Archaeologist Debates Graham Hancock on Ancient Civilizations

Classical archaeologist Flint Dibble recently faced off against author Graham Hancock on the popular debate Joe Rogan Experience podcast, debating the existence of an advanced Ice Age civilization. Hancock, known for his bestselling books promoting alternative theories about ancient history, claims that a sophisticated global civilization was destroyed in a cataclysmic event around 12,000 years ago. Dibble, armed with evidence from decades of archaeological research, argued there is no proof to support Hancock's hypothesis.

Why this matters: The debate highlights the importance of evidence-based scholarship in an era of widespread misinformation and distrust of expertise. By engaging with a massive audience, Dibble aimed to present the facts and emphasize the progress made in understanding our cultural heritage, which has broader implications for how we approach knowledge and truth.

The debate, which lasted four and a half hours, was sparked by Dibble's criticism of Hancock's Netflix series "Ancient Apocalypse" in a Twitter thread last November. Hancock, who has a large following, invited scholars to debate him on Rogan's podcast, which reaches tens of millions. Dibble, a lesser-known academic with 10,000 YouTube subscribers, took on the challenge to present the facts and counter the spread of misinformation.

During the debate, Dibble emphasized the vast amount of archaeological data collected over the past 50-60 years, with millions of sites and billions of artifacts studied. He stressed that there is no evidence of a lost advanced civilization, despite significant exploration of the planet. "I'm appearing because Rogan's podcast draws an audience in the tens of millions. If scholars want to curb the spread of misinformation, we need to stop just talking among ourselves or to audiences of like-minded people," Dibble explained.

Hancock countered by arguing that the absence of evidence does not necessarily mean such a civilization never existed. He pointed to largely unexplored areas like the Sahara desert and the Amazon, as well as disputed underwater structures like Japan's Yonaguni Monument and the Bimini Road in the Bahamas. "So to say that there's no possibility of any traces of a lost civilisation seems to me a bit premature,"Hancock asserted.

The Hancock-Dibble debate highlights the importance of evidence-based scholarship in an era of widespread misinformation and distrust of expertise. By engaging with a massive audience, Dibble aimed to present the facts, showcase human accomplishments uncovered by archaeology, and emphasize the progress made in understanding our cultural heritage. As he noted, "My duty is to present what we actually know, the evidence that we have."

Key Takeaways

• Flint Dibble debates Graham Hancock on Joe Rogan's podcast about an advanced Ice Age civilization.
• Dibble argues there's no evidence to support Hancock's hypothesis, citing decades of archaeological research.
• Hancock claims absence of evidence doesn't mean civilization never existed, citing unexplored areas and disputed structures.
• The debate highlights the importance of evidence-based scholarship in an era of misinformation.
• Dibble aims to present facts and showcase human accomplishments uncovered by archaeology.