Aaron Judkins is a biblical archaeologist, author, and film producer known for the documentary theatrical film, "Finding Noah." In the first half, he shared his latest research on the archaeological site Gobekli Tepe, as well as such topics as the Watchers, Noah's Ark, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Gobekli Tepe, located in southeastern Turkey, dates back to around 9600 BC, and the site challenges conventional archaeological beliefs, he stated, adding that "Gobekli Tepe is the paradigm that's changing the paradigm." He explained that the construction of such megalithic structures by Stone Age people, without advanced tools, defies traditional narratives about early human capabilities. Judkins highlighted the intricate stone pillars at Gobekli Tepe, particularly "Enclosure D," which features anthropomorphic pillars adorned with enigmatic symbols that perhaps relate to ancestor worship.
His research led him to explore the ties between Gobekli Tepe and biblical accounts, specifically the story of Adam and Eve. He posited that religious ideology may have been the primary motivator for the community's development, and likely, the site served as a center for ritualistic feasting and communal activities. Judkins speculated about the possible influence of the "Watchers" from ancient texts, suggesting a connection to the divine that may have inspired the construction of Gobekli Tepe. Addressing the search for Noah's Ark, he detailed the challenges posed by geography and political issues surrounding Mount Ararat in Turkey, the suspected location. There's definitely evidence for a global flood, he added, citing geological formations that support this idea.
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In the latter half, Professor of Parapsychology, Cal Cooper discussed telephone calls from the dead, and other intriguing aspects of the paranormal. Cooper's most known work, "Telephone Calls from the Dead," was inspired by a tragic train accident in California where a family received multiple static-filled calls from whom they believed was their deceased relative. Strange telephone experiences are more likely to occur within 24 hours of losing someone, he noted. Some have reported 5-15 minute conversations with individuals only to discover afterward that person had died 24 hours beforehand. Cooper appeared on the BBC show, Uncanny, further exploring such cases. He also referenced historical attempts to create devices for contacting the dead, mentioning Thomas Edison's ambition to develop a telephone for this purpose, which ultimately never materialized.
The discussion also touched on the work of the late Dr. Alex Tanous, a parapsychologist known for his psychic experiences and research into the dying process. Cooper recounted, "Alex had very good predictions of future events" and conducted experiments on out-of-body experiences, attempting to validate claims of survival after death. Additionally, Cooper shared insights from his research for the book "Paracoustics: Sound & the Paranormal," which examines the effects of infrasound on human perception and experiences of the paranormal. Humans cannot hear low-frequency sounds below 19 Hz, but they vibrate our bodies and even our eyeballs, which can create spontaneous visual phenomena," suggesting a scientific basis for some ghostly encounters, he explained.
News segment guests: Lauren Weinstein, Steve Kates