bookrandom Chapter 18 Remains of Prehistoric Civilization
Chapter 18 Remains of Prehistoric Civilization
Prehistoric civilization relics sound very mysterious.
But once you truly understand it, it also becomes quite mysterious.
Prehistory refers to the period before the history of human civilization.
In fact, it refers to a civilization that existed on Earth at a point in time far before the history of human civilization.
After all, from an evolutionary perspective, even if we start from the very beginning of human evolution, from apes, it's only been a little over three million years. From primitive humans to modern Homo sapiens, it's only been 30 to 50 years. And recorded civilizations span about 5000 years...
That's all, we're not Koreans.
How long is the history of Earth?
45 billion years. In those 45 billion years, do you calculate how many 3 million-year periods there are?
You can't expect that only monkeys are the luckiest ones. After all, a dog's intelligence is equivalent to that of a 6-8 year old human, and a dolphin's intelligence is equivalent to that of an 11-year-old human. You might not even be as smart as a dog when you were in first grade!
Everyone has the potential to evolve!
Evolution is a long process, but it's not actually that long compared to the history of a planet.
In the long course of time, it is not impossible for other beings to evolve into civilizations similar to or even surpassing humans.
At least he now knows that, through the excavation of various relics on Earth, it has been proven that at least four civilizations existed before the existence of human civilization, and the relics of prehistoric civilizations are the imprints left by these four civilizations. Including the one in Hu Biao's bottle, a total of 14 have been discovered on Earth.
Of these four civilizations, two are relatively close to human civilization, dating back less than 100 million years, so more relics have been unearthed. These are known as the first and second civilizations. Six relics from the first civilization and five relics from the second civilization have been discovered. As for the third and fourth civilizations, these two civilizations existed before the age of dinosaurs, more than 300 million years ago. One and two relics from the third and fourth civilizations, respectively, have been discovered. They are more mysterious and less information is available.
Based on the excavation of several relics, it can be basically determined that the first and second civilizations, which are relatively close in distance, were no less advanced than modern human society, and perhaps even more advanced. It is just that, perhaps due to species differences, their skill sets were not quite the same as those of modern humans. However, they clearly surpassed modern human civilization and made great strides in some technological branches.
Humanity's understanding of these four civilizations is limited to this!
This is the conclusion Hu Biao reached after spying for so long, and it is also the final conclusion.
As for why it's limited to this?
The reasoning is quite simple. After decades of archaeological work in Dongguo, with so many documents and excavations, there are still many things we don't understand about Dongguo's own history. Let alone a civilization that existed tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of years ago, with no documents and only three or four remains that are no different from cemeteries, how much knowledge can you dig up? How much understanding can you gain about such a civilization?
The relic before him, which he had sealed in a glass bottle, was one of the relics belonging to the Third Civilization, which he had dug up directly from the islands of Southeast Asia.
Although it looks very strange, with its main body resembling a pine cone and its internal structure being quite peculiar, nothing of value has been left behind. At the deepest level of the ruins is a large hall, covered with many symbols whose meaning is unknown, and scattered on the ground are some pebbles of unknown composition.
However, Hu Biao knew that the most valuable part of the Third Civilization's relics was actually their material. This material was neither metal nor stone, nor any kind of substance found on Earth. Even with current Earth technology, it would be very difficult to analyze and replicate it...
That's all that humanity knows about the Third Civilization.
"Hmm, let's see what those 'archaeology' guys are up to now. After all they've done, the government should be reacting, right?"
After glancing at the No. 14 ruins, Hu Biao blinked, and his vision instantly pierced through the barriers, landing in a solemn but slightly old-fashioned conference room.
Around the deep red oval conference table sat five men and women of different ages and expressions. The air was filled with a strong smell of tea and tobacco. Even from a thousand miles away, Hu Biao could feel the heavy atmosphere in the conference room.
This is the Second Archaeological Research Institute of Dongguk.
A classified unit.
This unit will not appear in any public documents.
"Bang!"
A slightly overweight, middle-aged man with thick glasses and somewhat disheveled hair slammed his hand on the table. He was Zheng Guodong, the deputy director of the Second Institute, in charge of excavation and security at the site of the ruins. He had a fiery and direct personality.
"I strongly object! Our institute is a research institution, an academic organization! Now, with just one sentence from above, they want to merge us into that newly established, unheard-of Bureau of Abnormal Phenomena Investigation? Is this absurd? What would we become? Ghost hunters or demon-slaying Arhats? This is utter nonsense!"
"Old Zheng, what's the point of slamming your fist on the table? This is a decision from above. The appearance of a mysterious giant beast in the sea, the mysterious disappearance of people from those Southeast Asian countries—none of these are trivial matters. This shows that the world is changing! The ancient civilization relics we are studying are the closest people in the world to these anomalies. The higher-ups have their reasons for merging us into the Investigation Bureau."
The speaker was a well-dressed, still charming middle-aged woman with a round face, Zhou Min, the deputy director in charge of the restoration and scientific analysis of cultural relics and heritage sites. Her tone was as calm as ever.
"Considered? Hmph!" The one who spoke was Sun Shouren, the deputy director, sitting to the side with his hair meticulously combed and a serious expression. "Deputy Director Zhou, don't forget our primary responsibility is archaeological research and the protection of cultural heritage, not some kind of secret investigation! How can discipline be guaranteed? How can procedures be standardized? Who will be responsible if problems arise? This kind of merger, in my opinion, does more harm than good!"
"Deputy Director Sun, you can't say that." A slightly hoarse but powerful voice rang out. The speaker had dark skin and large knuckles, clearly a seasoned expert who spent years in the field. This was Wang Dehai, the director of the institute's theoretical research department, primarily responsible for geological surveying and dating of archaeological sites. "We've excavated so many sites over the years, haven't we encountered countless inexplicable things? Unresolved energy residues on artifacts, illogical physical properties in their structures… Before, we could say it was 'questionable,' but now? Those things happening outside might be related to what we've unearthed! By merging into the new department and concentrating our efforts on these challenges, we might truly be able to unravel some ancient mysteries. This would be a tremendous opportunity for the development of the discipline!"
"Opportunity?" The last to speak was Li Wenbin, the younger, more refined-looking man sitting at the very back, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and possessing a scholarly air. He was the deputy director of the Theoretical Research Department, specializing in deciphering civilization symbols and constructing historical contexts. He adjusted his glasses, his tone heavy: "Our understanding of ancient civilizations is barely scratching the surface; their technological level and potential risks are unknown. Rashly intervening in these mysterious events could very well backfire! What we should do is strengthen our own research and solidify our foundation, rather than rashly being pushed to the front lines. I believe a collaborative mechanism can be established, but maintaining the independence and academic integrity of both institutes is paramount."
Zheng Guodong immediately chimed in, "Director Li is right! Besides, if we merge them, how will we arrange personnel? How will we allocate funds? Will we lead the research, or will we be listening to those laymen in intelligence and security giving us wild orders?"
Zhou Min retorted, "Special times call for special policies! Hesitation will only lead to missed opportunities! If we don't take the lead and wait for others to achieve their results, our institute will be marginalized!"
Wang Dehai said, "But the problem is, we're just a group of archaeologists. What kind of results can we achieve by doing police work?"
"I still believe that cooperation, rather than merger, is the safest approach..."
Sitting at the head of the table, Director Zhang Yang watched silently as the five argued heatedly, each sticking to their own version of events, without saying a word.
Because he knew that these guys were talking nonsense. What they really cared about was the redistribution of power, the adjustment of research directions, the competition for resources, and their own status brought about by the merger. What they were saying was all just an excuse.
After they had finished arguing, he tapped the table, and the meeting room immediately fell silent. "Alright, stop arguing. I will relay your opinions to the higher-ups for a final decision. Now, let's talk about the situation in the Southeast Asian countries. Is this some kind of inexplicable change about to happen in the world, or is it caused by artifacts from the ruins? You are all experts in this area, and the higher-ups need a definite answer before they can decide on the next steps. This is a major issue!"