I have not finished reading the article yet but plan to, right now I'd like to reply to the reply's of this thread..
I would like to refer you to this source: Begin watching at 39 minutes into it
Magical Egypt - 03 - descent - Google Video
It is part of a series (of 8) having to do with Egypt, which are a VERY good watch. There is some very very very good and real information. In this particular spot I am pointing to, Walter Crutenden talks about how civilzation goes through different periods, iron, bronze, silver, and golden age. Not just in technology, but it is a change in global conciousness.
And something else thats interesting to know, every 6208 (I might be off by a few years but its really close) years there seems to be a great change. Which is the reason for the Mayan calender ending at 2012. If we go back 6200 years we are where the modern Academics say that the Egyptian civilization nearly started out of nothing (There was a major disaster just before this point, and it is likely that some survived and there was immense amounts of knowledge that they brought with them). We go back another 6200 years and we end up at the Plastecine age. When there was said to be a major die off of nearly 90% of the worlds plants and animals. We go back another 6200 years and there was another disaster. However, in the 26000 year cycle, 2012 is the last one (which, along with many other things I won't go into here) makes me think that there is going to be something more to it than just disaster. This is also where Planet X or Nibiru come's into play, it is supposed to pass by earth at that time (6200 year orbit).