The Flow of Eternity

The Flow of Eternity

Alexandr Piatkov



Where is the torrent of industrial civilization rushing, and what will remain in

its wake? A compelling look at our planet’s history through the prism of

Eurasia’s great rivers, the evolution of living energy, and the deep

anthropological crisis of modern times. How did the transformation of man into a

mere appendage of the machine dismantle demography, and why does the technogenic

pace of life poison our species? The author introduces a unique project to

salvage Earth’s heritage: the creation of autonomous "civilizational beacons"

anchored within the planet’s most stable tectonic plate.



Abstract


In response to the intensifying crisis of industrial civilization, this paper

explores the feasibility of establishing a long-term informational model for the

future. The study analyzes the geological, biological, and social factors that

catalyzed the systemic crisis of the current Anthropocene. It proposes the

concept of deploying autonomous underground data centers within the Eurasian

lithospheric plate, designed to preserve for future generations exhaustive

knowledge regarding the history, technology, and fundamental dilemmas of their

predecessors.



The Eurasian Lithospheric Plate


Nature spent millions of years preparing her womb to receive the seed of

intelligent life. The prenatal period spanned many millennia. Finally, the

sentient species took shape, grew resilient, and proliferated, transcending all

conceivable frontiers and boundaries of habitat. It grew comfortable with its

role, rooted itself deeply within living matter, and today even attempts to break

free from its bonds, severing the final umbilical cord.


On a geological timescale, this resembles child's play in a sandbox. Perhaps, if

we construct a realistic, visual model of the path already traveled, humanity—

much like a child—will find it easier to grasp its true purpose?



The Great Rivers of Eurasia


Determining the exact geological age of rivers is an immensely complex task.



periods, and carve new paths. Based on current geological data, the age of the

great river valleys across the Eurasian plate is estimated as follows:


– The Irtysh (approx. 150–180 million years). The continent's oldest river. Its

valley began forming as early as the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era.


– The Ob (approx. 33 million years). The ancient proto-Ob emerged during the

Oligocene. Its channel assumed its modern form after the end of the ice ages,

roughly 60,000 years ago.


– The Lena (approx. 15–20 million years). The river valley began actively shaping

during the Miocene. However, the lower reaches and the delta are considered much

younger, developing as recently as the Quaternary period.


– The Dnieper (approx. 5–6 million years). The paleo-Dnieper originated in the

Neogene. The final framework of the river valley, along with its terrace system,

was molded under the influence of the Dnieper glaciation during the Quaternary

period.


– The Volga (approx. 5 million years). During the Pliocene epoch, the paleo-Volga

originally flowed from the direction of the Urals. The modern basin, with its

source on the Valdai Hills and the Oka as its largest tributary, fully

materialized around 1.5–1.8 million years ago.


– The Yenisei (approx. 2–3 million years). A relatively young valley. The river

finally broke its path northward to the Kara Sea during the late Neogene and

early Pleistocene, driven by tectonic shifts at the boundary of Western and

Eastern Siberia.


The unified, global Eurasian plate sustains all these aquatic arteries. Preparing

this vast territory for human settlement and agriculture cost the planet millions

of years of labor.



The Evolution and Domestication of Horses


The cradle of the modern biological genus of horses is North America, and its

pure age spans 4–4.5 million years. The chronology of the origin and evolution of

this companion of humanity is divided into two pivotal phases.


1. Wild Ancestors and Genus Evolution


The most ancient ancestor of the equine family (Hyracotherium, or Eohippus)

appeared in the forests of North America. The overall history of the family spans

roughly 55–60 million years. From there, the direct ancestors of modern horses

eventually emerged, crossing into Eurasia via Beringia—the natural land bridge—

approximately 2.5 million years ago. The modern genus Equus itself, which

encompasses horses, zebras, and donkeys, definitively diverged 4–4.5 million

years ago.


2. Domestication of the Domestic Horse


When tracing the origins specifically of the domestic horse (Equus caballus) that

lives alongside humans today, contemporary genetic research isolates a definitive

region:


– Place of origin: The steppes of Western Eurasia, specifically the Volga-Don

region (the territory of modern Russia).


– Age of the species: Domestication occurred approximately 4,200–4,300 years ago

(around 2200 BC) by the people of the Yamnaya culture. From this cradle,

domesticated horses possessing robust skeletal frames and docile temperaments

rapidly spread across Europe and Asia.



Energy Balance: Living Muscle vs. Diesel


A single liter of diesel fuel contains roughly 11.9 kWh (or 43.12 MJ) of thermal

energy. Because a horse is a living organism, its energetic equivalent is most

accurately measured by the useful mechanical work it performs during a standard

8-hour workday. This amounts to approximately 5.9 kWh (or 8 horsepower-hours).


For a valid comparison of potentials, one must account for the fact that an

internal combustion engine (ICE) suffers thermal losses, operating at an average

efficiency of about 40%.


– Potential of 1 liter of diesel fuel: The total thermal energy at 100%

combustion equals 11.9 kWh. The useful mechanical energy delivered by a modern

diesel engine, adjusting for efficiency, is approximately 4.76 kWh (about 6.5 hp-

h). The primary constraint here is merely the availability of fuel—the machine

runs as long as the tank is full.


– Potential of a living horse: One metric horsepower (hp) equals 735.5 watts.

Consequently, one horsepower-hour (a unit of work) equals 0.7355 kWh. A real,

healthy horse during an 8-hour shift generates about 8 hp-h, which translates to

5.9 kWh of useful work. The energy source is its metabolism, requiring at least

25,000 kcal of feed per day. The living organism is strictly constrained by

biological factors: it demands regular rest, sleep, and sustenance, and is

susceptible to fatigue and disease.


The core conclusion: A mere 1.25 liters of diesel fuel burned in a tractor engine

completely replaces an entire day of grueling physical labor by a living horse.

It was this colossal energy density within liquid fuel that fueled the Industrial

Revolution, permanently liberating humanity from its ubiquitous reliance on draft

animals.


Other Domestic Animals


The Domestic Sheep (Ovis aries)


Domesticated roughly 11,000 to 12,000 years ago during the Neolithic period,

becoming one of the earliest agricultural animals in history.


– Region of origin: The Fertile Crescent in Western Asia. Genetic and

archaeological studies point to the territories of modern Turkey (Central

Anatolia, the ancient settlement of A;;kl; H;y;k), Iraq, Syria (Northern

Mesopotamia), and Western Iran. Around 7,000 years ago, sheep reached Europe and

subsequently spread throughout Eurasia and Africa.


– Wild ancestor: The Asiatic mouflon (Ovis gmelini) is recognized as the primary

genetic ancestor. The proof lies in the karyotype: both the domestic sheep and

the mouflon share the exact same number of chromosomes—54.


– Biological lifespan: On average, sheep live 10–12 years (up to 25 years under

maximum protection). On farms, they are kept until 7–8 years of age, as their

teeth wear down past this point. Sexual maturity is reached at 4–6 months.


The Domestic Cow


Appeared approximately 10,500 years ago as a domesticated subspecies of the wild

ox (aurochs). The primary hearth for the origin of humpless cattle (Bos taurus)

is considered the Near East. Concurrently, around 8,000–9,000 years ago, an

independent domestication of the humped zebu cattle (Bos indicus) occurred in the

Indus River Valley.


– Wild ancestor: The primitive wild aurochs (Bos primigenius), which emerged as a

species in Africa and Eurasia around 250,000 years ago. The last aurochs on Earth

perished in 1627.


– The genus Bos (True Cattle): Diverged from common bovid ancestors during the

Pleistocene epoch, approximately 2 million years ago.


Cultivated Cereals


Cultivated cereals emerged as a result of the Neolithic Revolution. The process

of their domestication began roughly 10,000–12,000 years ago independently across

several major geographic centers:


– Wheat (Triticum): Near East (Fertile Crescent, Levant). Age of the cultivated

species: 10,000 – 12,000 years.


– Barley (Hordeum): Near East (Levant, Western Asia). Age of the crop: 10,000 –

11,000 years.


– Rice (Oryza sativa): East Asia (Yangtze River Valley, China). Domesticated

around 9,000 – 10,000 years ago.


– Maize (Zea mays): Mesoamerica (Southern Mexico, bred from the wild grass

teosinte). Age of the species: approx. 9,000 years.


– Millet (Panicum): East Asia (Yellow River Basin, China). Age of the crop: 8,000

– 10,000 years.


– Sorghum (Sorghum): Northeastern Africa (Sahel region, Ethiopia). Domesticated

around 5,000 – 6,000 years ago.


– Rye (Secale cereale): Western Asia and Southeastern Europe. Evolved initially

as a weed in wheat fields. It has existed as an independent crop for 4,000 –

5,000 years.


– Oats (Avena sativa): Mediterranean, Mongolia, and Northeastern China.

Originated from secondary weeds. It has existed as a cultivated crop in Europe

for about 3,000 years.


Note: The biological family of grasses (Poaceae) themselves originated long

before humans—at the end of the Cretaceous period, roughly 65–70 million years

ago.



The Industrial Crisis and Anthropological Rupture


It took ten thousand years for traditional agricultural production to arrive at

industrialization powered by hydrocarbon fuels. Today, this domain faces a diesel

deficit and stands accused of excessive greenhouse gas emissions. Geological

conditions allow for rational land management for several million years to come.

The only question is: what exactly from the heritage of industrial civilization

should be carried into the future?


Based on fundamental human needs that significantly prolong lifespans in northern

latitudes, one could confidently vote for dental implantology and all the

supporting industries that sustain it. As for horse breeding, it would be wise to

establish a fundamentally new branch of industry, ensuring this entire discipline

is among the primary passengers in the phaeton of the coming millennia.


The colossal energy density of liquid fuel unburdened humanity from the

ubiquitous use of draft animals. But what became of the human being operating the

diesel machine? To what extent does the labor of a tractor driver, a locomotive

engineer, or a semi-truck driver align with the biological role of his organism

in population reproduction? How did the transformation of man into an appendage

of a mechanism impact the state of society? Was this the role of a cavalryman, a

hussar, a dzhigit, or a coachman in the communities of yesteryear, when families

raised 5 to 8 children?


The transition from living draft power to machines fundamentally altered the

socio-biological role of the male, dealing a direct blow to demography. Operating

a diesel machine transformed the laborer into an operator whose organism

biologically ceased to correspond to the technological might humining under his

hood. While the cavalryman or coachman existed in a biosocial symbiosis with a

living being, the modern driver has become the maintenance personnel of dead

matter. This precipitated a profound crisis of male identity and contributed to a

decline in birth rates down to the level of depopulation.


Let us examine the key aspects of this rupture:


– Nature of interaction: Symbiosis vs. Maintenance. The labor of a rider or a

coachman was built upon commanding another's will and power, which demanded

empathy, instantaneous reflexes, and agility. The horse operated as an extension

of his own body. In the diesel era, this living contact vanished. Labor shrank to

the monotonous monitoring of gauges, levers, and buttons. Man no longer tames a

wild living element—he merely monitors the integrity of pistons, turning the

process into a psychologically draining routine.


– Biological burden: Biomechanics vs. Degradation. The organism of the

traditional rider developed under conditions of natural activity in the open air,

maintaining high testosterone levels and a healthy hormonal balance. The modern

driver faces chronic health degradation: hours of sedentary immobility, vibration

sickness, occupational deafness from engine noise, spinal pathology, and the

inhalation of exhaust fumes that suppress the reproductive system. Physically,

the man deteriorates while simply sitting in place.


– Social perception: Symbol of Masculinity vs. a Cog. In traditional communities,

the rider was a symbol of autonomy and freedom. The man was perceived as an

independent agent upon whose personal strength and valor lives depended.

Industrial society reduced him to a functional, easily replaceable component

within a logistical chain. The loss of uniqueness and a rigid confinement to

protocols and schedules dismantled the traditional authority of the man within

both the family and the community.


– Demographic shift: The Economics of Large Families. In the era of the coachmen,

energy was decentralized and expensive. To till the soil and survive, many hands

were required—children were an economic resource and the family's capital. The

father raised his sons directly through the shared process of labor. In the

diesel era, machines replaced millions of people. In an urbanized society,

children ceased to be helpers, transforming into a massive expense category tied

to prolonged education and property acquisition. Bearing multiple children became

an unsustainable burden.


The dissolution of the family, the community, and the local territory as

productive structures, paired with the acceleration of the pace of life, gave

rise to the proletariat, who have "nothing to lose but their chains." Total

dehumanization took hold. Subsequent shifts have called into question the very

survival of the species Homo sapiens within an industrial society that ignores it

as a population of living organisms.


Theories for Resolving the Antagonism Between Organism and Machine


The described contradiction has occupied the center of attention in philosophy,

sociology, and ecology for the past two centuries. The industry's refusal to

acknowledge the biological foundations of man led to the formation of four core

theoretical models aimed at resolving this fundamental antagonism.


1. The Concept of "Alienation" and Humanization of Labor (Marxism and the

Frankfurt School)


Karl Marx illustrated how the laborer begins to serve the rhythm of the machine,

giving rise to man's alienation from his own essence. Classical Marxism

envisioned a resolution in transferring machines into public ownership, ensuring

that automation would liberate human time for creativity and family. Later,

Herbert Marcuse and Erich Fromm added that this antagonism could only be overcome

through radical humanism—subordinating the tempo of technical progress to the

biological and psychological needs of the human organism, rather than the demands

of economic efficiency.


2. The Theory of the Technosphere (Jacques Ellul and Lewis Mumford)


Proponents of this concept assert that Technique (the Megamachine) has become an

autonomous force. The system has reconfigured itself around the self-replication

needs of machines, not humans. Lewis Mumford advocated for a transition to

"biotechnics"—technologies commensurate with human scale and integrated into

local communities without disrupting biological rhythms. Jacques Ellul believed

that a resolution is possible only through a profound spiritual awakening of

humanity and a conscious, collective rejection of the dictates of technological

efficiency.


3. Ecosociology, Biocentrism, and the Club of Rome


This paradigm examines the problem from the perspective of species survival.

Depopulation, psychological fracturing, and chronic stress are viewed as symptoms

of human poisoning by an unnatural technogenic environment. The concept of

"Sustainable Development" and theories of "Degrowth" advocate for a conscious

braking of industry: de-urbanization, a return to neo-communities, shortening the

work week, and pivoting the economy away from quantitative growth toward the

qualitative reproduction of the population (health, childbearing, ecology).


4. Transhumanism and Techno-Optimism


A diametrically opposed perspective. While previous theories attempted to slow

down the machine to preserve biology, transhumanism proposes modifying the

organism itself so it ceases to be the weak link. The antagonism is dismantled

through the merger of human and machine (cyborgization, genetic modification,

neural interfaces). In this lens, Homo sapiens as a biological species yields to

the post-human, capable of withstanding any technogenic stressors, while the

problem of procreation shifts from biological childbearing to technological

replication.


Contemporary thought balances between two poles: either the eco-humanistic path

(subordinating the machine to human biology, slowing down the pace of life) or

the technocratic path (permanently sacrificing the biological nature of man on

the altar of efficiency).



Future Modeling and the Role of Information Systems


In the ancient temples of Hindustan and the great Pyramids of Egypt, mundane life

was depicted as something transient and worldly, designed merely to facilitate a

transition into eternity. Industrial civilization abandoned the division of the

world into higher and lower realms. It saturated the world with knowledge and the

ability to mass-produce material wealth that past generations could only dream

of.


However, the entire fullness of life was reduced to material consumption. The

aesthetic sense no longer possesses global patrons; masterpieces of art and

architecture no longer have grand commissioners. The realization that the

lifespan of an individual organism is finite can still fit into the consciousness

of modern property owners, but as for the fact that the lifespan of civilization

itself might expire even sooner—it is best not to remind them. Yet, reconciling

man with eternity is a prerequisite for any viable civilization; otherwise, it

degrades into nothing more than a well-fed pack.


Whatever the consequences of the current crisis, their ultimate outcome will be

the evolution of a new branch of the intelligent species out of the existing

landscape. To avoid repeating the errors of departed eras that left behind

cyclopean structures devoid of any rational explanation, it is imperative to

construct now a large-scale model of the existence of the species Homo sapiens on

the Eurasian lithospheric plate for the next 10,000 years. No global geological

catastrophes are forecasted across this expanse, and it is populated by numerous

nations capable of managing economies in symbiosis with nature.


This model can be realized via physical scale layouts charting the deployment

zones of underground data centers situated within fortified bunkers. Such

repositories must be equipped with autonomous, maintenance-free power sources

designed to last for millennia. Their storage media must archive databases

detailing every existing branch of knowledge, industry, art, and medicine, giving

future generations an exhaustive understanding of our civilization and its tragic

lessons.


Within the same fortified installations, museums should be established featuring

models of life organization within the respective regions. They will visually

demonstrate the evolution of economic systems and the social structure of the

territories. Beholding installations that map the authentic path of civilization,

the visitors of these museums will be able to comprehend the magnitude of the

journey completed, its finality or infinity—depending on their own position in

the universe. This will become a place for contemplation on the eternal and the

worldly, entirely untethered from clerical connotations.


Perhaps, in a couple of millennia, the practical necessity for this project will

genuinely arise, and the first neophytes of a new era will begin to familiarize

themselves with the history of their predecessors. In the evolution of Homo

sapiens, the creation of advanced information systems and artificial intelligence

must serve precisely this paramount objective—documenting, systematizing, and

securely packaging information regarding the history of the species that brought

it into being.


Let us hope these treasures of knowledge enjoy better fortune than clay tablets

or papyrus scrolls. This will stand as a logical contribution toward salvaging a

humanity led into an energetic, economic, and demographic impasse by avaricious

producers of the artifacts of unbridled progress.





PUBLICATION AND TRANSLATION METADATA
– Original Title: Течение вечности / The Flow of Eternity
– Author: Alexandr Piatkov
– Source Text Repository: proza.ru/avtor/alexanderan
– Original Publication Date / Copyright: © Copyright: Александр Пятков, 2026
– Publication Certificate Number: Свидетельство о публикации №226101600566
– AI Translation System: Adaptive Multimodal Neural Translator (OpenAI Architecture)
– Translation & Typesetting Date: October 16, 2026
– Section Assignment: Natural Sciences (Естествознание) / proza.ru