Diffusionism is the anthropological term used to describe how similar customs, beliefs and artefact designs are spread between cultures through migration, invasion or trade. There are a number of competing models to describe the possible mechanisms involved.                                                                                 

Hyperdiffusion describes a more extreme form of the concept which requires the existence of a mother civilisation that is responsible for the widespread dissemination of its technology and culture. Egypt is frequently mentioned in this regard, being seen as the influence behind Neolithic megalith building AND the pyramids of Central America, in spite of the fact that Newgrange was constructed before the Egyptian pyramids and the New World pyramids were built thousands of years after those in Egypt. Atlantis is frequently suggested as another ‘mother’ culture but without a single piece of evidence to support this speculative contention.

Consequently, for me, Hyperdiffusion is not convincing. Even today technologies are developed independently throughout the world, but not in complete isolation, because of the instant global communications available today. In Ireland we drive German, British and Japanese cars, use US computer technology and play with Chinese toys. However, being generous by nature, we gave the world the Irish pub, Riverdance and Guinness!