The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Mounds & Earthworks — by Dr. Greg Little

Atlantis Insider III—News and Views

2006 Hi-Tech Expedition At "Cyprus Atlantis" Concluded: Alleged "Stone Walls and Manmade Structures" Are A Huge Mud Pile—But It's Still Atlantis (Or Maybe Eden)

by Dr. Greg Little

Back in November 2004, Atlantis Insider related that Robert Sarmast claimed that he had absolute, indisputable proof that Atlantis was off coastal Cyprus in deep water. Sarmast, an architect, claimed that the Cyprus area almost "perfectly matches" what Plato stated about Atlantis, and in a 2004 press conference and interview claimed that he had found manmade structures, a stone wall, and canals at the site by using side-scan sonar. Of course, side-scan sonar doesn't find structures, it simply shows contours of the bottom.

According to the Cyprus Daily Mail, a French geologist and German physicist stated they had surveyed the area in 2003 (with several other scientists) and found that what Sarmast claimed to be the central hill of Atlantis was actually a well-known 100,000-year old volcanic ridge with mud slides ringing some sides of the ancient volcanoes. According to the Cyprus Daily Mail, Sarmast stated that the detractors must "prove their claims," but, of course, the scientific survey and results they cited was their proof. On the other hand, Sarmast's proof was said to be indisputable.

On The National Center's website, Amy Ridenour stated that Sarmast's images "allegedly show the ancient castle of the sunk city...as well as the remainders of a city's wall." She went on to say that Sarmast either did not know or concealed the fact that last summer the research ship Pelagia surveyed the area with several geologists and geophysicists. They were experts on the salt layers on the bottom of the sea there and they went to the area to research the condition of the known volcanic formations. These are called "mud diapirs" and Ridenour concluded that Sarmast's claim is a "baseless statement that Atlantis has been discovered."

Results From Sarmast's September 2006 Expedition

Perhaps anticipating the reaction from his financial supporters and backers when they view his highly-touted January 2007 documentary, Sarmast posted the results from his high-tech investigation of his Cyprus Atlantis site on October 27, 2006. He began by stating that the trip was filled with "massive problems" that "should make a wonderful documentary..." He added, "As far as the results go, we did not bring back the irrefutable proof that we were hoping for." Indeed, what he found utilizing sub-bottom profiling was "The structures/walls are natural and not man-made; however, they have been there for millions of years..." The results constitiuted a "big shock" to Sarmast and his group adding, "the results are conclusive." What material comprises the Cyprus Atlantis? Mud. It is a massive pile of mud (a mud diapir) perfectly matching the 2003 scientific survey results so ardently dismissed by Sarmast.

One might think that some retreat from the "Cyprus is Atlantis" position would be prudent, but Sarmast now claims that the mud pile was probably used as a natural fortress in ancient times. (Not a single embedded artifact or stone was reportedly identified in the mud pile by the sub-bottom profile). But Sarmast stresses that the near-Perfect match of the Cyprus mud-pile with Plato's description of Atlantis "could not have been coincidental." Of course, one has to alter or reinterpret many of the things Plato stated to create the near-perfect match. And since what he found seems to be in agreement with elements in the Urantia Book, Sarmast asserts that the mud-pile now represents Eden or Atlantis, or both. Summing up his findings, he wrote: "...our latest research in no way discounts the idea that Atlantis has been found." As to the coming documentary, he wrote that it'll "knock your socks off." I agree that some socks will probably be knocked off.