| Abstract |
From his darkest past, prehistoric man used volcanic rock, silex, obsidian, ignimbrites, flint and basalt to manufacture tools and weapons. Some of his descendants knew how to use lava extrusions to make homes with hard rock, cooking by steam at fumaroles or on naturally hot rocks and how to use thermal waters and mud in body hygiene, in curing wounds and in tempering arrows and lances for hunting and war. Washing and bathing from thermo mineral springs, irrigation and therapeutic and recreational applications occurred at different times in diverse ancient cultures spread in all the continents. Bathing in geothermal waters was an essential part of life in many older, advanced civilizations. There is a long line of bathing cultures, starting with antique prototypes in the Old World of Greeks, Romans, Turks, Chinese, Finnish, Japanese, Jews, Arabs, Mesoamericans, Maoris, Koreans and Indonesians. Spas (Sales Per Aqua's) or health through waters containing mineral components, were used not only for curing rheumatic, sciatic, gynecological and other physical diseases, but also for treating psychiatric problems and for relaxation. Geothermal energy also played an important role on human occupancy of some territories, because volcanic activity should have determined alternate emigration immigration fluctuations over the population in the affected zones. At the same time, the economic, social, agricultural and artisan development of the people living in volcanic sites were influenced by volcanic eruptions. The mythical religious interpretations of geothermal phenomena occurred very early, reflecting a profound respect toward terrestrial heat. Many ancient cultures throughout the world developed close to recent volcanic areas, interacting with geothermal events. Now some of their descendents are developing and using spas, space heating/cooling and agricultural geothermal programs, while others are commercializing its by products or building greenhouses and electrical power generation plants. This perspective emphasizes the prehistoric antiquity of the cognitive processes and practical uses of geothermal phenomena. This work is a general outline on the common points of contact between different human societies and the thermal Earth. |