Preface: It is with pleasure that I write a preface to the English version of this book, “The Black Sea, the Flood and Ancient Myths.” It was originally written in Bulgarian by the distinguished father and son team of oceanographers, Petko and Dimitar Dimitrovi, and it is a major contribution to our understanding of both human evolution and the recent geologic past. Its importance is emphasized by the authors’ insight into the mythology surrounding the Great Flood and the elegant convergence of the myth with scientific facts and observations which, as a totality, has provided these two eminent scientists with an insight into one of the greatest events of catastrophic proportions to befall mankind. The authors have provided a careful analysis of the mythology, archeological evidence and geological evidence, offering a compelling case for the existence of an early lake, its influence on the associated settlements that existed on the current shelf of the Black Sea, and the subsequent flooding of the Black Sea through the Bosphorous. This marine flooding is a fact and the sequence of events is well accepted. However, as with all advances in scientific knowledge, there are those who do not accept the proposition of THE FLOOD as promulgated in this dissertation. In any scientific endeavor, there are always some facts that can be disputed or challenged. However, it is the totality, the meshing of scientific evidence with mythology, that leads to the insight required for resolving problems raised by past events. Continued scientific study of the region will provide further evidence that the interpretations enunciated in this book are valid. This is the way of science, and it is clear to me that this book will serve as a guide and inspiration for many investigators to come. Non-technical readers will not be overwhelmed by the science contained in this book. It is concise and readable, and it is a wonderful story of scientific investigation illuminating the mysteries of the past. - Richard L. Thomas
