This is one of my favorite themes of Tolkien and also of Conan's Robert E Howard. That "...... before the rise of the sons of Aryas there was an age undreamed of...". Recorded history goes back to what, around 5-10 thousand years? What up before that? I have read Tolkiens take on that. Counting years and ages before "recorded history" to me would be a relative thing. I dont think anyone can safely say what happened before "rocorded history". Would anything survive if it were compressed under a 2 mile thick glacier for a few thousand years? Science has come a long way but we are just now scratching the surface. You can use science "for" or "against" the argument for ME. I like the conjecture of what would happen after the 4th - 5th age but "not quite getting the Point" is what is coming to mind... This is the essence of Myth.
On the Elves and dwarves receding as the men were increasing, I can see that happening pretty easily - just ask the Neanderthals.
|