Ancient Skies - Vol 04 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 4, Number 6
Date: January-February, 1978
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of ANCIENT SKIES, the Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society, features a cover story titled "DIAMONDS FOR THE GODS?" by Brenda J. Sullivan. The magazine explores theories surrounding the ancient origins and use of diamonds, the possibility of extraterrestrial influence on human history, and mysterious elements found in global folk tales.

Diamonds for the Gods?

Brenda J. Sullivan, whose husband is a diamond prospector in South Africa, presents evidence suggesting that stone age man knew about and worked diamond-bearing gravels long before recorded history. She notes that in areas where stone age artifacts are found, no diamonds are present, yet the surrounding areas yield them. This, along with the discovery of numerous stone age artifacts, leads her to believe that an advanced civilization utilized primitive people as diamond miners. She also references ancient legends in South Africa that speak of primitive peoples being rewarded with diamonds by mysterious beings, suggesting these gems were collected for 'Gods' who may have been destroyed or departed.

Sullivan also discusses the use of diamonds by ancient peoples, citing Bushmen using a "magic shining stone" for hunting and the possibility that primitive diamond-tipped tools were used for rock etchings. The presence of diamonds and other colored stones in remote sites indicates an early trade in these gems.

Further supporting the idea of an advanced ancient civilization, the article points to stone inscriptions found near Christiana and Driekopseiland, which bear complex geometric and animal designs resembling those found in rock carvings worldwide and in the works of Erich von Daniken. The article suggests these might be related to the "magic shining stones" of ancient legends.

Fifth World Conference of the Ancient Astronaut Society

The magazine announces the Fifth World Conference of the Ancient Astronaut Society, scheduled for July 27-29, 1978, at the Chicago Marriott Hotel. The conference features over twenty speakers, including prominent figures in the ancient astronaut field such as Erich von Daniken, Andrew Tomas, Josef Blumrich, and Zecharia Sitchin. The event includes lectures, movies, slide presentations, panel discussions, and opportunities for audience participation. The cost for the conference is detailed, with special rates for members.

New Books and Recommended Reading

Several new books related to ancient astronaut theories and related topics are highlighted. Josef Blumrich's new book, based on Hopi Indian legend, discusses an advanced civilization in the Pacific Ocean. Louis Claude Vincent's two-volume work in French, "Le Paradis Perdu De MU," is also mentioned. Erich von Daniken's "Beweise" is available in English as "According to the Evidence." Zecharia Sitchin's "The Twelfth Planet" is noted as soon to be available in paperback, and Andrew Tomas' "Shambhala, Oasis of Light" is also recommended.

A comprehensive list of "Recommended Reading" is provided, covering a wide range of subjects including African Kingdoms, Ancient America, Mexican and Central American Mythology, Ancient India, World Mythology, Archaeology, and ancient texts like "The Book of the Dead" and "Popol Vuh."

To the Editor

Dr. Stuart W. Greenwood solicits assistance from Society members in compiling a list of known extraterrestrial objects on Earth. He proposes a preliminary list including meteorites, charged particles (Van Allen radiation belts), and moon rocks, and asks for other suggestions of objects known to have come from outer space.

Ancient Europe is Older Than We Thought

An article notes Dr. Colin Renfrew's report in National Geographic, which suggests that ancient European sites are 700 to 1,000 years older than previously thought, due to "tree-ring dating" used to calibrate radiocarbon dating. This is presented as a significant step in understanding ancient history.

Earth Colonization Theory and Ancient Astronauts

By D. R. P. Wood, President of the Earth Colonization Research Association, this article presents the theory that human origins lie in the colonization by visiting extraterrestrial intelligences (ETI). Wood argues against the evolutionary theory, suggesting that man did not descend from ape-men but was the result of deliberate colonization. He cites the Bible's Genesis account of the "sons of the Gods" taking human daughters as wives and bearing children as evidence. The article also touches upon the "degenerate humanoid" problem (Yeti, Sasquatch, Bigfoot) as potential results of mistakes in the colonization experiment. The sudden appearance of intelligent man on Earth, equipped with knowledge and tools, is presented as evidence against natural evolution, with the chances against such an event being astronomical. The author quotes Robert Goddard, stating, "it is difficult to say what is impossible. The dream of yesterday is the hope of today, and the reality of tomorrow."

Mysterious Elements in Folk Tales

Dezso Nyirfas explores the idea that folk tales, often dismissed as products of imagination, may actually be common remembrances of actual events from the remote past. He notes the striking similarities in folk tales across different cultures and languages, suggesting a shared human experience. Nyirfas focuses on dragon myths, pointing out that while real reptiles differ significantly from their mythical counterparts (e.g., multiple heads, fire-breathing), these elements appear consistently in tales worldwide. He proposes that these descriptions might be primitive attempts to describe advanced vehicles and beings encountered by ancient peoples, leading to awe and the passing down of these stories through generations.

Geographical Alignment of Archaeological Sites

An unnamed contributor notes the significant geographical alignment of important archaeological sites such as Easter Island, Nazca, Machu Picchu, Gizeh, Petra, Persepolis, Eridu, and Mohenjo-Daro along the same great circle. The distances between these sites are described as having a certain regularity, with examples given such as the distance from Easter Island to Machu Picchu being 1/10th of the Earth's circumference. This alignment is presented as comprehensible when considering the influence of an extraterrestrial civilization in the past. The contributor mentions Dr. Eugeniusz Filipowicz and the Tassili Mountains and Angkor as related points of interest.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Ancient Skies revolve around the ancient astronaut hypothesis, suggesting that extraterrestrial intelligences have influenced human history and development. This is explored through the lens of ancient artifacts, legends, and the mysterious origins of phenomena like diamonds. The magazine also promotes the idea of Earth Colonization by ETI and interprets global folk tales as potential records of past encounters with advanced technology. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these unconventional theories, encouraging readers to consider alternative explanations for human origins and ancient mysteries, and promoting events and literature that support these ideas.