So you think the Loch Ness Monster never existed? Think again.

The science of “geomythology” is breathing new life into such stories. The Loch Ness Monster and other folk tales might not be pure fiction, but actually based on memories of events our ancestors once observed.

On today’s episode of Essays On Air, the audio version of The Conversation’s Friday essay series, I’m reading my essay on the geographical truths behind some of humankind’s most mysterious myths.

Traditional stories about age-old events might actually reveal clues about the geological history of the Pacific.

Through research of ancient oral knowledge, we have opened up opportunities for understanding the minds of our ancestors, more than we ever thought possible.

Today’s episode was recorded by Michael Lund and edited by Sybilla Gross. Find us and subscribe in Apple Podcasts, in Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Additional Audio

Snow by David Szesztay

Scenery by Kai Engel

Brand New World by Kai Engel

August (Summer Nights) by Kai Engel

Lake waves by Benconcan

Rumble by Unfa

Cinematic deep rumble by Mmasonghi

Low rumble by Tec studios

‘Monster’ rumble by Ecfike

Chanting (scary) by theartisticfellow

Thunder by Justkiddink

Single wave breaks by Dobroide

Explosion by tommccann

Hawaii volcanoes by e__

Fiji Island Singing by Joseph Galea

College campus ambience by Relebogile

Fiji Coup Latest: Journalists by AP Archive

Fiji: Ethnic Indians Flee the Unrest by AP Archive

Boots marching by stib

Military sounds by qubodup

Pages turning by zamazan

Pottery sounds by Tumbleweed3288

Didgeridoo by sandyrb

Native American style flute in A by Wood_Flutes

Hissing gas by Taberius

Library by artemis_ch

Celtic tin whistle by luis_audp

Patrick D. Nunn receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, Région Pays de la Loire (France), the University of the Sunshine Coast, and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.