William Niven
Encyclopedia
William Niven was a mineralogist and archeologist noted for his discovery of the minerals yttrialite
, thorogummite, aguilarite
and nivenite (named after him), as well as a set of controversial tablet
s. Originally from Scotland
, Niven came to the United States
in 1879, where he became heavily involved in mineralogy and mining
.
. Niven was looking for the mineral gadolinite
, which was used as a street lamp filament. It was on this expedition that he discovered three new minerals, yttrialite
, thorogummite, and nivenite.
In the 1890s, Niven discovered the mineral aguilarite
while on an exploration trip to Mexico
. He also found new deposits of rare minerals in New York and New Jersey.
and excavations being under taken there at the time. Niven began his archaeological work in Guerrero
, Mexico
where, among of other work, he purchased the first rediscovered Xochipala-style
figurine. Due to the Mexican Revolution
of 1910, however, he was forced to move to the Valley of Mexico
.
The so-called Niven tablets are and have been surrounded by controversy since their discovery by Niven in 1921. They have been associated with Scandinavia
n petroglyphs as posited by Ludovic Mann and they have also been associated with lost continent theories. Their association with lost continent theories comes through James Churchward
's interpretation of the symbols found on the tablets.
offered an interpretation of the tablets that caused less belief in their authenticity. Churchward was a major proponent of theories regarding lost continents, specifically the continent of Lemuria, also known as Mu
, a continent often mentioned in esoteric texts of various cultures around the world. He believed that early in the history of the world there existed a continent which was called Mu. This civilization, according to Churchward and many others, was very technologically advanced but was destroyed due to natural disaster
. After viewing rubbings of Niven's tablets Churchward strongly believed that there were a group of people that escaped destruction and migrated to other parts of the world spreading their culture and belief system. He believed that the symbols and markings found on the tablets had roots in the ancient culture of Mu. This furthered speculation that the tablets were a hoax
.
Yttrialite
Yttrialite or Yttrialite- is a rare yttrium thorium sorosilicate mineral with formula: 2Si2O7. It forms green to orange yellow masses with conchoidal fracture. It crystallizes in the monoclinic-prismatic crystal system. It has a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5 and a specific gravity of 4.58...
, thorogummite, aguilarite
Aguilarite
Aguilarite is a sulfosalt mineral found in the San Carlos mine in Mexico. Its crystal system is orthorhombic.- References :* from mindat.org* from...
and nivenite (named after him), as well as a set of controversial tablet
Clay tablet
In the Ancient Near East, clay tablets were used as a writing medium, especially for writing in cuneiform, throughout the Bronze Age and well into the Iron Age....
s. Originally from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Niven came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1879, where he became heavily involved in mineralogy and mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
.
Mineral discoveries
Niven's first major contribution to mineralogy occurred in 1889 while he was on an expedition to Llano County, Texas, on behalf of Thomas EdisonThomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
. Niven was looking for the mineral gadolinite
Gadolinite
Gadolinite, sometimes also known as Ytterbite, is a silicate mineral which consists principally of the silicates of cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, yttrium, beryllium, and iron with the formula 2FeBe2Si2O10...
, which was used as a street lamp filament. It was on this expedition that he discovered three new minerals, yttrialite
Yttrialite
Yttrialite or Yttrialite- is a rare yttrium thorium sorosilicate mineral with formula: 2Si2O7. It forms green to orange yellow masses with conchoidal fracture. It crystallizes in the monoclinic-prismatic crystal system. It has a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5 and a specific gravity of 4.58...
, thorogummite, and nivenite.
In the 1890s, Niven discovered the mineral aguilarite
Aguilarite
Aguilarite is a sulfosalt mineral found in the San Carlos mine in Mexico. Its crystal system is orthorhombic.- References :* from mindat.org* from...
while on an exploration trip to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He also found new deposits of rare minerals in New York and New Jersey.
In Mexico
Niven eventually became interested in archaeology through his travels to MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and excavations being under taken there at the time. Niven began his archaeological work in Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where, among of other work, he purchased the first rediscovered Xochipala-style
Xochipala
Xochipala is a minor archaeological site in the Mexican state of Guerrero, whose name has become attached, somewhat erroneously, to a style of Formative Period figurines and pottery.-Archaeological site:...
figurine. Due to the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
of 1910, however, he was forced to move to the Valley of Mexico
Valley of Mexico
The Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly coterminous with the present-day Distrito Federal and the eastern half of the State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a centre for several pre-Columbian civilizations, including...
.
The "Niven tablets"
The year 1921 brought the first discovery of one of the andesite tablets. The indecipherable markings on these tablets were the subject of much controversy over the last years of Niven's life.The so-called Niven tablets are and have been surrounded by controversy since their discovery by Niven in 1921. They have been associated with Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n petroglyphs as posited by Ludovic Mann and they have also been associated with lost continent theories. Their association with lost continent theories comes through James Churchward
James Churchward
James Churchward is best known as a British born occult writer. However, he was also a patented inventor, engineer, and expert fisherman....
's interpretation of the symbols found on the tablets.
James Churchward and the lost continent of Mu
James ChurchwardJames Churchward
James Churchward is best known as a British born occult writer. However, he was also a patented inventor, engineer, and expert fisherman....
offered an interpretation of the tablets that caused less belief in their authenticity. Churchward was a major proponent of theories regarding lost continents, specifically the continent of Lemuria, also known as Mu
Mu
- Language :* Mu , Μ or μ, a letter in the Greek alphabet* Mu , represented by the Japanese kana む or ム* 無, Mu , a Japanese and Korean word important in Zen practice...
, a continent often mentioned in esoteric texts of various cultures around the world. He believed that early in the history of the world there existed a continent which was called Mu. This civilization, according to Churchward and many others, was very technologically advanced but was destroyed due to natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
. After viewing rubbings of Niven's tablets Churchward strongly believed that there were a group of people that escaped destruction and migrated to other parts of the world spreading their culture and belief system. He believed that the symbols and markings found on the tablets had roots in the ancient culture of Mu. This furthered speculation that the tablets were a hoax
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
.