Ancient Skies - Vol 03 No 3 - 1976-77

Magazine Overview

Title: Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society
Issue: Volume 3, Number 3
Date: July-August, 1976
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Location: Park Ridge, Illinois, USA

This issue of "Ancient Skies" delves into the operational and programmatic aspects of the Ancient Astronaut Society, alongside explorations of ancient civilizations and potential extraterrestrial contact.

ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY: A PROGRAM

Dr. Harry O. Ruppe, a distinguished figure with a background in space travel engineering and former second-in-command under Wernher von Braun at NASA, contributes a foundational article. He emphasizes the critical need for the Society to develop a balanced and coordinated program. Ruppe advocates for a scientific, probabilistic approach, akin to establishing proof for any new concept. This involves investigating ancient myths for elements explainable by the ancient astronaut hypothesis, comparing these explanations with traditional ones, and drawing conclusions collaboratively. He stresses the importance of developing practical approaches and forming working groups. Ruppe also highlights the necessity of scientific credibility and an informative journal to foster an environment where scientists can explore these ideas without fear of losing respect. He acknowledges the uphill struggle within the scientific community but calls for a platform that encourages open-mindedness.

Ruppe outlines two primary avenues for investigation:

1. Probabilistic Approach: Analyzing ancient myths, texts, art, and drawings for new interpretations of known facts. He notes that new discoveries or artifacts proving the hypothesis are less likely to be found through this method, given the violent history of Earth's climate, geophysics, and human history.
2. Proof/Certainty: Seeking firm artifacts, which he believes are more likely to be found in the benign environments of space or celestial bodies. He also touches upon communication via radio with extraterrestrial intelligences (CETI) as a relevant activity, while cautioning against relying on "occult" means unless their basic soundness is rigorously established.

He shares a personal revision of his stance on interstellar flight, influenced by work with the British Interplanetary Society under Alan Bond, suggesting that minimum interstellar missions to about 10 light-years might be marginally feasible with nuclear fusion power.

Ruppe concludes by urging the Society to accept the challenge of creating a systematic, coordinated, long-term investigation, lamenting that currently, individuals work largely at random.

Gene M. Phillips, Founder, accepts this challenge, stating the Society will gather, analyze, and interpret evidence in a manner that satisfies most scientists, while maintaining an open mind.

Technological Civilization Estimates

Dr. Ruppe draws attention to a publication by James R. Wertz in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, presenting the following estimates:

• Number of technological civilizations in our galaxy: ~ 5 x 10⁸
• Average spacing of technological civilizations in solar vicinity: ~ 35 light-years
• Average time between visits of advanced technological civilizations to our solar system: ~ 7.5 x 10⁵ years
• Total number of visits to our solar system by advanced technological civilizations: ~ 650, during the last 500 x 10⁶ years

He notes these are "best estimates" but of great interest to the Society's work.

FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE IN BRAZIL

The Fourth World Conference on Ancient Astronauts is scheduled for June 22-26, 1977, at the Hotel Nacional Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The conference will feature Portuguese and English as official languages with simultaneous translation. The venue is described as a modern, first-class resort with extensive facilities. Group flights are being organized from Zurich and Chicago. A post-conference expedition to Peru and Bolivia is also offered, exploring sites like Tiahuanaco, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and the Nazca plains.

SOCIETY PREPARES FOR MAYAN ADVENTURE

The Ancient Astronaut Society is organizing a ten-day tour of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, from November 19-28, 1976. The itinerary includes visits to numerous archaeological sites, some still relatively untouched. The tour, prepared by Society Member Enrique Burmeister, will cover Merida, Chichen Itza (exploring El Castillo, Temple of Kulkulkan, and the Caracol observatory), Balancanche, Dzibilchaltun, Uxmal (including the Sooth-Sayer Pyramid and Governor's Palace), Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and Labna. The group will also visit Villahermosa's La Venta Museum and Maya Tabasco Museum, and conclude with an exploration of Palenque, known for its temples and the Temple of the Inscriptions.

Palenque Discoveries

The article details the significance of Palenque, particularly the Temple of the Inscriptions. Dr. Alberto Ruz Lhuillier's 1949 excavation revealed a passageway leading to a cavity containing a carved slab. This Palenque Slab, measuring ten feet long and weighing five tons, is described as depicting a Mayan figure in a position suggesting great speed, possibly operating controls, wearing a protective suit, helmet, and seated on a cushion. Erich von Daniken interprets this as a "space traveller."

Optional charter flights are available to Bonampak and Yaxchilan, known for their primitive murals and sculptures.

Suggested Reading for Mayan Adventure

A list of recommended books is provided, including works by Erich von Daniken, Victor W. von Hagen, Robert L. Brunhouse, C. Bruce Hunter, Hans Helfritz, Henri-Paul Eydoux, Irene Nicholson, Jonathan N. Leonard, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

ANGEL ARCHITECTS?

Richard Halliburton's 1937 writings about Machu Picchu are cited, where he quotes present-day Indians attributing the construction of huge granite blocks to "angel architects," posing the question of how the ancient Incas managed such a feat with their available technology.

NEW BOOKS

Several new book releases are highlighted:

• "Gods and Spacemen in Greece and Rome" by W. Raymond Drake
• "Jesus Christ: Heir to the Astronauts" by Gerhard R. Steinhauser
• "The Sirius Mystery" by Robert K.G. Temple, which examines the possibility of Earth being visited by beings from the Sirius star system, based on the Dogon people's knowledge.
• "The Fire Came By" by Baxter and Atkins, analyzing the 1908 Siberian explosion as potentially nuclear.

Personal Reflections on Ancient History

A personal account from a reader reflects on experiences in Egypt and Palestine fifty-five years prior. The author recalls witnessing the clearing of the Sphinx and Pyramids and pondering how such monumental structures could have been built with primitive tools, leading to the opinion that a greater civilization, founded by space visitors, existed on Earth.

YUGOSLAVIA CONFERENCE

A brief report on the Third World Conference in Yugoslavia, which merged technical and speculative currents on the ancient astronaut hypothesis. The event is praised for its excellent organization and enjoyable atmosphere.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific investigation of the ancient astronaut hypothesis, the practical organization and future direction of the Ancient Astronaut Society, and the exploration of ancient civilizations like the Maya. The editorial stance, as expressed by Gene M. Phillips, is one of commitment to scientific rigor while maintaining an open mind, aiming to promote universal understanding and cooperation regarding humanity's past.