Ancient Voices

The Great Flood

(BBC2, 31st January 1999, 8.00pm)

Suitable for:

Sixth Form General Studies, or perhaps as a general introduction to the role of archaeology in Biblical study, at Key Stage 4.

An Introduction from the Programme's Producer

The gripping story of Noah and his ark is well known world-wide. When researchers began to bring to light a chain of clues that appeared to discover the source of this epic event, the Ancient Voices television series became interested.

The resulting film is an archaeological and geological detective story that follows a trail back many thousands of years, back through ancient Babylon to the end of the last ice-age and to a great flood of unimaginable swiftness and ferocity.

The pair of researchers attempting to link the Noah story with a real event are an oceanographer, Dr Bill Ryan, and a geophysicist, Dr Walter Pitman - both from Colombia University.

Dr Kate Spence, the programme's presenter, myself and a television crew joined them as they continued their researches in Turkey - uncovering evidence of a time when the entire oceans of the world broke into a lowland kingdom situated in an area now covered by the Black Sea.

Ryan and Pitman's discovery of a great Black Sea Flood is now generally accepted by academics. Whilst the claims of the two authors to link this Black Sea flood to the story of Noah are by no means yet proven, their insights are now being taken as a leading hypothesis to explain the settlement changes in the areas around the Black Sea at the time of the flood and the origin of the story of Noah.

I hope that as you share their path back through history you find it an interesting and stimulating journey.

CHRISTOPHER MANN

MAKE THE TRADITIONAL TURKISH 'NOAH'S PUDDING'
as featured in the programme....

RECIPE

For four people, you will need:

1 mug wholewheat grains
4 tablespoons pudding rice
3 tablespoons dried chickpeas
3 tablespoons dried haricot beans
1 mug sugar
1 tablespoon sultanas
4-5 dried apricots (chopped)
1-2 dried figs (chopped)
Roasted chopped almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts to decorate

Soak wheat and rice together overnight. Also soak dried beans and the chickpeas in separate bowls.

The next day, boil wheat and rice together in plenty of water until they make a thick mixture. This is the base of the pudding.

Cook chickpeas and dried beans separately, drain, add to the wheat mixture with sugar and all the other ingredients except nuts.

Simmer for 2 minutes. Allow to cool.

Serve in individual bowls and decorate with nuts.

ENJOY AND REMEMBER!!

Rescue from the flood!

USING THE PROGRAMME FOR RE

This programme would be useful for general studies in the sixth form, or possibly at Key Stage 4 as a general introduction to the role of archaeology in Biblical study.

The programme examines a hypothesis that a catastrophic flood occurred in ancient times when a massive volume of water broke through the Bosphorous, flooding lands on the shores of the Black Sea and causing whole tribes to flee or perish. Dr Bill Ryan and Dr Walter Pitman, geologists, believe they have found evidence to suggest that this could be the same Flood that has remained in religious tradition as the Flood recorded in the Book of Genesis.

The archaeologist presenter, Dr Kate Spence, makes it clear that this quest for the truth about the Great Flood, and whether it is Noah's Flood, is still very much in progress. This open-endedness is worth emphasising to students. The programme is an approachable example of academic investigation in progress, exploring the Bible traditions.

As you can see from the experience of the two geologists whose work is at the centre of the programme, even experts do not have enough detailed knowledge outside their own field to be able to prove hypotheses by themselves; likewise, students will not be able to do more than evaluate the material given in the programme, together with any other information they can find in libraries. However, that is part of the value of this programme as the basis for classroom discussion.

Basic texts:

The Story of Noah from Genesis Ch.6 v.9 - 8 v.19
The Story of the Flood from 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' in Documents from Old Testament Times, ed D.Winton Thomas
Dr Ryan and Dr Pitman's work is also discussed in New Scientist (16th Jan 99)
A booklet related to the programme is available. Send a cheque or postal order for Ł3.95 to "THE GREAT FLOOD", PO Box 1001, Manchester M60 3JB

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION - Based on quotations from the programme

"A distant echo of the Black Sea Flood in the story of Noah"

There is evidence for a great flood in other ancient traditions, e.g.

Hindu:	Yama, ancestor of the human race, is said to have been saved in a ship from a deluge which swept away all others; flood is said to be one of the disasters, together with fire, that will destroy the present 'Kali' age. After the flood creation will resume with the 'seed' of a good man rescued from the inundation.
Ancient Peruvian:	A flood was said to end the first stage of cosmic life, making everything into a timeless ocean with no horizons.
Chinese:	In the Han Dynasty (CE25-220) one school of thought had a world view in which the pole star was the hub of the universe. As the pole star actually appeared off-centre, it was explained by the myth of a monster who had broken through a mountain with his horn, tipping the sky and earth out of line and causing a flood.
Greek:	Zeus was said to have sent a flood to punish wickedness. The grandson of Prometheus and his wife were the only survivors, so they were the start of new creation.

Consider the different forms of natural disaster that can occur. How many are explicable and predictable today? How many people worldwide are still affected by them? Now consider what it was like living in a society such as those around the Black Sea in ancient times which had little experience beyond the confines of its 'timeless environment'. How is a community likely to view unexpected occurrences, especially threatening ones? Find out more about the way in which early societies viewed their relationship with nature, and with the divine. Does this give any insight into why there are flood and fire myths in many different cultures?

"They know they're being provocative... that's good... that makes us think about it"

There is a difference of opinion among Christians, and others, as to the importance of accepting the literal truth of the Bible rather than a more general belief in the wisdom and guidance that can be gathered from it as a sacred text. In the last century there was a belief that science and religion were incompatible (find out more about how Darwin's theories about evolution were regarded in church and public circles when they were first presented). Do you think people still believe that scientific research might threaten religious belief? Try to find some examples of areas of science and religion which provoke discussion - or argument - today.

"It's futile to search for facts in Old Testament mythology"

What does this mean? Do you agree with it? Leading on from the last point, talk about myths - the role of myths to carry stories and truths in memorable ways in different societies, how 'true' is myth, etc..

"When the unthinkable began to threaten their life... they made preparations, inevitably to the amusement of others"

If you really believed that a catastrophe was about to happen, what measures would you take? Who would you try to help and how? Examine the beliefs of groups who believe the world will end at a specific time, eg the Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses (these sorts of belief are sometimes referred to as 'Millennial' i.e. believing in the millennium, or second coming of Jesus or another divine figure prefiguring judgement and/or a new world). What difference do you believe holding beliefs like these would make to your view of your present life or of the world as a whole?

Suggestions for further reading

Noah's Flood by Dr Bill Ryan and Dr Walter Pitman, pub. Simon & Schuster, 1st Feb. 1999

For more information on the origins, evolution and significance of the Noah story:
Noah's Flood - The Genesis Story in Western Thought by Norman Cohn, pub. Yale University Press, 1996

To read the story of the flood in the ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh:
The Epic of Gilgamesh The Penguin Classics. Also available as a Penguin audio book. Reader Richard Pasco (PEN 388)

For a new children's illustrated version, see...
The Hero King Gilgamesh by Irving Finkel, pub. The British Museum Press, 1998.