Robert M. Schoch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert M. Schoch is an American geologist and academic with a special interest in pyramid monuments around the world. He received his Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from Yale in 1983, and as of 2008 is a tenured (tenured 1990) associate professor of Natural Science at the College of General Studies, a 2 year non-degree granting unit of Boston University. He argues that the Great Sphinx of Giza is much older than conventionally thought and that possibly some kind of catastrophe has wiped out other evidence of a significantly older civilization. In 1991, Schoch redated the famous monument to 7000–5000 BC, based on his assertion that its erosion was due mainly to the effects of water, rather than wind and sand, and also based on seismic studies around the base of the Sphinx and elsewhere on the plateau.
Schoch's other theories include the belief that possibly all pyramids — in Egypt, Mesoamerica and elsewhere — represent (in the sense that the general concept of pyramids is inherited, along with many other cultural commonalities) a much older global culture, or at least that there was cultural contact around the world in ancient times. He is also known for his research on the Yonaguni underwater "monuments," where he has dived on several occasions, beginning in 1997; his analysis of the formations is that they are of natural origin.
In 1993, Schoch lent his name to a genus of extinct mammals, Schochia, of which Schochia sullivani is the genoholotype.[1]
In 2006, Schoch investigated the so-called Bosnian pyramid excavations, at the invitation of the locals. He concluded "absolutely no evidence of pyramids per se or of a great ancient civilization in the Visoko region." [2]
Besides his work on ancient monuments and cultures, Schoch is interested in environmental issues (he is co-author of the college textbook Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions) and he is involved in the serious study of parapsychology.
[edit] Published works
- Case Studies in Environmental Science, 1996. ISBN 0-3142-0397-4.
- Development of Evolutionary Thought, with Peter Busher, Sally Sommers Smith, 2005. ISBN 0-6186-5882-3.
- Environmental Ethics: A Case Studies Approach, 2007. ISBN 0-7637-2687-7.
- Environmental Science, with Andrew H. Lapinski, Anne Tweed, 2007. ISBN 0-1306-9900-4.
- Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions, with Michael McKinney, 2003. ISBN 0-7637-0918-2.
- Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions, with Michael L. McKinney, Logan Yonavjak, 2007. ISBN 0-7637-4262-7.
- Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals, with Donald R. Prothero, 2003. ISBN 0-8018-7135-2.
- Phylogeny Reconstruction in Paleontology, 1986. ISBN 0-4422-7967-1.
- Pyramid Quest: Secrets of the Great Pyramid and the Dawn of Civilization, 2005. ISBN 1-58542-405-6.
- Stratigraphy: Principles and Methods, 1989. ISBN 0-4422-8021-1.
- The Parapsychology Revolution: A Concise Anthology of Paranormal and Psychical Research, 2008. ISBN 1-5854-2616-4.
- Voices of the Rocks: A Scientist Looks at Catastrophes and Ancient Civilizations, 1999. ISBN 0-609-60369-8
- Voyages of the Pyramid Builders: The True Origins of the Pyramids from Lost Egypt to Ancient America, 2003. ISBN 1-58542-320-3.