Crichton E M Miller FCILT FSAScot | Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (original) (raw)
Crichton E. M. Miller is an esteemed Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and a Fellow of The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He is particularly recognised for his innovative work in neo-geometry and astro-navigation, having patented designs for Latin and Celtic crosses that he characterises as Neolithic and Bronze Age instruments utilised for spherical geometry, astronomy, surveying, and navigation.
His studies elucidate the logistical frameworks used by Neolithic and early Bronze Age seafarers that were essential for the development of trade networks crucial to seasonal hunting and commerce. He substantiates his findings through artefacts unearthed from burial sites, alongside the significant dispersion of tin and amber sourced from regions such as Cornwall and the Baltic.
In 1998 and 1999, Miller constructed a rudimentary instrument employing wood, threads, and plumb bobs, successfully reverse-engineering the "Sun Wheel" symbol. This project yielded a practical mechanism for acquiring spherical geometric observations relevant to prehistoric contexts, culminating in the awarding of two British patents (GB 2344887 & GB 2344654) in 2001 and 2002. These patents represent a crucial precursor to navigational devices such as quadrants, sextants, and theodolites. Miller hypothesises that seafaring and nomadic hunter-gatherers utilised primitive astronomy for local timekeeping and that they employed manned watch stations to account for axial precession, Earth's obliquity, and lunar nodes. His work invites comparison to the Antikythera mechanism, which serves as a predictive astronomical almanac reliant on initial observations.
Miller's patents were granted following rigorous evaluation by the GB Patent Office. His diverse background in Royal Air Force Air Traffic Control, marine navigation, and road transport has endowed him with the expertise to reconstruct an ancient maritime logistics system grounded in primitive astronomy, expressed in contemporary sacred symbols.
Miller asserts that these ancient systems were largely obscured by the introduction of the 24-hour clock in the 14th century AD and the subsequent advancements represented by Harrison's chronometer and the sextant, which further segregated scholarly investigation into methods used for determining latitude and longitude via primitive astronomy.
In his pivotal work, *The Golden Thread of Time* (ISBN-10: 1499532601), Miller reinterprets the "Dixon Relics," artefacts found in 1872 within the North Shaft of the Pyramid of Khufu. His experimental reconciliations with these relics yielded an accuracy of three arc minutes, indicating precise surveying and astronomical alignments likely employed by Khufu's vizier, Hemiunu. Moreover, Miller establishes that the "Celtic cross" design can also facilitate spherical geometry, thus enabling accurate navigation by celestial bodies and potentially clarifying patterns of maritime diffusion during the period.
Miller adopts a balanced perspective towards the interplay of science and theology, recognising the validity of both domains. He critiques contemporary archaeoastronomy research for overemphasising religious ritual in the alignment studies of Neolithic structures, advocating instead for an appreciation of ancient practical solutions tailored to survival. His research compels a reassessment of the cognitive capabilities of prehistoric peoples from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age.
Additionally, he postulates that historical protectionism regarding methodologies—often intertwined with trade secrets, guilds, and secret societies—poses significant barriers to scholarly inquiry and access for those beyond these institutions.
Miller's contributions are further evidenced by his authorship of *The Golden Thread of Time* (ISBN-13: 978-1499532609, Pendulum Publishing) and a range of publications in notable outlets such as *The Scotsman* and the *Coventry Evening Telegraph*, alongside media appearances in the UK, Spain, and the United States. These engagements underscore Miller's influential role at the intersection of logistics, transport, and archaeoastronomy.
**Notable Published Work:**
- Miller, C. E. M. (2013). *The Golden Thread of Time*. Pendulum Publishing. ISBN-10: 1499532601.
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