The possibilities of 'discovering' something while excavating ruins has always captured the imaginations of people. For some, it's the thought that these ancient cultures had 'secrets' about stuff. For others, it's that they knew some stuff we don't. While I understand that a certain amout of derision (laughter) is to be expected from discussions of this sort, folks, we just don't know it all.

We are technically (read technologically) advanced. About that there is no question. However, that doesn't make our ancestors 'dumber' than us. As Rapaire pointed out, people develop and embrace technologies that help them go about the day-to-day events of life. If it doesn't help, it quickly becomes yesterday's news.

A few years ago I found a way to predict the squares of numbers. But I don't know enough about mathematics to know if it's good for anything. I doubt I ever will, because I failed math (geometry, algebra, etc.,) all the way through school. That doesn't mean it is not good for anything; it simply means that the information is in the hands of someone who doesn't understand it.

I don't specifically look in caves or under rocks to seek riches--or maybe I do. But it's not diamonds or gold I seek. It's interesting things. Always has been, and maybe that's why guys like you seek out new songs or new ways to play old songs. What makes a pre-1963 Telecaster better sounding than post-1963 Telecasters? Who discovered the mathematical relationship between a string's length and the note it produces? Useless discoveries to many in this world, but useful and glorious for others.