#2368 - Michael Button

Overview

This episode dives deep into ancient history, speculative archaeology, and the mysteries of human civilization. Michael Button, a YouTuber known for exploring unconventional theories about humanity's past, joins Joe Rogan to discuss topics ranging from ancient structures to the possibility of lost civilizations and extraterrestrial life.

Notable Quotes

- How can anyone know about what happened a hundred thousand years ago or two hundred thousand years ago? It kind of gets me riled up because at the end of the day, none of us know what happened back then. - Michael Button, on the arrogance of definitive historical claims.

- We are a species with amnesia. Things just keep getting older. - Joe Rogan, reflecting on humanity's limited understanding of its past.

- If that's real, you don't know anything. If that becomes mainstream, now what? - Joe Rogan, on the implications of the Peruvian tridactyl mummies.

🗿 Ancient Structures and Lost Civilizations

- Michael Button discusses his skepticism of mainstream historical timelines, particularly regarding the origins of civilization. He highlights discoveries like Gobekli Tepe, which challenge the conventional narrative that civilization began 6,000 years ago.

- The conversation explores the Sahara Desert's Green Sahara period, theorizing that ancient civilizations may have thrived there before rapid desertification forced migrations to areas like the Nile River, potentially leading to the rise of ancient Egypt.

- Joe Rogan and Button marvel at the precision of ancient structures like the pyramids and Gobekli Tepe, questioning the tools and techniques used to create them. They suggest these sites may point to lost technologies or civilizations.

🌍 The Preservation Problem and Human History

- Button emphasizes the difficulty of preserving evidence over vast timescales, noting that even modern materials like concrete and glass would degrade almost entirely within 100,000 years.

- He points out that only nine Homo sapiens sites older than 100,000 years have been discovered globally, underscoring how little we know about early human activity.

- Rogan and Button discuss the implications of discoveries like the Colombo structure in Zambia, a 476,000-year-old wooden construction that challenges assumptions about when humans began building permanent settlements.

🛸 Extraterrestrial Life and Unexplained Phenomena

- The conversation shifts to the Peruvian tridactyl mummies, which feature three fingers, three toes, and elongated skulls. Button and Rogan speculate on their origins, noting their anatomical differences from humans and connections to ancient artwork.

- Rogan ties the mummies to the 1996 Varginha UFO incident in Brazil, where witnesses described creatures with similar features.

- They explore the possibility of advanced civilizations or extraterrestrial life forms influencing human history, with Rogan suggesting that some UFO sightings could be linked to ancient technologies or beings.

🔍 Speculative Archaeology and Alternative Theories

- Button introduces the Silurian hypothesis, which posits that advanced civilizations could have existed millions of years ago but left no trace due to geological processes.

- Rogan and Button discuss fossilized cart tracks and a mysterious 300-million-year-old wheel found in Turkey, questioning whether these could be evidence of pre-human intelligent life.

- They critique the rigidity of mainstream archaeology, arguing that gatekeeping and ego often stifle exploration of alternative theories. Rogan praises Button's work for sparking curiosity and challenging conventional narratives.

🎥 The Role of Media and Independent Research

- Button credits platforms like YouTube for democratizing access to information, allowing independent researchers to share unconventional ideas with a global audience.

- Rogan laments the lack of mainstream media coverage for discoveries like the Peruvian mummies, arguing that such revelations could fundamentally alter our understanding of history.

- Both emphasize the importance of open-mindedness and collaboration between academics and alternative historians to uncover humanity's true past.