“It has been three weeks since the surprise discovery at Cata Lamirs Terakhem, and, as end-of-the-world conspiracy theories continue to spread across the internet, the archaeological site has become a gathering point for a massive crowd of historians, anthropologists, tourists and bizarre cultists alike.”

The camera pans over a vista of bleached stone sticking up out of the cleared rainforest.  Archaeologists are seen carefully brushing fragments of pottery as they are unearthed and close ups of the stone work reveal complex carvings.  In almost every shot the crowds of visitors beyond the barricades can be seen swelling, the occasional home-made ceremonial hat poking up over the throng.

Cut to the centre of the dig, where a series of large stone discs remain partially excavated.  A close-up reveals carvings in concentric circles depicting humans animals and monsters in various configurations.

“Whilst investigations are still ongoing about the exact nature of the stone circles which have given the site its name, the calendar theory still holds sway amongst experts and enthusiasts alike and it’s not just the internet crazies who think that the dates terminate this month.”

The camera cuts to a female reporter standing in front of an ornately carved stone gateway.  Beside her is a man in his middle years, dressed mostly in tweed, as if it were a sort of archeological uniform.  His beard his unkempt, but his eyes are alive with interest.

“I’m here with the archaeologist in charge of the dig, Professor Feoldo Ura’si Syona-Orusyo.

Professor, what is your opinion on the theories spreading across the blogosphere about your discovery?”

“I find it all fascinating,” the professor replies after clearing his throat.  “Of course, you want people to be interested in your work, but the discovery of the stone moons has exccited people in ways I could never have imagined.”

“You believe that it is a calendar, correct?”

“Oh, most certainly.  We think they would have been mounted on wooden poles and some kind of mechanism would have been used to turn them so that different images aligned on the different discs.  Some of the images appear to be historical, but it looks like the calendar would also have been used to ‘predict’ the future and the range it could have covered was remarkable.”

“Some of the theories suggest that range reaches right up to the present day, that, in fact, the calendar ‘ends’ this month.”

“That is one valid interpretation of what we’ve seen.  It’s early days yet, but it’s likely that their dating system could reach at least as far as October 2016, perhaps even another five or ten years.”

“And what do you think about those who say that the calendar predicts that the end of the world will happen before the month is out?”

“Well, like many ancient mythologies, the Varsans appear to have believe that the world would end one day with some catastrophe and the end of their mathematical calendar is a logical point for them to assume this to happen.”

Professor Syona-Orusyo points to an image on the largest disc on the floor in front of him.  The camera zooms in.

“This image appears to depict either gods or demons rising up out of the sea to devour the land, something that fits with what little we know of Varan creation mythology, which suggest the world was formed out of the sea as a raft to protect the gods from the monsters of chaos.

None of this is real, of course,” he adds, looking sternly towards the camera, “it’s just the mythology of a people long since gone.”

“So what would you say to those who have begun joining doomsday cults and proclaiming the end of the world?”

“I’d say, thank you for your enthusiasm, but.. haven’t you got anything better to do?”

The camera cuts to a close up of the reporter’s face.

“Thank you, Professor.  Well, it seems that, whatever the experts might say, people are going to continue flocking here, expecting the end of the world, until at least the end of the month.  Someone is going to be proven right soon enough,” she adds with an impish smile, “let’s hope it’s the experts.

This has been Jera Fisa-Yano for Mado Erinead, back to you in the studio, Yamera-”

The screen cuts out leaving only static.