Here's something interesting: The Holocene Impact Working Group (HIWG) discovered four enormous chevron deposits pointing towards a spot in the Indian Ocean where they recently discovered Burckle Crater, an 18-mile wide crater that was created about 4,500 to 5,000 years ago and would have released massive, 600-ft high megatsunamis.

The timing fits well with the flood account written about in the Bible and found in countless cultures throughout the world.

Apparently, Burckle Crater was discovered when the HIWG discovered prehistoric chevron dune formations in Australia and Madagascar. These wedge-shaped sediment deposits can be formed when tsunamis lift sediment and carry it for later deposit. Although it's controversial, the HIWG's triangulation resulted in the finding of Burckle Crater.

In the 2006 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), it was stated that chevron dunes were differentiated. They are not formed by wind, they are not necessarily oriented in the direction of the prevailing wind, they can form where there are no beaches, and they contain grains larger than 2 mm in diameter. They specifically state that "chevrons are produced by megatsunamis originating from point sources, i.e. landslides, impact craters, and volcanic explosions."

The Tsunami of 2005 was mere inches above mean sea level when it formed. What would a tsunami 600' high look line when it reached shallower water? Would it tower to a mile high, or more?

I find it interesting that the location of the Burckle Crater, 30.865S 61.365E, would result in a megatsunami that would richochet off the mountainous western coast of India, with fairly solid ridgelines upwards of 3000 ft MSL, creating a more focused tsunami that would then sweep up the gulf of Oman, plowing right over Oman, UAE, NE Saudia Arabia, and Kuwait, and swamp the vast majority of Iraq (mesapotamia), much of which is flat, yet bordered by mountains on three sides. Such a wave may even have pushed through, in spots, to the Mediterranean.

Aside from the chevrons, is there any other evidence of widespread flooding around the Indian Ocean?

But there is no evidence for a worldwide flood as described in the bible.

how many of the countless cultures have a flood myth that can be timed to coincide with the tsunami?

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I like this sort of stuff. Why is it controversial? Seems a straight-forward application of trigonometry and geology.
I spent a lot of time with my atlas after the 2004 tsunami, trying to work out paths, travel times, and effects. As the wave gets closer to the shore, the topography of the sea-floor makes a big difference to the eventual outcome.
For example, Bangladesh was in direct line of sight of the 2004 epicentre, but escaped being hit. The approach to Bangladesh is up the the Bay of Bengal- the last 500km of which is extremely shallow. The considerable length of time spent in shallow waters, was enough to 'exhaust' the wave.
But I like your route: interesting pinball. What do you think to Mesopotamia being saved by the UAE peninsula? It might take the brunt of any wave that trundles down the Gulf of Oman.
Wish I was a geologist. You might try the S and SE coasts of South Africa.
Speculatively- the coast of Antarctica is very close to Burckle Crater. Lars Christensen Land. Lots of bays around there.
Also: might a huge tsunami show up in ice core data?

Well, for years we've been saying, "there's no geologic evidence that supports a global flood." It may not have been world-wide, but a 28-mile wide crater is a smoking gun. That event would have flood hundreds of miles inland in many areas surrounding the Indian Ocean, and would have flooded coastal areas around the world.

And wave mechanics, and hydrodynamics, and...

The UAE peninsula does indeed have some mountains. While they're of sufficient height, they're length is too small to be more than a local disturbance. The wave would go around either side and meet up on the backside, only slightly diminished.

I would think it would, due to the salt content, but only in low-lying, coastal areas. "About 98% of Antarctica is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet ... averaging at least 1.6 kilometers (1.0) thick." - Wikipedia If the ice cores were taken inland, they wouldn't show much, except for a thin layer of salt that may have been deposited by the mass of vaporized ocean water when the meteor struck.

Oh I see. Well, I'll be quite happy with a rational explanation for all those flood myths. Every culture has one. And by the way- by global I presume they mean global for that time- Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley? That's all you have to explain really.
Land drag!!!

That's not true. Most cultures have one, but since most cultures were founded by the water, it's hardly surprising that floods are part of their mythos.

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Gaaah! The nit-pick to end all nit-picks. Every culture relevant to our discussion.

Sorry, but I thought Gillian had a valid and important point. Which cultures aren't relevant to the discussion?

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Blimey, another one! Except this might be a nit-pick about a nit-pick.

Very well:
Gillianren did indeed have a valid point. It is a valid point because she was correct. Every culture does not have flood myth. Most cultures do. And I, by saying 'every culture', was in error.

However, it is also a nitpick because, while nitpicks correct errors, they are called 'nitpicks' because they are generally considered to be trivial errors. From wiki on nitpicking:
Which you may also do here: nitpicking (pastime)

So, a corrected sentence for you:
Many cultures, in, of, and descended from, the cultures of Mesopotamia and Indus Valley, have a flood myth.

Those are the cultures I was referring to. Why was I referring to these? Because I was focusing on India and Mesopotamia- I have a whole post on it above!
For more info you may check out flood myth on wiki. There are even more cultures listed there! Turns out even the Hopi of Arizona have one.

As for what cultures are not relevant to the discussion...I don't care! If anyone else does, good for them! I was taking about Burckle Crater. But here's one for you: the culture of nitpicking on internet forums!

Amerindians also have flood myths. But according to the current models, they do not share a cultural connection with the Indus or Mesopotamian valleys.

Well which Amerindians are you talking about. There were plenty that lived on or near the sea, and there is evidence that there was much trading going on far inland from coastal Native Americans, in both north and south America.

Cultural connection with middle eastern areas has nothing to do with flood myths, especially if the event did trigger a global tsunami. The 2004 tsunami reached the coast of Africa. An impact of that size would have global effects without a doubt.

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Where is the evidence for a global flood as described in the Bible?

I don't see it here.

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Yeah, that is interesting. I'm not versed on the history of the Americas. I understand there are controversies amongst anthropologists.

Culture is a subtly different concept to civilisation. Can be the same, can be different. Culture in the sense of culture of a peoples can pre-date civilisation. As far as I am aware, the oldest civilisations were Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China- three of which Mugs referred to in his Crater impact theory. Cultures of groups, tribes, peoples, were of course around much earlier. And, like Gillianren pointed out, they very likely stayed close to water. Flooding!

Geeze! Can we move this to ATM? *rolls eyes*

That's a valid point TD. Here is a world-wide list: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html

Well, whether these are trivial issues depends on your point of view. In "world flood" discussions, a couple of claims seem to come up quite often, (1) that all ancient cultures had flood stories, and (2) that we should be impressed by this. It seemed to me that a similar argument was being made here, and I think it was important to point out that not all cultures had flood stories, and it was a rare culture indeed that wasn't familiar with floods. Frankly, I'd find it surprising if flood stories weren't common.

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Also, I have always felt that all of mythology was wrongly rejected by historians and scientists as being swooning stories and daydreams of ancient cultures. Certainly some of it is, being philosophical teachings and metaphors for lessons, but not all.

"Captain Swoop: Where is the evidence for a global flood as described in the Bible?

I don't see it here."

Why are you taking what is written the Bible as literal factual events? You do not see that ancient texts like that have been re-written, edited, translated and outright censored throughout history? With comments like that, you seem to not actually understand the obstacle course the Bible has been through since its writing to get to where it is.

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There's no definitive evidence yet. From wiki:I would be happy if there is a scientific explanation for any flood myth- wouldn't you? I look at it as another piece of evidence that I can throw at my religious relatives.

Good page. What I would really like, is to see flood myths linked to dates, names of cultures, and migrations- the history of flood myths. That would be really nice. You could then work out which ones rose from independent events, and which ones were simply handed down versions of old events.

Huh?
Why not all?

And what are you talking about historians and scientists rejecting- in which way?
Rejecting them as valid factual accounts?
Of course.
That's why they are myths.
ALL of them.

Are you saying that myths based on reality are rejected as reality?
Of course. Based on reality does not equal reality.

And lastly- what's with this "but it couldn't ALL be bogus!" trend
What makes that tiny minority so special that it can defy all rationality and plausibility.

IF there are 100 myths about dragons- it's far more plausible that 100 of those myths are fictitious than it is that 99 are fictitious but 1 is a real and true account of the life and times of a dragon

Pretending to valid minuscule numbers is no different than validating large numbers

Yes, and inland groups of people living in flood plains also must have experienced floods, from rising rivers and such. Here is an example of one inland one that does speak of a biblical sized flood:

"In Menominee mythology, Manabus, the trickster, "fired by his lust for revenge" shot two underground gods when the gods were at play. When they all dived into the water, a huge flood arose. "The water rose up .... It knew very well where Manabus had gone." He runs, he runs; but the water, coming from Lake Michigan, chases him faster and faster, even as he runs up a mountain and climbs to the top of the lofty pine at its peak. Four times he begs the tree to grow just a little more, and four times it obliges until it can grow no more. But the water keeps climbing "up, up, right to his chin, and there it stopped": there was nothing but water stretching out to the horizon. And then Manabus, helped by diving animals, and especially the bravest of all, the Muskrat, creates the world as we know it today."

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That is not a simple request as much of the mythology or history, depending on your point of view, is based upon oral traditions. How does one date an oral tradition?

In North America there were some incredibly huge and devastating floods. The kind that would inspire generations to tell the harrowing tale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missoula_Floods

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Agassiz

Oh I see. I apologise. Don't worry, we're on the same side. Flooding is ubiquitous; flood myths are rubbish.
That's why I like stuff like this crater/tsunami. Gives me more ammo.
Not a request! More of a pine. Although I'd be grateful if someone references a wonderful website somewhere.
Very difficult to date oral tradition. I presume much of anthropology is hard- migrations and what-not.
Those floods you linked:

Exactly. Huge floods were not uncommon at the end of the last glacial advance. As the ice receded ice dams were formed; and when they broke they exactly as described in the Wikipedia articles. These would most certainly have been seen as altering "the entire world" from the point of view of witnesses. These could then have been passed down for generations in oral traditions.

How can a myth be rubbish?

Sorry, their interpretation/explanation of what caused these floods.

What timing would that be?

Amongst ancient historians, the Biblical account is well known to have been taken from the Sumerian Atra-Hasis epic, which is at least a thousand years older. This is assumed to have been absorbed into Hebrew lore during the Babylonian exile, along with a few other tales (Methusalem, the 'Tower of Babel,' the confusion of languages, etc.). This is the time in which the Psalm 'On the rivers of Babylon' originated.

No one knows if Atra-Hasis is a genuine Sumerian piece or if it might not in fact be much, much older, having been imported from a totally different region.

So much for Biblical timing.

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From ScienceDaily:

"For centuries, sailors in the Indian Ocean have told stories of seas glowing with a dim, white light at night. Satellite images have now confirmed the appearance of what seem to be bioluminescent bacteria, right where a ship's crew reported seeing the "milky seas" 11 years ago."

Do you still assert that all myths have no basis in reality?

I am not stating that myths be taken at face value. I am saying that they have some basis in reality, whether it be a metaphorical story with the intent of teaching young children a lesson, or some kind of actual physical event. Most certainly these peoples of the era would have had a hard time explaining something, so they would describe it the best they could. These stories have also been passed down for thousands of years. Ever play the game "telephone"? How many times have you had the original message spoken out loud at th end of the game? Not many I predict. Amplify this by thousands of years.

Your dragon analogy was painfully simplified. Dragon myths were most likely based on reality, although something completely unrelated to dragons. Most likely dragon myths came from people finding huge dino or wooly mammoth bones in the ground, and were forced to find some sort of explanation for them. Leave it to our incredible imagination to come up with something like dragons, and then pass it down through the generations, and what do you have? A fantastic myth based on something very factual and very real, yet very unrelated.

Edit: Neverfly, let me add that even the teaching of a metaphor or lesson is a form of reality. Why would you not consider cultural teachings or concepts as "real"? They are just a different kind of real.

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You just answered you own question. If the Bible is based on Sumerian texts, which are older, then of course the myth would appear in the Bible, passed down like everything else in there.

Does any intelligent person still think that the entire Bible was an original piece of work? Puh-lease...

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Is that what you meant?

Yeah. Thanks for clearing it up.