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John Black

Dr John (Ioannis) Syrigos initially began writing on Ancient Origins under the pen name John Black. He is both a co-owner and co-founder of Ancient Origins.

John is a computer & electrical engineer with a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, a lecturer, explorer and researcher.

He has a personal passion for Ancient History, Mythology, Anthropology and Astronomy and in his spare time he investigates these subjects in depth. John currently undertakes expeditions and research in remote areas of Ecuador, where he is currently based, but also throughout South America.

He has recently been involved in explorations of the Tayos Cave system in Ecuador, a legendary vast natural underground network of caves spanning many kilometers, very little of which has been officially explored, as well as La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) in Colombia, and is particularly interested in the history and mythology of ancient sites as relayed by the local indigenous people of these regions.

History

Member for: 11 years 2 months

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Posts

Dinosaurs Extinction affecting other species

26 July, 2013 - 04:55 johnblack

Why Dinosaurs Extinction didn’t affect other species similarly?

We all know that dinosaurs do not exist anymore and we are familiar with the theory saying that dinosaurs became extinct more than 60 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period (146 to 65...

Our Brains are shrinking

25 July, 2013 - 01:00 johnblack

Our brains are growing alarmingly smaller, showing evidence of devolution

In the past it was believed that a larger brain meant more intelligence. Indeed, according to evolutionary theory, the brain should grow bigger as a species evolves. However, rather alarmingly,...

Mythical city of Patara in Turkey

22 July, 2013 - 09:56 johnblack

Excavations at the mythical city of Patara in Turkey

Patara is the name of an ancient coastal city and port on the Mediterranean in Turkey with a long history and many legends surrounding its name. According to mythology the city was founded by Patarus...

Decorative wood in Wales - Ancient

18 July, 2013 - 07:25 johnblack

6,000-year-old Ancient Decorative Wood Carving

Archaeologists have made an incredible discovery in Rhondda Valley, Wales – a 6,000-year old piece of wood with elaborate decorations carved into it. The age of the artefact is incredible considering...

Advanced Agricultural Knowledge 8,000 Years - Fertilizers

17 July, 2013 - 07:56 johnblack

Evidence of Advanced Agricultural Knowledge Dating Back 8,000 Years

Evidence showing that ancient civilizations were far more superior to what we have thought has been emerging every day. For example, we have recently reported on the discovery of old Chinese writing...

Narigua petroglyphs - Mexico

14 July, 2013 - 11:25 johnblack

8,000 petroglyphs, 6,000 years old, in Mexico open for view

Rock engravings or otherwise petroglyphs are shapes and images engraved on rock by our ancestors, a kind of rock art. Some of them represent everyday life events like hunting, some of them represent...

‘Vampire’ burial site found in Poland

13 July, 2013 - 13:04 johnblack

The Vampire burials of Poland

The last few weeks we have been bombarded by the discovery of graves, evidence of ancient massacres and dead bodies found all over the world. But we do not hear every day about ‘vampire’ bodies! Well...

Crimea: A 2,300 years old massacre discovered

12 July, 2013 - 14:22 johnblack

A 2,300 years old massacre discovered

Chersonesos is an ancient city on the Crimean peninsula, which was founded by Greek colonists at the end of the 6th century BC. The area was once used to cultivate crops to create food for the Greek...

Lake Vostok, Australia

10 July, 2013 - 06:44 johnblack

The Mystery of Lake Vostok

Lake Vostok is located in Antarctica and is a subglacial lake hidden under the ice. It is the largest of all subglacial lakes in Antarctica and exists 4,000 meters under the surface of ice. Andrei...

3,000 year old Chinese Tombs - sacrifice

8 July, 2013 - 13:52 johnblack

Evidence of sacrifice found in 3,000 year old Chinese Tombs

In 2011, excavations began in the Jiangzhai village in China, which uncovered an ancient graveyard known as the Yejiashan graveyard. More than 3700 square meters have been excavated and many...

agriculture farming iran zagros

6 July, 2013 - 12:24 johnblack

Evidence suggests agriculture evolved independently throughout the world

Domestication of plants in agriculture was developed at least 10,000 years ago, according to a new study. It was when ancient humans decided to take control of their food production by introducing...

Tau Boo Polar Shift on Earth

6 July, 2013 - 06:08 johnblack

Could a rapid pole shift change the fate of life on Earth?

One of the doomsday hypotheses is a cataclysmic magnetic pole shift, which would result in widespread destruction from earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods. However, according to mainstream science a...

Earth leaking atmosphere - plasma

4 July, 2013 - 09:01 johnblack

Earth leaking atmosphere into Space

The cluster mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) was introduced in 1982 with the goal to investigate the magnetosphere of Earth. Earth’s magnetic field extends from the inner core outwards and...

LIDAR Angkor Wat largest city

4 July, 2013 - 05:07 johnblack

Angkor revealed to be the largest ancient city of all time

In Cambodia during the 8 th century AD the city of Angkor was built. The magnificent capital of the ancient Khmer Empire, the ‘City of Temples’ - enormous temples, a complex irrigation system, paved...

Submerged Ancient Buildings Discovered in Zakynthos

3 July, 2013 - 06:25 johnblack

Submerged Ancient Buildings Discovered in Zakynthos, Greece

Zakynthos is the third largest Greek Island in the Ionian Sea. The name of the island comes from a legendary Arcadian King Dardanus, son of God Zeus and Electra, founder of the mythical city of...

3 July, 2013 - 01:18 johnblack

2,500-year-old convicts’ cemetery discovered in Greece

A burial place for convicts dating back to the 7 th - 5 th century BC was discovered in Athens, Greece. The convicts were buried with their hands chained behind their backs, with fractured and broken...

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