The Book of Mormon, Samabaj, and evidence of sunken cities | Ep. 209

In the Book of Mormon, we read that after Christ is crucified in the Old World, the New World experienced terrible natural disasters. Among other tragedies, we read that some cities were submerged in water. In this episode, David explores the subject of sunken cities in Mesoamerica - and possible ancient evidence backing up the Book of Mormon’s descriptions.

Video transcript: https://saintsunscripted.com/faith-and-beliefs/the-restoration-of-christs-church/book-of-mormon-samabaj-evidence-sunken-cities/

— “Underwater archaeology and the Book of Mormon in Sorenson’s Mormon’s Codex,” by Matthew Roper (BYU Maxwell Institute): https://bit.ly/46ALtBp
— “The Submergence of the City of Jerusalem in the Land of Nephi,” by John L. Sorenson (BYU Studies): https://bit.ly/3razmuu
— “Samabaj: un sitio sumergido en el Lago de Atitlán: https://tinyurl.com/3rkxa5nc
— “Divers probe Mayan ruins submerged in Guatemala lake,” via Reuters: https://bit.ly/44qfQIW
— “The Secrets of Guatemala’s Atlantis: The Maya Ruins of Samabaj,” via The Collector: https://bit.ly/3CZUpTo
— “Underwater archaeology: UNESCO to explore Lake Atitlán and compile register of best practices,” via UNESCO: https://bit.ly/3D2FMP3
— “Lost Island of the Maya,” by Roger Atwood in Archaeology magazine, Vol. 68, No. 4 (July/August 2015), pp. 40-45: https://tinyurl.com/2xfsep35
— Samabaj: The Mayan Ruins Hidden Beneath Lake Atitlan,” via A Little Bit Human: https://bit.ly/3pLncrA
— “Book of Mormon Evidence: Sunken Cities,” via Evidence Central: https://tinyurl.com/47xnpe8v
— “Is There Evidence of Sunken Cities in Ancient America?” via Book of Mormon Central (KnoWhy #429): https://bit.ly/43g1qda
— “5 Additional Compelling Archaeological Evidences of the Book of Mormon,” by Chris Heimerdinger, via Book of Mormon Central: https://bit.ly/3Nz9y2E
— “Samabaj, la Atlantida Maya,” a short Nat Geo documentary (in Spanish): https://tinyurl.com/mc3dsnxs
— For more info, see “Arqueología subacuática: Amatitlán, Atitlán,” by Guillermo Mata Amado & Sonia Medrano: https://tinyurl.com/yck8jjum
— “Samabaj, the underwater village in lake Atitlán and the Book of Mormon,” via the Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum: https://bit.ly/3O2sBDY
— “Samabaj: a submerged site in lake Atitlán,” via UNESCO: https://tinyurl.com/ym26hhzj
— “Lost Mayan City Inside Volcano Crater Explored by Archaeologists,” via Newsweek: https://bit.ly/3JMu9Q8 (this source mentions 2 sites other than Samabaj [though I question whether or not they might have just counted Samabaj twice], also found submerged in the lake. One mentioned is “Chiutnamit.”)
— “Samabaj: The Underwater Island Site in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala,” by Mark Cheney, via the Institute of Maya Studies newsletter (Nov. 18, 2009): https://tinyurl.com/3np2vubt (this source also mentions another site under Lake Atitlan, called “Chiutnamit.”)
— This tour company website (Antigua Tours) also mentions Chiutnamit: https://tinyurl.com/3eyhuujb

Notes:

— “[Samabaj] appears to have been built on an island that was submerged, possibly because of a volcanic eruption, a landslide or another natural disaster.” Source: https://bit.ly/3D2FMP3

— At the 23rd symposium of archaeological investigations in Guatemala, Roberto Samayoa and Sonia Medrano concluded: “because of the good condition of the structures and ceramics that have been found, it is inferred that the water level rose rapidly, submerging the island some 2,000 years ago.” Source: https://tinyurl.com/yckbh4mj

— On another occasion, in a Q&A with Sonia, one questioner asked, “Was it a sudden ‘from night to day’ flood, or was it something more progressive?” Sonia responded, “I’m inclined to think it was sudden … in this scenario we would have had a great destruction.” Source: https://tinyurl.com/3rkxa5nc

— The Book of Mormon calls Jerusalem a “great city.” In Sorenson’s 1985 book (before Samabaj was discovered) he concluded that because the city was relatively new, the word “great” here “did not refer to the duration or size of a settlement but to its concept and layout.” Thus, it’s not really a problem that Samabaj was relatively small. Source: "An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon," John L. Sorenson, pg. 223.

— “‘We have found six ceremonial monuments and four altars and without doubt there are more, which means this was an extremely important place from a spiritual point of view,’ lead archaeologist Sonia Medrano told Reuters in an interview. … Medrano...says the island has ruins of small houses for about 150 people and is crammed with religious paraphernalia, leading researchers to believe Samabaj was a pilgrimage destination. Worshippers probably flocked there from the surrounding area, hiring boats from the shore to row them out to the island for prayer and contemplation, Medrano said.” Source: https://bit.ly/44qfQIW

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Видео The Book of Mormon, Samabaj, and evidence of sunken cities | Ep. 209 канала Saints Unscripted