Buzz
We previously explored some of the unusual claims made by pseudohistorians, and it seems these unconventional thinkers are not isolated. From tales of a modern-day Atlantis to stories of nuclear conflict on Mars, the world of fringe history is filled with truly peculiar ideas.
10. Viscount James Bryce And His Claim Of Finding Noah’s Ark
Few individuals carry as much credibility as the British Viscount James Bryce. With an education from the University of Glasgow and Oxford, a professorship at the latter, and a role as one of the leading judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, he was instrumental in delivering a guilty verdict against Germany following World War I.
Long before his other achievements, he was scaling mountains in an effort to validate the Bible's historical precision.
In 1876, Bryce journeyed to Mount Ararat with the goal of definitively proving the reality of Noah’s ark and the flood, as well as locating the massive vessel on the mountain’s slopes. Upon arrival, local officials informed him that no one had truly ascended the mountain before. While some claimed to have done so, their success was widely questioned. Struck by the barren landscape and absence of forests, Bryce was understandably excited when he discovered a piece of carved wood, approximately 1.2 meters (4 ft) long, on the mountainside at an elevation of about 4,000 meters (13,000 ft).
In his book detailing the discovery, he noted that his guides enthusiastically agreed when he asked if the tool-marked fragment was part of the ark. He reasoned that its position made sense, as the ark had grounded at the mountain’s peak, and fragments would have broken off and tumbled down.
However, Bryce conveniently ignored the fact that the mountain had been climbed multiple times before his expedition. On at least three occasions, wooden crosses had been erected at the summit. The largest of these, placed at a high elevation on the same side Bryce climbed, was also reported to have collapsed.
9. Ulf Erlingsson And The Mystery Of Atlantis
For centuries, humanity has searched for the legendary ruins of Atlantis. According to Swedish geographer Ulf Erlingsson, the answer has been in plain sight all along—Atlantis is, in fact, Ireland.
In his book Atlantis from a Geographer’s Perspective: Mapping the Fairy Land, Erlingsson highlights several undeniable clues that Ireland is Atlantis. He finds it astonishing that he’s the first to notice, as the evidence seems so clear. Ireland’s dimensions—480 kilometers (300 mi) north to south and 320 kilometers (200 mi) east to west—along with its central bulge, outer mountains, and interior plains, make it a perfect match for the fabled lost city.
Erlingsson also explains the origin of the sinking myth. Around 6100 B.C., a massive wave submerged a nearby shoal called Dogger Bank, leading to a distorted tale about which landmass actually sank. He further supports his theory by noting that Ireland lies at the heart of the geographic distribution of megalithic sites found across Ireland, England, Scotland, and northwestern Europe.
However, if you’re planning a trip to the Emerald Isle in search of ancient Atlantis, prepare for disappointment. Erlingsson clarifies in a disclaimer that his theory doesn’t claim Ireland and Atlantis are identical. While Plato’s descriptions align with Ireland’s geography, he also explicitly stated that the city itself wasn’t located there.
8. Iman Jacob Wilkens And The True Location Of Troy
The widely accepted historical site of Homer’s Troy is a collection of ruins on Turkey’s northwestern coast. First excavated in 1870, this location boasts a rich history, with its earliest fortifications and citadels dating back to around 3000 B.C.
However, Dutch economist Iman Jacob Wilkens argues that this is entirely incorrect, claiming the real Troy is in England. After thoroughly studying Homer’s Iliad, Wilkens proposes that Gog Magog Hills in Cambridgeshire is a more plausible location for Troy. His theory is supported by the discovery of numerous Bronze Age weapons in the area, suggesting it was the scene of a significant ancient conflict.
Wilkens believes that during the second millennium B.C., inhabitants of the English Troy migrated from Britain and coastal Europe to the Mediterranean, bringing the tale of their epic war with them. Over time, place names became muddled, leading Homer to inaccurately shift the entire story to Turkey.
7. Rodney Cluff And The Hollow Earth Theory
NASA explains auroras as a result of interactions between the Earth’s magnetic fields and solar particles. However, Rodney Cluff offers a different perspective, suggesting that auroras mark the entrance to the Earth’s core.
The author and researcher has long been fascinated by the hollow Earth concept. Through extensive study, he claims to have uncovered the truth about what lies beneath the surface. A retired IT specialist and former Arizona Department of Health Services employee, Cluff asserts that he has gathered substantial evidence—including satellite imagery and scientific data—to support two key claims: the Earth is hollow, and it is inhabited.
Cluff describes the Earth’s interior as a utopia, likening it to the Garden of Eden. He believes it houses the lost tribes of Israel, Viking settlements, and even God’s heavenly kingdom. Additionally, he claims it is the origin of UFOs. Drawing from the book Passport to Eternity, Cluff predicts the Earth’s destruction by a solar flare in 2021 but assures that UFOs will rescue those deemed worthy.
He also claims to know the method for entering the hollow Earth, with detailed instructions provided in his book for those curious enough to explore.
6. Gene Matlock And The Roots Of Human Civilization
Gene Matlock, a prolific author covering diverse historical topics, presents a compelling theory in his book What Strange Mystery Unites the Turkish Nations, India, Catholicism, and Mexico: A Concise But Detailed History of Things Divine and Earthly. He argues that the birthplace of civilization isn’t the Middle East but Turkey.
According to Matlock, after the great flood failed to eradicate evil, humanity’s attempt to build the Tower of Babel led to the scattering of people and languages. He asserts that the tower was constructed in Turkey, and when the Turks and ancient Hindus migrated to the Middle East to establish Sumeria, they carried the story with them.
He further claims that the five primordial human races originated in Hyperborea, a vast civilization spanning what is now Siberia. This is also where Noah and his family resided. According to him, the Arctic Circle and ancient Hyperborea were the regions God chose to flood. As the deluge began, He shifted the Earth’s axis, transforming the North Pole into the icy desert we know today.
Matlock also challenges conventional views of ancient human origins. He asserts that all humans are descendants of the Turks, a claim he believes is supported by the Torah, the Quran, and the Bible. His theory is bolstered by the observation that, unlike many other languages, Turkish has remained relatively unchanged over millennia.
5. Brien Foerster And The Mystery Of The Paracas Skulls
During the 1920s, archaeologist Julio Tello discovered a collection of elongated skulls in the Peruvian desert. While head-binding is often cited as the cause of such deformations, Brien Foerster argues in his writings that these skulls are unique and defy conventional explanations.
Head-binding alters skull shape, but Foerster notes that these skulls are two and a half times larger than average human skulls. He suggests that this anomaly indicates they are genetically distinct from humans. Additionally, he points to unusual features, such as misplaced small holes and an atypical number of cranial plates, as further evidence of their non-human origin.
Foerster, who co-authored his book with pseudohistorian David Hatcher Childress, firmly believes the skulls cannot be human. He claims to have collected DNA samples from the skulls and sent them to a geneticist for analysis to support his theory.
4. John Brandenburg And The Evidence Of A Nuclear Catastrophe On Mars
Theoretical plasma physicist John Bradenburg suggests that Mars holds a crucial lesson for humanity.
The Mare Acidalium region on Mars contains an unusually high level of xenon-129, a marker often found on Earth following nuclear events. Bradenburg’s analysis of this signature leads him to believe that Mars once hosted a civilization similar to ours, which was annihilated by a massive nuclear explosion. He is pushing for a manned mission to Mars to uncover the fate of this ancient civilization.
Bradenburg’s evidence includes phenomena often dismissed as optical illusions, such as the famous image of the face on Mars. He argues that the nuclear disaster was no accident but the result of a conflict between two Martian civilizations—the Utopians and the Cydonians. He estimates the explosion, equivalent to one million one-megaton hydrogen bombs, occurred approximately 180 million years ago.
3. Semir Osmanagich And The Mystery Of The Bosnian Pyramids
Osmanagich, a Bosnian expatriate residing in Houston, Texas, has made bold claims about his discoveries in Bosnia, garnering significant support for his theories.
An author of multiple books, including works on the Maya’s migration to the Americas via Atlantis and the secret Nazi underground base in Antarctica where Hitler allegedly confronted Admiral Richard Byrd, Osmanagich’s most notable claim is the identification of the world’s largest pyramid complex—or what remains of it.
During a 2005 book tour, Osmanagich observed the precise alignment of Mount Visocica with the cardinal directions, leading him to conclude it was a pyramid. Now known as the Bosnian Pyramid of the Moon, his theory was initially dismissed as a joke by the National Museum of Bosnia. However, he established a nonprofit to study the pyramids, receiving substantial donations and widespread support from the war-torn nation.
Geologists dismiss his findings as ordinary, arguing that the structures are not pyramids but natural formations called flatirons, which are common. Undeterred, Osmanagich continued excavations, uncovering numerous burial mounds curiously devoid of skeletons.
While many have embraced his theories, fostering pride in the pyramid complex, a vocal group of scholars criticizes him not only for alleged fraud but also for exploiting a nation in search of a unifying identity.
2. Joseph Smith And The Origins Of Native Americans
The Book of Mormon’s origin story recounts how Joseph Smith unearthed inscribed gold plates, translating them into the foundational text of Mormonism. This text includes an unusual narrative about the ancestry of Native Americans.
Around 600 B.C., a family fled Jerusalem, with their descendants dividing into the Lamanites and Nephites. The Lamanites journeyed across the ocean to the Americas, and some later sailed to settle Pacific islands. This narrative not only links Native Americans to the Israelites but also suggests an ancient lineage for Mormonism.
Over time, the narrative has sparked significant controversy, primarily due to the book’s explicit racial terminology. The Lamanites were cursed with “skin of blackness” and described as “a dark, filthy, and loathsome people.” In 1920, chapter summaries added to the book stated that when these individuals repented, they would become “white and delightsome.”
Unsurprisingly, there is little scientific backing for these claims. Mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals that modern Native Americans trace their ancestry to Mongolia and southern Siberia, with about 98% of tested individuals sharing genetic markers with these regions. This evidence contradicts Smith’s claims, showing Native Americans migrated to the Americas from the opposite direction and are not of Israelite descent.
In recent years, the LDS Church has revised some of its literature to address racial sensitivities, though not all problematic elements have been removed.
1. Uwe Topper And His Controversial Theories On Time
Uwe Topper, a German writer, artist, and self-proclaimed historian, focuses much of his work on the idea that historical timelines have been fabricated by past scholars. He argues that the dates of significant events have been misrepresented by everyone.
The issue stems from multiple sources. Christian monks, who played a key role in establishing historical timelines, relied on a complex numerical system derived from the Bible. Years were grouped based on biblical events—666 was labeled the year of the Antichrist (incorrectly linked by Topper to the rise of Islam), 369 marked the founding of the Christian church, and 1260 was predicted as the end of the world. These dates were calculated using sacred numbers, leading to widespread confusion.
Eventually, the Catholic Church adopted the Anno Domini system, centering timelines around the birth of Christ. This recalibration shifted all historical dates, effectively reassigning events to different years.
Topper also claims that global catastrophes disrupted the progression of time, halting human development. These events, which he refers to as “jolts,” altered the Earth’s axis, changing the length of days, years, and seasons. As a result, he argues, our modern understanding of chronology is fundamentally flawed, though we’ve adjusted it enough to believe it’s accurate.
