So, could it be true? Did a civilization rise before recorded history, only to be lost beneath the rising seas and shifting sands? Or is this just the archaeological equivalent of “aliens built the pyramids”?

Let’s take a look at how history has been rewritten before, why people are considering this theory, and how sci-fi authors have had a field day with the idea.

History Has a Habit of Changing Its Mind

If there’s one thing historians hate, it’s having to update their PowerPoints. But they’ve had to do it a lot. Here are some cases where mainstream archaeology got a rude wake-up call:

• Göbekli Tepe (Turkey, ~9600 BCE) – This site changed everything. Before its discovery, historians believed complex societies didn’t exist until about 4000 BCE. Then archaeologists unearthed a massive, intricately carved temple six thousand years earlier—before farming, before cities, before we were even supposed to have the organizational skills for something like this. Oops.
• The Clovis First Theory (North America, ~13,000 years ago) – Once upon a time, archaeologists swore that the Clovis culture was the first group to arrive in the Americas around 11,000 BCE. Then along came sites like Monte Verde in Chile, which threw a wrench in that by being at least 14,500 years old. Now, some evidence suggests humans were in the Americas as far back as 30,000 years ago. So much for Clovis being first.
• The Antikythera Mechanism (~100 BCE, Greece) – Sometimes called the first analog computer, this device was found in a shipwreck and baffled scientists. It’s essentially an ancient Greek clockwork machine capable of tracking astronomical positions—something historians thought was way beyond their capabilities. Turns out, the ancients were building precision mechanical devices a thousand years before we expected.
• The Sphinx Water Erosion Hypothesis (~2500 BCE? Or Older?) – Some geologists argue that the Sphinx shows signs of significant water erosion, which suggests it could be thousands of years older than traditionally believed. Mainstream Egyptology isn’t buying it, but the debate keeps bubbling up like a forgotten curse from a mummy’s tomb.

These discoveries show one thing: history is a moving target. Every time we think we’ve nailed down the timeline, something comes along and says, “Actually…”

Lost Civilization or Just Wishful Thinking?

So, back to the big question: could an advanced civilization have existed before the Ice Age?

The argument for this theory comes from some tantalizing evidence:

• Rising sea levels after the Ice Age would have buried coastal settlements under hundreds of feet of water.
• Advanced ancient structures like Göbekli Tepe suggest organized society much earlier than expected.
• Myths and legends from all over the world talk about a great flood wiping out an earlier civilization (Atlantis, anyone?).

The counterarguments?

• There’s no definitive proof of advanced pre-Ice Age cities, tools, or writing.
• The technological leap required for an advanced civilization to rise and completely disappear is massive.
• Just because it could have happened doesn’t mean it did.

That’s where we are: intriguing clues, but no smoking gun.

How Sci-Fi Writers Have Explored This Concept

Science fiction and fantasy authors love the idea of forgotten civilizations because it’s ripe for storytelling. Here are some fun ways it’s been explored:

• H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Out of Time – A race of time-traveling beings, the Great Race of Yith, stored their minds in ancient pre-human civilizations before being wiped out.
• Stargate SG-1 – Ancient advanced races, mistaken for gods, leave behind technology far beyond our understanding.
• Arthur C. Clarke’s Rama Series – A long-lost, hyper-advanced species leaves behind relics that humankind barely understands.
• The Atlantis Myth in Various Forms – Whether in Disney’s Atlantis or Doctor Who, the idea of a pre-Ice Age advanced civilization is a go-to for fiction.

For modern authors, the possibilities are endless. What if an ancient race uploaded themselves into a quantum network before the Ice Age, waiting for the right moment to wake up? Or what if an archaeologist unearths a perfectly preserved smart device from 20,000 years ago? (Hopefully, it has a charger.)

So… Were We the First?

Honestly? We don’t know. It’s possible an early civilization existed before recorded history, but we need concrete proof before rewriting the textbooks.

The fun part is, science is always discovering new things. The next big find might be buried beneath the ocean, hidden in ice, or sitting in plain sight, waiting for someone to take a second look.

Until then, this mystery remains open-ended. And that, my friends, is exactly the kind of thing that keeps science fiction—and real science—so fascinating.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check my backyard for ancient ruins. You never know.

Leif J. Erickson is a science fiction and fantasy author from a small farming community in west central Minnesota. Using his time wisely when he was a farmer, Leif developed many ideas, characters, and storylines to create over fifty unique first drafts and outlines for stories. From his start in a small town school, to college at North Dakota State University, back to his family farm, then to the bright lights of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and back to his small farming town, Leif has always had a love of writing.

When Leif isn’t writing he can be found with his wife hiking in state parks, canoeing local lakes and rivers, exploring local and regional ghost towns, experiencing museums, or simply reading or hanging out with friends and family. Leif draws on the local nature and ecology to find inspiration for his writing while he also asks what’s possible for technology and the human race, weaving them together for amazing stories that will stay with the reader for years to come. Leif looks forward to having many novel and story releases in the years to come.

You can see all of Leif’s Books here: Leif’s Amazon Author Page