- The Sacramento Bee [This book] is more than intriguing, it is a necessity. --Mensa Bulletin Man: 12,000 Years Under the Sea will appeal to all readers who like action and adventure. --Publisher's Weekly Less