Geomythology

Along the Oregon and Washington coast, there are Native American stories about boulders, called a’yahos, which can shake to death anyone who stares at them. In addition, Ruth Ludwin, a seismologist in Seattle, discovered tales of villages being washed away and of whales and thunderbirds locked in fights… [warren ellis & the observer]

Hundreds of years ago there were no seismographs to measure the size of earthquakes, no satellite images of hurricanes devestating coastlines, no photography of the smoke caused by wildfires and volcanos. Only recently have catastrophies and other natural phenomena been measured, recorded, and tracked. Only recently have these events been deemed "scientific" as opposed to "spiritual".

Geomythology is an attempt to bridge the gap between prehistoric legends and stories and our archeological record of natural events (floods, earthquakes, heat waves, epidemics, droughts, etc.). There is more than one instance where an ancient story has prodded scientists to make unexpected discoveries.

However improbable it seems, oral accounts of the [Crater Lake aka Mount Mazama, Oregon] eruption must have been transmitted through approximately 250 generations! [7500 years]

These myths and traditions have real-world practical applications, too. For instance,

Last year's tsunami was also triggered by a strong earthquake, and around 300,000 people died. The Moken - or sea gypsies - of Thailand, however, have a tradition which warns that when tides recede far and fast, now known as a precursor of a tsunami, then a man-eating wave will soon head their way: so they should run far and fast. Last 26 December, they did - and survived. [the observer]