>The Macau Daily News is reporting that a mysterious circles of phallic-shaped carved stone figures, known as “The Ikom Monoliths,” have been identified as being the “remnants of a glorious civilization made up in equal parts of ancient Egypt and the Old Testament.” According to the report, archaeologists used carbon dating to date the stones and estimated the age of the monoliths to be 4,500 years old, “that is, roughly as old as the Egyptian pyramids.”
The report also says that according to a book about to be published on the Ikom Monoliths, the stones, which contain “a form of writing and a complex system of codified information,” give “evidence that the biblical Garden of Eden lay in what is now Nigeria,” and that Adam and Eve were Nigerians.
Nigerian bloggers have been writing about a “high technology civilization based in the present-day location of the Sahara desert.” According to the bloggers, this civilization, whose “hallmarks included the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Egypt,” was “decimated by the deluge.”
This news report is too good to be true. For years scholars have been looking for the location of the Garden of Eden in Mesopotamia and now we discover that it was located in Nigeria. The “out of Africa” movement continues to promote that Africa was the cradle of humanity. Notwithstanding the scientific model that declares that modern humans evolved relatively recently in Africa, migrated into Eurasia and became the dominant population, I believe that the Ikom Monoliths prove nothing.
To me, this story is similar to all the Nigerian scams that appear in your email box in the form of chain letters informing you that you are the beneficiary of millions of dollars left behind by a late millionaire. A word to the wise: caveat emptor. This is just another Nigerian scam.
Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
Tags: Archeology, Garden of Eden, Ikom Monoliths
Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament 
>I think it is a shame that rather than question the suggestion that the Garden of Eden is in Nigeria by offering a simple argument, you descend to relegating the announcement as “another Nigerian scam”.Yes, it might be hard to believe that Nigeria is the original location of Eden based on the studies that link the Garden to other parts of the world, but that does not change the fact that these Ikom monoliths could be a very important part of human history, no matter where they are located. It is more important to wait for additional research to prove or disprove the claims than dismiss the findings and insult Nigerians, a majority of whom do not participate in fraudulent activity.Take care.
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>Dear Solomon,Thank you for visiting my blog and for your comment.There is no doubt that the Ikom monoliths have an important cultural value for Nigeria. More studies need to be done by specialists so that the real meaning and purpose of the monoliths can be ascertained.But the monoliths do not prove that the Garden of Eden was located in Nigeria. The whole concept has a Sumerian flavor and it reflects Sumerian culture. I recognize that most Nigerians are honest and decent people. It is unfortunate that a small minority of individuals bring such a negative reputation to a good people.Claude Mariottini
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