New Light on the Black Death: The Cosmic ConnectionOver the years doubts have been expressed about the accepted view that the Black Death was caused by bubonic plague. By looking at the evidence of tree-rings and ice cores, Mike Baillie, Professor of Dendrochronology at Queen's University, Belfast, has identified a series of natural catastrophes at the beginning of the fourteenth century, caused by meteor strikes. On the basis of the current scientific evidence and of contemporary accounts of the nature and spread of the disease, he is convinced that the disease was air-borne not carried by rats. This fascinating book reveals the detective that led to this revolutionary conclusion. |
Contents
Preface | 7 |
The global picture | 27 |
The radiocarbon story | 41 |
Copyright | |
9 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
25 January actually ammonium ammonium and nitrate ammonium records arrived asteroid astronomers Black Death Boulder bristlecone bubonic plague calibration curve carbon dioxide catastrophic caused Chapter China Chinese corrupted atmosphere Cúchulainn Data Center dates dendrochronology depletion disease downturn dragons dust earth earth's atmosphere earthquake environmental event European oak evidence example extraterrestrial fact fiery meteor Figure fire fireballs fourteenth century GISP2 GISP2 core GISP2 record going Greenland Greenland ice GRIP core growth happened heaven historians historical ice cores ice record impacts from space infected inundation Ireland Irish oaks issue layer look Lugh metaphor millennia myth NH4+acid kill NH4+NO3 NH4+NO3 oak chronologies observed ocean Paleoclimatology period pestilence Plague of Athens possible problem radiocarbon calibration rain reader reason references replicated ring patterns Roger of Wendover samples scenario seems shows story suggested sulphate temperature things timbers tree-ring chronologies trees tsunami Tunguska twelfth century BC volcanoes Wickramasinghe