General Introduction

REVELATIONS OF ORIGIN · INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY LIBRARY · VOLUME I · FIRST EDITION

GENERAL RESEARCH PROTOCOL · Methodology, organisation and documentary criteria of the Library.

Contents of this introduction

1. Editorial note
2. Phase I · Worldwide documentary collection
3. Methodological principles
4. General organisation of the Library
5. Classification of sources
6. Documentary institutions
7. Scope of the research
8. Beginning of the documentary research

Editorial note

The International Documentary Library of Revelations of Origin is a research collection conceived to gather, organise and preserve the available knowledge concerning the origins of humanity, the evolution of the planet, the first civilisations and the great cultural traditions of the world.

Each volume is a complete and independent work, prepared from the state of knowledge available at the time of publication. New scientific, archaeological, historical or documentary discoveries will not alter the contents of volumes already published; they will be incorporated into future research, new editions or later volumes, thereby preserving the documentary integrity of every work.

This approach makes it possible to maintain a faithful record of the evolution of knowledge, clearly distinguishing consolidated evidence, new research and the different interpretations that may arise over time.

PHASE I

WORLDWIDE DOCUMENTARY COLLECTION

Introduction to the first phase

Having defined the methodology that will guide this Library, the first stage of the research project begins.

Every major investigation must first build a solid documentary foundation before formulating interpretations or developing explanatory models. For that reason, this first phase will be devoted exclusively to the systematic collection, organisation and classification of available information.

During this stage, no original conclusions will be drawn and no hypothesis will be either demonstrated or refuted. The purpose is to gather the largest possible body of documentation from scientific disciplines, historical sources, cultural traditions and contemporary research, always preserving the nature and original context of each piece of evidence.

Each subject will be investigated independently, documented according to uniform criteria and archived for use in later phases of the project.

The result will be a structured documentary archive forming the basis of every investigation developed by Revelations of Origin.

General objective of Phase I

The purpose of the first phase is to collect, classify, document and preserve all relevant information related to the origin of the planet, human evolution, major geological changes, the first civilisations and the cultural traditions that form part of humanity’s historical memory.

At this stage, no definitive conclusions or original hypotheses will be proposed. Each investigation will be developed independently and organised according to the nature of its sources.

Only once documentary collection has reached a sufficiently broad level will the comparative-analysis phase begin.

This methodology seeks to reduce interpretive bias and to allow connections among different bodies of evidence to emerge through the systematic study of the documentation as a whole.

Methodological principles

The International Documentary Library of Revelations of Origin will be developed according to a set of permanent methodological principles governing all present and future investigations. These principles form the framework that will guarantee coherence, rigour and traceability in the information gathered throughout the project.

Their purpose is to establish uniform criteria for selecting, classifying, documenting and analysing sources, avoiding premature interpretations and preserving the integrity of the research process.

Every new subject incorporated into the Library must comply with these principles, regardless of its discipline or the nature of the sources consulted.

Primacy of evidence

Every assertion incorporated into the Library must be supported by a clearly identifiable source. Available documentation will always constitute the starting point of research.

Interpretations, hypotheses and explanatory models will never replace the documentary, archaeological, historical or scientific evidence on which they are based.

When information cannot be verified through recognised sources, it will be expressly identified according to its nature and will not be presented as a demonstrated fact.

Separation of documentary categories

One of the fundamental principles of this Library is to preserve the original context of every type of information.

Scientific evidence, historical documents, cultural traditions, religious texts and modern hypotheses will be studied independently before any comparison is established among them.

This methodological separation prevents confusion between different levels of evidence and facilitates objective comparative analysis in later phases of the project.

Traceability of sources

All information incorporated must be traceable to its origin.

Whenever possible, each item of data will include identification of its primary or secondary source, the institution responsible for its preservation, the author of the research, the relevant publication or the archaeological context from which it comes.

Documentary traceability is one of the central pillars of the Library and makes it possible to verify the provenance of all information used at a later date.

Research neutrality

The Library does not begin with the intention of confirming or refuting any theory, tradition or historical model.

The aim of the research is to document the available state of knowledge, whether different sources agree or present divergent interpretations.

Conclusions may only be formulated after the comparative analysis of all collected evidence has been completed.

Distinction between evidence and interpretation

Every investigation inevitably involves processes of interpretation. Nevertheless, the Library will always distinguish between observable data and the explanations proposed to understand them.

Documented facts will remain clearly separated from the hypotheses developed to interpret them.

This distinction will enable readers to identify precisely which aspects have broad documentary support and which remain subjects of debate or investigation.

Historical contextualisation

No source will be analysed in isolation.

Every document, manuscript, inscription, archaeological find or scientific publication will be studied within its historical, cultural, geographic and chronological context.

Understanding the environment in which a source emerged is as important as knowing the content it conveys.

Interdisciplinary comparison

The great questions concerning the origin of humanity can rarely be answered from a single discipline.

For this reason, the Library will integrate knowledge from geology, palaeoclimatology, oceanography, archaeology, genetics, palaeoanthropology, history, linguistics, cartography, astronomy and other fields of knowledge.

Each discipline will contribute a specific perspective that will later be compared with the others in order to build the most complete possible view of the past.

Documentary transparency

Whenever discrepancies exist among different studies, they will be documented explicitly.

The Library will not conceal controversies within the scientific community or differences of interpretation in other areas of research.

When a subject remains open to debate, that circumstance will be clearly stated so that readers understand the degree of consensus reached to date.

Updating knowledge

Scientific knowledge evolves continuously.

New archaeological discoveries, technological advances, genetic studies and geological research can change the understanding of events previously accepted.

For this reason, every volume of the Library represents the state of knowledge available at the time of publication. Subsequent research will be recorded in future editions or new volumes, always preserving the documentary integrity of each published work.

Rigour and objectivity

The ultimate purpose of this Library is not to defend a particular vision of the past, but to construct a solid, verifiable and organised documentary foundation that makes a deeper understanding of the history of our planet and humanity possible.

Absolute objectivity is an ideal that is difficult to attain in any historical investigation; nevertheless, a permanent commitment to methodological rigour, transparency in the treatment of sources and intellectual honesty is the guiding principle of the whole collection.

General organisation of the Library

The International Documentary Library of Revelations of Origin has been conceived as a structured, progressive and cumulative research system. Its organisation responds to a methodology designed to facilitate the collection, classification, analysis and preservation of information from multiple disciplines and documentary sources.

Each level of the Library fulfils a specific role within the research process. This structure makes it possible to address highly complex subjects without losing chronological continuity or the traceability of collected evidence.

The project is organised into phases, investigations, thematic blocks, chapters and documentary appendices, forming a permanent archive that can be expanded through new publications without altering the integrity of volumes already issued.

Phases

Phases represent the major methodological stages of the project and define the general objective that must be fulfilled before advancing to the next stage. Each phase is an independent and complementary process within the global investigation.

The initial structure of the Library comprises the following stages:

Phase I. Worldwide documentary collection.
Collection, classification and documentation of all relevant sources related to the object of study.

Phase II. Comparative analysis.
Systematic comparison of the information collected in order to identify coincidences, differences, relationships, contradictions and documentary gaps.

Phase III. Integration of knowledge.
Construction of interpretive models grounded in the combined analysis of the available evidence.

Later phases may be expanded as the project evolves and new lines of research are incorporated.

Investigations

Each phase will consist of multiple independent investigations. An investigation is a documentary unit devoted to the exhaustive study of a specific subject.

Each will possess its own chronology, bibliography, primary and secondary sources, maps, archaeological records, scientific documentation, academic debates and open questions.

All investigations will remain permanently archived and may be expanded in future editions without reconstructing the work already completed.

Thematic blocks

To facilitate the organisation of knowledge, investigations will be divided into thematic blocks. Each block will bring together chapters connected by the same historical, geographical or scientific context.

This organisation will make it possible to develop the different aspects of an investigation in an orderly way, maintaining narrative continuity and methodological coherence.

Chapters

Chapters are the principal unit of development within each thematic block. Each chapter will address a specific subject through a rigorous exposition of available information, integrating different disciplines whenever relevant and always distinguishing among evidence, interpretation and hypothesis.

Their structure will encourage continuous reading, avoiding unnecessary fragmentation and allowing every subject to be understood within a broader context.

Documentary appendices

When the nature of an investigation requires it, specialised appendices will be included to expand the documentation presented in the main chapters.

Appendices may include detailed chronologies, comparative tables, palaeogeographic maps, cartographic reconstructions, phylogenetic trees, climate graphs, archaeological records, transcriptions of historical documents, photographs, technical illustrations, three-dimensional models and any other material that complements the investigation.

These appendices will not replace the principal development of the work; they will serve as reference tools for examining specific aspects in greater depth.

A permanent documentary archive

The Library has not been conceived as a simple sequence of independent books, but as an international documentary archive intended to preserve and organise knowledge concerning the origins of humanity.

Every completed investigation will become part of this permanent archive and will provide a foundation for later studies.

In this way, every new volume will expand the scope of the collection without altering the integrity of earlier works, making it possible to follow the evolution of knowledge through time while preserving a historical record of the investigations undertaken.

Classification of sources

The quality of every investigation depends, to a great extent, on the correct identification and classification of the sources used. For this reason, the International Documentary Library of Revelations of Origin will establish a rigorous distinction among the different types of evidence, always preserving the context in which each item of information was produced.

This classification does not seek to establish a hierarchy of importance among different sources. Rather, it recognises that each responds to different methodologies, purposes and levels of evidence. Only by respecting those differences will objective comparative analysis later be possible.

All documentation incorporated into the Library will be classified within one or more of the following categories.

Scientific evidence

This includes research developed through the scientific method and published by universities, research centres, academic institutions and specialised journals.

This category includes geology, palaeoclimatology, oceanography, archaeology, underwater archaeology, genetics, palaeoanthropology, physical geography, palaeogeography, evolutionary biology, physics, chemistry and all sciences that contribute verifiable information to the understanding of the past.

Whenever possible, priority will be given to peer-reviewed research supported by recognised scientific institutions.

Historical sources

This category brings together written documents produced by ancient civilisations themselves or by authors close to the events they describe. It includes monumental inscriptions, clay tablets, papyri, parchments, codices, manuscripts, administrative records, legal texts, correspondence, chronicles, historical maps and any other documentation preserved in archives, libraries or documentary collections.

Each document will be studied within its historical and cultural context, taking account of its original purpose, date of composition and the circumstances in which it was produced.

Archaeological evidence

Archaeology is one of the principal sources of information for reconstructing past societies. This category will include archaeological sites, architectural structures, tools, ceramics, sculptures, burials, human remains, ritual objects, vessels, hydraulic systems and any other material vestige recovered through excavation or surface research.

Finds from underwater archaeology will also be included, as this discipline is essential to the study of ancient coastal landscapes now submerged.

Genetic evidence

Genetic studies have profoundly transformed the understanding of human evolution and prehistoric migrations. The Library will document research on ancient and modern DNA, haplogroups, maternal and paternal lineages, population genetics, palaeogenomics and any other line of inquiry that contributes to reconstructing the biological history of our species.

Conclusions derived from these studies will be presented with respect for the scope and limitations of each investigation.

Cartography and palaeogeographic reconstructions

Maps are fundamental tools for understanding the evolution of the planet. This category will bring together historical cartography, modern maps, palaeogeographic reconstructions, bathymetric models, sea-level reconstructions, satellite imagery, digital terrain models and every graphic representation that makes it possible to visualise changes in the Earth’s surface over time.

These reconstructions will facilitate comparison between the present landscape and those existing during different periods of geological history.

Cultural traditions

Traditions preserve an essential part of the memory of human societies. This category will gather oral accounts, mythologies, epics, cosmogonies, religious texts, foundation legends and narratives transmitted by different cultures over the centuries.

These sources will be documented with respect for their cultural and religious context, without automatically assuming their historical character or dismissing them because of their traditional nature.

Their study will make it possible to identify possible correspondences, narrative patterns and elements shared among different civilisations.

Modern hypotheses and interpretations

Over the centuries, numerous researchers have developed models intended to explain still-debated aspects of human history. This category will gather hypotheses formulated both within academia and in other currents of research.

Every proposal will be presented together with its foundations, the evidence on which it relies, the principal criticisms it has received and its degree of acceptance within the scientific community.

Including a hypothesis in the Library does not imply its validation; it only documents it as part of the current state of knowledge.

Graphic and documentary material

In addition to written texts, the Library will incorporate a broad set of visual resources intended to complement the research. Archaeological photographs, satellite images, scientific illustrations, artistic reconstructions, three-dimensional models, photogrammetric records, digital scans, graphs, tables, chronologies, diagrams and any other resource that contributes to a better understanding of the subjects studied will be gathered.

All graphic material will retain its source reference and will be used as a complement to written documentation.

Documentary integration

Although every category will be investigated independently, the true value of the Library will arise from their later integration. Comparison among disciplines will make it possible to observe relationships that would be difficult to identify through the isolated study of a single source.

This interdisciplinary methodology is one of the fundamental principles of Revelations of Origin and will be the basis on which later phases of the project are developed.

Documentary institutions

The solidity of an investigation depends both on the quality of its sources and on the reliability of the institutions responsible for preserving them. For that reason, the International Documentary Library of Revelations of Origin will give priority to academic bodies, museums, archives, libraries and research centres recognised for their record in studying and preserving humanity’s historical, archaeological and scientific heritage.

The purpose is not only to consult publications, but also to identify the place where original documents, archaeological objects, cartographic collections, manuscripts and scientific records supporting each investigation are held.

Whenever possible, documentary references will identify the institution that holds the material consulted, allowing readers to know the provenance of the information and facilitating future verification.

National and historical libraries

The world’s great libraries preserve some of the most important documents for the study of human history. Their collections bring together manuscripts, maps, codices, scientific treatises, historical records and specialised publications that constitute an essential source for this research.

The principal documentary institutions that will serve as references include the British Library, the Vatican Apostolic Library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Library of Congress, the National Library of Spain, the National Library of China, the National Library of India and other national libraries whose collections are relevant to each subject studied.

Archaeological museums

Museums are a primary source of information because they preserve a large part of the material heritage of ancient civilisations. The Library will document research related to the collections of the British Museum, Musée du Louvre, State Hermitage Museum, Grand Egyptian Museum, Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Iraq Museum, National Museum of Iran, Istanbul Archaeological Museums, National Museum of Anthropology of Mexico, National Museum of China and other institutions that hold items of particular relevance to the investigation.

Whenever possible, every archaeological object will be contextualised through its provenance, chronology, place of discovery and present state of conservation.

Universities and research centres

Universities are among the principal drivers of contemporary scientific knowledge. Research incorporated into this Library will preferably come from academic institutions with recognised records in archaeology, geology, palaeoclimatology, genetics, palaeoanthropology, oceanography and ancient history.

These include universities, research institutes and specialised centres in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, as well as international bodies devoted to the study of cultural and natural heritage.

Scientific journals

Contemporary scientific research evolves continuously through the publication of new specialist-reviewed studies. The Library will collect work published in international journals of recognised prestige, including Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal of Archaeological Science, Antiquity, Journal of Human Evolution, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, Geoarchaeology and Journal of Quaternary Science, as well as other specialist publications related to the areas under study.

Consulting these journals will make it possible to incorporate recent discoveries and keep the documentary foundation of the project up to date.

International organisations

Various international organisations play a fundamental role in protecting historical heritage and promoting scientific research. When relevant, the Library will incorporate documentation from bodies such as UNESCO, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the British Geological Survey (BGS), the Geological Survey of Japan, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA and other institutions whose studies contribute to knowledge of the planet and human history.

Expeditions and research projects

Numerous scientific and archaeological advances have been made possible through international expeditions conducted during the last two centuries. Whenever possible, the Library will document major archaeological campaigns, oceanographic explorations, geological studies, palaeoclimatic projects, genetic investigations and cartographic programmes that have contributed to knowledge of the subjects analysed.

Each project will be contextualised by identifying its leaders, participating institutions, methodology and principal results.

Research supported by verifiable sources

The purpose of assembling this extensive network of documentary institutions is not merely to accumulate information, but to ensure that every investigation rests on identifiable, verifiable and widely recognised sources.

The credibility of the Library will depend on the transparency with which evidence is presented and on the possibility that any researcher may trace the origin of the information used.

This commitment to documentary verifiability is one of the pillars on which the entire collection will be built.

Scope of the research

The International Documentary Library of Revelations of Origin seeks to develop research of global scope concerning the origins of humanity, the evolution of the planet, the emergence of civilisations and the construction of the world’s historical memory.

Its field of study encompasses all events, natural processes, cultural developments and historical transformations that have contributed to shaping the history of the Earth and the human species from their origins to the present day.

The breadth of the project requires an interdisciplinary perspective capable of integrating information from numerous fields of knowledge while always respecting the methodology established in this protocol.

The research is not limited to one region, civilisation or historical period. Its objective is to build a documented and progressive vision of the human past through the combined analysis of evidence from every continent.

Temporal scope

The study will encompass the whole known history of the planet and humanity. Whenever the nature of an investigation requires it, analysis may reach back to the major geological processes that shaped the Earth’s surface, continuing through the evolution of life, the development of hominins, the appearance of Homo sapiens, prehistoric migrations, the birth of the first civilisations and the historical evolution of different cultures to the contemporary era.

Each investigation will define precisely the chronological period it addresses, allowing detailed analysis without losing continuity within the collection.

Geographical scope

The research will cover every region of the planet that contributes relevant information to understanding the processes studied. It will include present continents, former continental shelves, now-submerged coastal regions, oceanic islands, major mountain systems, deserts, river basins and every geographical space whose evolution has influenced human history.

Changes in terrestrial geography resulting from sea-level variation, tectonic activity, volcanism, glaciations and other natural processes over time will also be documented.

Thematic scope

The Library will gather research from a broad range of disciplines, including geology, palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, oceanography, archaeology, underwater archaeology, palaeoanthropology, genetics, historical linguistics, ancient history, cartography, astronomy, cultural anthropology, ethnography, the history of religions and other areas of knowledge that contribute to understanding the human past.

Integrating these disciplines will make it possible to construct a more complete view of the phenomena investigated and to facilitate analysis of the relationships among them.

Documentary scope

The Library will collect documentation from primary and secondary sources. Scientific publications, historical documents, manuscripts, archives, maps, archaeological records, databases, satellite images, palaeogeographic reconstructions, genetic research, technical reports and any other evidence providing verifiable information for the development of investigations will be studied.

Cultural traditions, oral accounts, religious texts and other expressions of collective memory will likewise be documented when they form part of the object of study, clearly distinguishing them from scientific and historical evidence.

Limits of the research

The purpose of this Library is to document available knowledge, not to demonstrate a predetermined interpretation of history. Therefore, investigations will explicitly acknowledge the limitations within each discipline, the uncertainties present in the available evidence and the questions that remain open to scientific or historical debate.

When a hypothesis lacks sufficient support or equally well-founded alternative interpretations exist, that situation will be presented clearly in order to preserve the objectivity of the analysis.

Recognising the limits of knowledge is an indispensable condition for rigorous research.

Research in permanent construction

Every volume of the Library represents a synthesis of the knowledge available at the time of publication. New archaeological discoveries, technological advances, scientific research or the incorporation of previously unpublished documentation may expand or modify the understanding of particular events.

These updates will be incorporated into future editions or new volumes, always preserving the documentary integrity of research already published and maintaining an orderly record of the evolution of knowledge over time.

Beginning of the documentary research

With the methodological protocol complete, the International Documentary Library of Revelations of Origin begins the development of its investigations according to the criteria established in the preceding pages.

From this point onward, every investigation will be structured independently, retaining a uniform organisation that facilitates consultation, comparison and the incorporation of new knowledge over time.

Every subject will be addressed through systematic analysis of available documentation, integrating evidence from different disciplines and clearly distinguishing documented facts, proposed interpretations and questions that remain open to debate.

The sequence of investigations has been designed to move from the oldest and most general processes towards increasingly specific events, allowing the evolution of the planet and humanity to be understood within a coherent chronological framework.

The journey begins with the study of the world before the development of the first known civilisations. Before examining the cultures that left written testimony, it is essential to understand the geological, climatic and biological setting in which human history unfolded.

The great transformations of the planet altered coasts, continents, ecosystems and migration routes over thousands of years. Many of those changes conditioned the emergence of human settlements, the expansion of populations and the development of the first complex societies.

Understanding this context is the indispensable starting point for every investigation into the origins of humanity.

With this purpose, the first investigation of the Library begins.