The Quest for Noah's Flood

In the summer of 2000, undersea explorer Robert Ballard (of Titanic fame) set out for the Black Sea in quest of a “perfect ship”--i.e., an ancient wreck intact thanks to the oxygen-deprived environment of the “dead zone” unique to this body of water. While planning the expedition, Ballard discovered a new book from marine geologists at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory suggesting that a cataclysmic flood forming the Black Sea might be linked to myths and legends recorded in the biblical account of Noah and the Flood. Armed with a dual purpose--to find evidence of human habitation in the coastal region that would support the flood theory and to find his “perfect ship” in the depths farther out--Ballard utilized robotic undersea devices which brought back images and samples which were then subjected to chemical analysis and carbon dating. In this National Geographic episode, viewers experience the suspense and thrill of being the first to see the bottom of the Black Sea, where recovered wood samples and rectangular building stones suggest that this was indeed a site of human activity (with a final look into the dead zone revealing a shipwreck, mast and stanchions still standing!). Splendid nature photography, credible academic commentary, and an intriguing story (and the promise of a sequel) make this a recommended title for most collections. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)