David Keys is archaeology correspondent for the London daily paper, The Independent, as well as a writer on historical climate change, and contributor to television programs on archeological subjects.[1]
His book Catastrophe: An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World (2000) on a 6th-century AD climatic disaster has had a mixed reception – he and his theory were featured in the 2000 Television pilot to the PBS series, Secrets of the Dead.
Keys' book Catastrophe: An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World (2000) theorizes that a natural disaster caused changes during the 6th and 7th centuries in the whole world, including Christian territories, that contributed to the end of ancient civilization and initiated what is now known as the medieval era. Key's work expands on that by Mike Baillie in Exodus to Arthur: catastrophic encounters with comets (1999) in which the primary evidence for the event is dendochronology (shown by narrow rings around c. 540 CE), as well as acidity in Greenlandic ice cores (suggesting volcanic activity), as well as accounts of historians such as John of Ephesus, Procopius, and Cassiodorus on changes in climate, including dimming of the sun. Keys adds further information from East Asia and develops his own version of the theory;[2] he attributes the changes to a volcanic event in East Asia, in 535 AD, possible at Krakatoa.[3]
The work has received mixed reviews: Publishers Weekly criticized the book, writing that "Huge claims call for big proof, yet Keys reassembles history to fit his thesis, relentlessly overworking its explanatory power in a manner reminiscent of Velikovsky's theory that a comet collided with the earth in 1500 B.C."[4] A mainly critical review in The New York Times Book Review by Malcolm W. Browne concluded that "Still, this book must be taken seriously, if only as a reminder that survival in a world threatened by real dangers hangs by a very slender thread".[3] British archaeologist Ken Dark commented that "much of the apparent evidence presented in the book is highly debatable, based on poor sources or simply incorrect. [...] Nonetheless, both the global scope and the emphasis on the 6th century AD as a time of wide-ranging change are notable, and the book contains some obscure information which will be new to many. However, it fails to demonstrate its central thesis and does not offer a convincing explanation for the many changes discussed".[5][6] Archaeologist Brian M. Fagan referred to it as "investigative journalism" and "an interesting and, at times, compelling narrative (and good television)" concluding that "Keys is right to draw attention to the importance of short-term climatic change, but, in our present state of knowledge, the deterministic and somewhat sensationally written Catastrophe goes too far."[7]
^David Keys. "Mummification in Bronze Age Britain". BBC. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
^Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, "David Keys, Catastrophe: an investigation into the origins of the modern world", Peritia (review), 14: 448–451, doi:10.1484/J.Peri.3.419
^ abMalcolm W. Browne. "Under the Volcano". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
^Dark, Ken (November 1999). "Review of David Keys' Catastroph". British Archaeology (49).
^Gunn, Joel D. (2000). The Years Without Summer: Tracing A.D. 536 and its Aftermath. British Archaeological Reports (BAR) International. Oxford, England: Archaeopress. ISBN1-84171-074-1.
^Brian Fagan. "Catastrophe: An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World". History Today. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
External links
David Keys - History and Archeology Consultant/Specialist
January 25, 2023
david, keys, archaeology, correspondent, london, daily, paper, independent, well, writer, historical, climate, change, contributor, television, programs, archeological, subjects, book, catastrophe, investigation, into, origins, modern, world, 2000, century, cl. David Keys is archaeology correspondent for the London daily paper The Independent as well as a writer on historical climate change and contributor to television programs on archeological subjects 1 His book Catastrophe An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World 2000 on a 6th century AD climatic disaster has had a mixed reception he and his theory were featured in the 2000 Television pilot to the PBS series Secrets of the Dead Contents 1 6th Century catastrophe theory 2 See also 3 References 4 External links6th Century catastrophe theory EditKeys book Catastrophe An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World 2000 theorizes that a natural disaster caused changes during the 6th and 7th centuries in the whole world including Christian territories that contributed to the end of ancient civilization and initiated what is now known as the medieval era Key s work expands on that by Mike Baillie in Exodus to Arthur catastrophic encounters with comets 1999 in which the primary evidence for the event is dendochronology shown by narrow rings around c 540 CE as well as acidity in Greenlandic ice cores suggesting volcanic activity as well as accounts of historians such as John of Ephesus Procopius and Cassiodorus on changes in climate including dimming of the sun Keys adds further information from East Asia and develops his own version of the theory 2 he attributes the changes to a volcanic event in East Asia in 535 AD possible at Krakatoa 3 The work has received mixed reviews Publishers Weekly criticized the book writing that Huge claims call for big proof yet Keys reassembles history to fit his thesis relentlessly overworking its explanatory power in a manner reminiscent of Velikovsky s theory that a comet collided with the earth in 1500 B C 4 A mainly critical review in The New York Times Book Review by Malcolm W Browne concluded that Still this book must be taken seriously if only as a reminder that survival in a world threatened by real dangers hangs by a very slender thread 3 British archaeologist Ken Dark commented that much of the apparent evidence presented in the book is highly debatable based on poor sources or simply incorrect Nonetheless both the global scope and the emphasis on the 6th century AD as a time of wide ranging change are notable and the book contains some obscure information which will be new to many However it fails to demonstrate its central thesis and does not offer a convincing explanation for the many changes discussed 5 6 Archaeologist Brian M Fagan referred to it as investigative journalism and an interesting and at times compelling narrative and good television concluding that Keys is right to draw attention to the importance of short term climatic change but in our present state of knowledge the deterministic and somewhat sensationally written Catastrophe goes too far 7 See also EditExtreme weather events of 535 536References Edit David Keys Mummification in Bronze Age Britain BBC Retrieved 17 April 2015 o Corrain Donnchadh David Keys Catastrophe an investigation into the origins of the modern world Peritia review 14 448 451 doi 10 1484 J Peri 3 419 a b Malcolm W Browne Under the Volcano The New York Times Retrieved 17 April 2015 Publishers Weekly Dark Ken November 1999 Review of David Keys Catastroph British Archaeology 49 Gunn Joel D 2000 The Years Without Summer Tracing A D 536 and its Aftermath British Archaeological Reports BAR International Oxford England Archaeopress ISBN 1 84171 074 1 Brian Fagan Catastrophe An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World History Today Retrieved 17 April 2015 External links EditDavid Keys History and Archeology Consultant Specialist Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Keys amp oldid 1121209590, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
