GEOL 115 Spring 2007

Geomythology of Ancient Catastrophes - Syllabus

Myths from many cultures contain descriptions of phenomena or events that bear a striking resemblance to natural disasters including (but not limited to) flooding, earthquakes, tsunami, and volcanic eruptions. In this course we will explore the possibility that some of these mythological accounts may be based on actual events that occurred in the distant past. The first part of the course will focus on Mesopotamian, Greek and Biblical myths; the latter portion of the course will concentrate more on material from the Pacific Northwest and will include field trips to examine evidence of large scale flooding, landslides, and tsunami. Specific objectives of the course are:

(1)to familiarize you with the settings and causes of catastrophic geologic events, their associated phenomena, and the types of evidence these events leave behind

(2)to acquaint you with the methods used to study these kinds of events so that you are able to formulate hypotheses about past events, devise means of testing your hypotheses, and also recognize when an idea is not testable

(3)to practicecritically reading and analyzing myths from different cultures with the goals of appreciating their societal significance and assessing the extent to which they may record actual events

(4)to instill in each of you an awareness and appreciation of your natural surroundings and of the different ways in which one can look at the landscape

Professor:Dr. Jeffrey Tepper

Office:152 Thompson Hall

Phone:

E-mail:

WWW:

Office Hours:Monday 1-3, Wednesday 12-1, Friday 12-1

and other times by drop-in or by appointment

Course Texts: There are three required texts for this course. The first is a “course pack” of photocopied readings that I have assembled from various sources; this is available in the bookstore. The second is the Bible (any version is fine). The third is Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest by Ella E. Clark. This book is no longer in print, but is available through King’s Books here in Tacoma or through Amazon.

Assignments and Grading: Course grades will be based on the following components:

Quizzes20%

Position Papers 30%

Discussions / Participation15%

Research Paper & Presentation35%

Quizzes (~5-10 minutes long; scheduled on weeks when there is no discussion) will be based on assigned readings and / or lecturesand are intended to ensure that everyone stays up-to-date with those assignments.

Position papers (roughly 2-3 pages, typed) will require you to synthesize knowledge after each of the discussion sessions. In essence, I am asking you to state a position with regard to the discussion topic and summarize evidence that supports your view. More detailed instructions and guidelines will be provided prior to the first discussion.

The research paper is the culminating assignment for the course. The intent of this project is for you to investigate the origin(s) of one or more myths of your choosing, drawing upon both myth and science. Potential topics include any myth or catastrophic event that we did not cover in class (there are many to choose from, with themes ranging from meteorite impacts to sinkhole collapses to Hawaiian volcano legends) or a critical analysis of an existing hypothesis (for example, one of the Legend of Atlantis “explanations”). In addition to the written paper, each student will give a brief (~12 minute) talk on his / her research. These talks will model the format of a presentation at a professional conference. I will provide more specifics about this assignment in the coming weeksbut it is never too soon to start thinking about what topic interests you. The deadline for selecting a topic (and having it approved by me) will be Wednesday, March 7th.

Field Trips:Many types of catastrophic phenomenathat we will examine this semester have occurred in Washington in the recent geologic past. To examine the evidence these events left behind we will take three field trips. The dates and destinations are listed below. We will talk about trip details as the dates get closer, but please put these dates on your calendar now.

Saturday 3/24 – Sunday 3/25Columbia Plateau & Spokane Floods

Saturday 4/7Columbia Gorge & “Bridge of the Gods”

Saturday 4/21Coastal Earthquakes and Tsunami

E-mail/WWW:I will use e-mail to communicate with you. It is your responsibility to check your account at least once every two days. I will also post lecture outlines and other course-related materials on Blackboard.

Attendance:Regular, on-time attendance is essential for your individual success as well as the success of the class as a whole. I will keep track of attendance. Missing a discussion session without giving me prior notice will result in an automatic grade of zero for that week’s position paper. A student absent for more than 15% of the class meetings will, at a minimum, have his/her grade lowered by one letter grade.

Honesty:The work you turn in must be your own. I encourage you to discuss course material with your classmates and to study and work together on assignments, but when you take a quiz or turn in an assignment that work must reflect your own efforts. Any coursework that shows evidence of academic dishonesty will receive a grade of zero and may be turned over to the Registrar’s Office. If you are unclear as to what constitutes plagiarism it is a good idea to read the section on academic honesty in the Logger (online at

Special Needs:If you have a documented disability and would benefit from classroom accommodations or modifications please see me at the beginning of the semester. You should also contact Ivey West (x. 2692) at the Center for Writing and Learning in Howarth 105.

Tips forBuilding knowledge is much like building strength .. it takes time and it takes

Success:repetition. You cannot “get strong” by lifting weights all night before a game, nor can you “get smart” by studying all night before an exam. Here are some tips for doing well in this or any other course:

  • Take good notes during lecture; don’t just write what is on the board.
  • Recopy your notes each night; this takes time, but it allows you to “process” the material and to identify anything that is unclear.
  • Ask questions. And listen when your classmates ask questions.
  • Read the texts carefully ... and write in them!
  • Study with a friend. The friend needn’t even be in this course; if you can explain the material to someone who hasn’t taken the course that is a good indication that you understand it well.
  • Talk about the material. It is easy to read something and not fully understand it, but it’s hard to have a conversation about material you don’t understand. Talking about a topic is a good way to assess how well you have mastered it.

GEOL 115 Spring 2007

Geomythology –Schedule of Lecture Topics & Readings

Week 1 (Jan. 16 – Jan. 19)Readings (to read before the associated lecture)

  • Introduction, Course Logistics, What is a Myth?--
  • The Role of Myth in the Ancient WorldHeinberg, The Mysteries of Myth; Armstrong, The Paleolithic Period

Week 2 (Jan. 22 – Jan. 26)

  • The Antiquity and Reliability of MythsBarber, The Memory Crunch; Campbell, Aboriginal Traditions
  • Dating of Geological Events--
  • The Theme of Paradise in Mythology / QUIZ #1--

Week 3 (Jan. 29 – Feb 2)

  • Neolithic Revolution and Mesopotamian CivilizationHeinberg, Paradise as History; Tudge, The End of Eden
  • Holocene Climate Change – Timing, Impacts, and EvidenceWeiss et al., Genesis and Collapse of Mesopotamian Civilization
  • Environmental Degradation in the Ancient World / QUIZ #2Ponting, Historical Perspectives on Sustainable Development

Week 4 (Feb. 5 – Feb. 9)

  • Discussion #1: The Garden of EdenHamblin, Has the Garden of Eden Been Located at Last?
  • Video: “In Search of Eden”--
  • The Nature of Floods – Causes and Styles--

Week 5 (Feb. 12 – Feb 16)

  • Paleoflood Analysis & Great Floods in the Middle EastWoolley, The Beginnings of Ur
  • The Black SeaDeluge & Other Catastrophic Flood EventsNoble, Geologists Link Black Sea Deluge To Farming’s Rise
  • Flood Myths / QUIZ #3The Epic of Gilgamesh; Genesis 6:10 – 8:20

Week 6 (Feb. 19 – Feb. 23)

  • Discussion #2: The Great Flood (or Floods?)--
  • Video: “Mysteries of Noah and the Flood”--
  • Overview of Plate TectonicsMontgomery, Chapter 3 (Plate Tectonics)

Week 7 (Feb. 26 – Mar. 2)

  • Geology and Tectonics of the Mediterranean--
  • The Nature of Volcanism – Volcano Types, Processes, & ProductsPress et al., Chapter 6 (Volcanism)
  • The Nature of Volcanism – continued / QUIZ #4Press et al., Chapter 6 (Volcanism)

Week 8 (Mar. 5 – Mar. 9)

  • Overview of Greek Civilization and Mythology--
  • Old Testament HistoryBentor, Geological Events in the Bible
  • Discussion #3: Clash of the Titans and the Miracles of Exodushandout

Week 9 (Mar. 19 – Mar. 23)

  • Great Eruptions and their Impacts - Vesuvius, Krakatoa, SantoriniSparks, The Big Blast at Santorini
  • Background to Atlantis: Plato and the MinoansEllis, What Plato Said
  • Discussion #4: The Legend of AtlantisPlato, Timaeus and Critias (selections)

Week 10 (Mar. 26 – Mar. 30)

  • The Nature of Earthquakes I: Basic ConceptsAbbott, Chapter 3 (Basic Principles of EQ Geology)
  • The Nature of Earthquakes II: Phenomena and EvidenceAbbott, Chapter 3 (Basic Principles of EQ Geology)
  • Paleoseismology / Earthquakes in the Middle East/ QUIZ #5Harris, Sodom and Gomorrah: A Geotechnical Perspective

Week 11 (Apr. 2 – Apr. 6)

  • Discussion #5: Destruction of SodomGomorrahBlock, Island of Taman; Nissenbaum, Climatic Perspective
  • “The Walls Came Tumbling Down” (video)--
  • The Nature of LandslidesAbbott, Chapter 8 (Mass Movements)

Week 12 (Apr. 9 – Apr. 13)

  • Earthquakes and Volcanism in the CascadesAtwater et al., Unearthed Earthquakes
  • Guest Speaker: Roy Wilson (Cowlitz Tribe)--
  • Tsunamis & Tsunami Legends of the Pacific NorthwestLudwin et al., Dating the 1700 Cascadia Earthquake

Week 13 (Apr. 16 – Apr. 20)

  • Catch-Up Day--
  • Student Presentations--
  • Student Presentations--

Week 14 (Apr. 23 – Apr. 27)

  • Student Presentations--
  • Student Presentations--
  • Student Presentations--

Week 15 (Apr. 30 – May 2)

  • Student Presentations--
  • Wrap-Up

Bibliography:

Abbott, P. (1999) Natural Disasters (2nd Edition). Boston: McGraw Hill, 397 p.

Armstrong, Karen (2005) A Short History of Myth. New York: Cannongate, 159 p.

Atwater, B.F., et al. (2005) The Orphan Tsunami of 1700. Reston, VA: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1701, 133 p.

Barber, Elizabeth W., and Barber, Paul T. (2004) When They Severed Earth from Sky. Princeton: PrincetonUniversity Press, 290 p.

Bentor, Y.K. (1989) Geological Events in the Bible. Terra Nova 1, p. 326-338.

Block, J.W. (1982) Sodom, Gomorrah and the CrimeanIsland of Taman. Journal of Geologic Education, v. 30, p. 112-115.

Campbell, A. (1967) Aboriginal Traditions and the Prehistory of Australia. Mankind 6, p. 476-481.

Ellis, R. (1998) Imagining Atlantis.New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 332 p.

Hamblin, D. J. (1987) Has the Garden of Eden been located at last? Smithsonian, v. 18, p. 127-135.

Harris, G.M., and Beardow, A.P. (1995) The destruction of Sodom and Gomorah: a geotechnical perspective. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, v. 28, p. 349-362.

Heinberg, R. (1989) Memories and Visions of Paradise. Los Angeles, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc. 282 p.

Ludwin, R.S., et al. (2005) Dating the 1700 Cascadia earthquake: Great coastal earthquakes in Native Stories. Seismological Research Letters, v. 75, p. 140-148.

Montgomery, C.W. (1992) Environmental Geology (3rd Edition). Dubuque: Brown Publishers, 465 p.

Nissenbaum, A. (1994) Sodom, Gomorrah and the Other Lost Cities of the Plain – A Climatic Pespective. Climate Change v. 26, p. 435-446.

Noble, J.W. (1996) Geologists Link Black Sea Deluge to Farming’s Rise. New York Times, 17 December 1996, p. C-1.

Ponting, C. (1990) Historical Perspectives on Sustainable Development. Environment,v. 32, p. 4-9, 31-33.

Plato,

Press, F., et al. (2003) Understanding Earth (4th Edition). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 567 p.

Prichard, J.B. (1958) The Ancient Near East, Vol. 1. An Anthology of Texts and Pictures. Princeton: PrincetonUniversity Press, 380 p.

Sparks, S. and Sigurdsson, H. (1978) The Big Blast at Santorini. Natural History 87, p. 70-77.

Tudge, C., 1996, The time before history: New York, Scribner, 366 p.

Weiss, H., et al. (1993) The Genesis and Collapse of Third Millennium North Mesopotamian Civilization. Science 261, p. 995-1004

Woolley, C. L. (1929) Ur of the Chaldees. Ernest Benn, Ltd.

Best, Robert M. (1999) Noah’s Ark and the Ziusudra Epic. Fort Myers: Enlil Press, 304 p.

Block, J.W. (1975) Sodom and Gomorrah: a volcanic disaster. Journal of Geologic Education, v. 23, p. 74-77.

Frazer, J.G. (1919) Folk-lore in the Old Testament, v. 1. London: Macmillian and Co., 569 p.

Humphreys, Colin J. (2003) The Miracles of Exodus. New York: Harper San Francisco, 362 p.

Jacobsen, T., and Adams, R. (1958) Salt and silt in ancient Mesopotamian agriculture. Science, v. 126, p. 1251-1258.

Mallowan, M.E.L. (1964) Noah’s Flood Reconsidered. Iraq, v. 26, p. 62-82.

McCoy, F.W., and Heiken, G. (1990) Anatomy of an eruption. Archaeology, v. 43, p. 42-49.

McMillan, A.D., and Hutchinson, I. (2002) When the mountain dwarfs danced: aboriginal traditions of paleoseismic events along the Cascadia Subduction Zone of North America. Ethnohistory, v. 49, p. 41-68.

Neev, D., and Emery, K.O. (1995) The destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah, and Jericho. New York: OxfordUniversity Press, 178 p.

Osborn, Kevin and Burgess, Dana L. (1998) The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Classical Mythology. New York: Alpha Books, 406 p.

Raikes, R.L. (1966) The Physical Evidence for Noah’s Flood. Iraq, v. 28, p. 52-63.

Runnels, C. N. (1995) Environmental degradation in ancient Greece. Scientific American, v. 27, no. 3, p. 96-99.

Ryan, W., and Pitman, W. (1998) Noah's flood: the new scientific discoveries about the event that changed history:New York: Simon and Schuster, 319 p.