George Michanowsky was a science writer and linguist, from New York, who produced a ground-breaking book in 1977, The Once and Future Star[282], which explored the link between the Vela X supernova (now PSR 0833-45) and the development of civilisation as a consequence of its radiation. He believes that this spectacular event was witnessed and recorded by the Sumerians around 4000 BC(b).
A refutation of Michanowsky’s views by Duane Hamacher of Missouri University is available online(a).
His book goes much further and claims that the Sumerians had known Atlantis under the name of NI-DUK-KI, known today as Dilmun. The renowned Henry Rawlinson interpreted this name to mean ‘blessed hill’ or ‘blessed isle’. While Michanowsky’s suggestion is highly speculative, if correct, it would be the earliest known reference to Atlantis.
(b) http://www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img=115996588
