Graham Hancock was peeved. He had been hoping to film at the Great Serpent Mound in southern Ohio for his Netflix documentary series, “Ancient Apocalypse”, the latest adventure in his 30-year campaign to uncover evidence of a lost Ice Age civilisation. Although most scholars think the snake-shaped earthworks were constructed by Native Americans either 900 or 2,300 years ago, Hancock believes they are around 13,000 years old. But he would not be able to take viewers on a tour because he was stuck outside the car park.
To film at the site, Hancock’s producers had asked permission from the Ohio History Connection (OHC), the non-profit organisation that manages it. But OHC had said no. Other production teams might have moved on and found an alternative location. The makers of “Ancient Apocalypse”, however, decided to make a virtue of it.
In the episode that was subsequently broadcast, Hancock stands beside the white gate that separates him from the giant snake, and reads out OHC’s email as dramatic string music builds. “Because the presenter of this series, Graham Hancock, proposes a theory and story that do not align with what we know to be true about Serpent Mound, your request is declined.” The strings stop and Hancock stares into the camera for a beat, the picture of rage. “What more effective way”, he says, “for archaeologists to censor and restrain and crush opposing views?” | | |
