Charles R. Pellegrino
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Charles R. Pellegrino is a renowned and sometimes controversial[1] polymath and author of several books relating to archaeology, including Return to Sodom and Gomorrah, Ghosts of the Titanic (with a foreword by James Cameron), Unearthing Atlantis and Ghosts of Vesuvius.
From the inside cover of Ghosts of Vesuvius: Charles Pellegrino has been known to work simultaneously in entomology, forensic physics, paleogenetics, preliminary design of advanced rocket systems, astrobiology, and marine archaeology. The author of eighteen books of fiction and non-fiction, including Unearthing Atlantis, Dust, Ghosts of the Titanic, and the New York Times bestseller Her Name, Titanic. He is the scientist whose dinosaur-cloning recipe inspired Michael Crichton's best-selling novel Jurassic Park. Walking on the beach, he suggested to Crichton that prehistoric DNA can be hidden in the Earth.
Pellegrino's most recent book (co-authored with Simcha Jacobovici) is the highly controversial The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History (2007), a companion book to the Discovery Channel documentary on the same subject created in part by film director James Cameron.
Pellegrino lives in New York City.
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[edit] Biography
Pellegrino was born on May 5, 1953, in New York, NY; and is the son of John and Jane (maiden name, McAvinue) Pellegrino. He has three children and is currently engaged to Mary, the soon to be last Mrs. Pellegrino.
Pellegrino's interesting and often controversial career as a scientist include working in paleobiology, astronomy, and various other areas; designer for projects including rockets and nuclear devices (non-military propulsion systems), composite construction materials, and magnetically levitated transportation systems; writer. Has been affiliated with Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand National Observatory , Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, NY; taught at institutions including Hofstra University and Adelphi University Center for Creative Arts; member of Princeton Space Studies Institute. Cradle of Aviation Museum, space flight consultant; Challenger Center, founding member. After sailing with Robert Ballard to the Galapagos Rift in the immediate aftermath of the discovery of the Titanic (in 1985), Pellegrino expanded from the field of palaeontology “into the shallows of archaeological time".
Education: Long Island University B.A., 1975, M.S., 1977; Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, Ph.D. 1982.
Information supplied by Charles Pellegrino's Official Website
[edit] Unearthing Atlantis: An Archaeological Odyssey
Using Archaeological evidence found on the once volcanic Island of Thera in the Cyclades, Pellegrino developed a theory to explain the embellished story of Plato's "Atlantis." Finding Flush toilets, elegant frescoes preserved by pumice fallout from the Theran Volcanic eruption and multi story buildings of superb construction, Pellegrino was able to decipher the significance of the rise and fall of Minoan culture to the compelling mythical event that has captivated the imaginations of fiction authors and artists alike for decades.
In his book Unearthing Atlantis Pellegrino introduces the tale of the tragic Atlantis, once a flourishing empire under the rule of King Minos (of the Minotaur) on the Islands of Thera and Crete within the Agean and Mediterranean seas. According to Plato, the civilization had grown beyond the perception of the most enthusiastic imagination, having developed hot and cold running water, aqueducts and even flush toilets. Such innovations put this thriving civilization nearly 3000 years ahead of its time. The laid back culture even utilized natural ports for a successful navy, having travelled as far as present day England. However, the natural elements of water and fire (Volcano) that allowed the Minoans to evolve to such an extent eventually lead to their decline. The Great Threa eruption of 1628 BC blew fifty cubic miles of rock into the atmosphere with a noise so violent that to this day it has yet to be matched in magnitude, even when considering Hiroshima and Vesuvius. Pellegrino discussed the effect of the Theran ash cloud in the History Channel Special "Exodus Decoded."
The death cloud released by such a catastrophic event covered the entire globe, with evidence of its arrival in China, America and Asia. The cloud itself credited also with the Plagues of Egypt seemed to have a great impact on ancient history from the moment it was conceived.
[edit] Bibliography
Pellegrino Non-Fiction
- The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History (with Simcha Jacobovici)
- Return to Sodom and Gomorrah : Bible Stories from Archaeologists
- Ghosts of the Titanic
- Her Name Titanic: Untold Story of the Sinking and Finding of the Ship
- Unearthing Atlantis : An Archaeological Odyssey
- Chariots for Apollo : The Untold Story Behind the Race to the Moon
- Ghosts of Vesuvius : A New Look at the Last Days of Pompeii, How towers Fall, and Other Strange Connections
Pellegrino Fiction
- Flying to Valhalla
- The Killing Star
- Dust
- Dyson Sphere (Star Trek: The Next Generation, No. 50) (with George Zebrowski)
[edit] Filmograpghy
- Exodus Decoded - History Channel. With Simcha Jacobovici and James Cameron (2006).
- American Vesuvius - History Channel.
- Secrets of the Bible - National Geographic Channel (2006).
- Titanic - James Cameron movie (2007).
- National Geographic. Naked Science. Atlantis (2005).
- Aliens of the Deep. With James Cameron.
- Ghosts of the Abyss. With James Cameron.
- Time-Life's Lost Civilizations. Atlantis DVD.
[edit] External links
- http://www.charlespellegrino.com/ Official Website for Charles Pellegrino
