Ancient Skies - Vol 06 No 1 - 1979-80

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 6, Number 1
Date: March-April, 1979
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA

This issue of Ancient Skies delves into ancient mysteries, focusing on Oriental Neolithic Artifacts, particularly those from the Jomon culture of Japan, and explores theories surrounding the Great Pyramid and ancient scripts.

Oriental Neolithic Artifacts

BY VAUGHN M. GREENE

The lead article by Vaughn M. Greene presents the Jomon culture of Japan as a significant source of evidence for ancient astronaut visitation. Greene highlights that the Jomon were the first known people on Earth to make clay pottery, with fragments found at the Ichinosawa cave site dated to 10,202 BC, potentially older. He finds it improbable that such a primitive culture would spontaneously develop pottery, suggesting an external influence.

Beyond pottery, Greene focuses on the 'Dogu' statues, which he interprets as detailed models of spacesuits, complete with rivets and goggles. While some Dogu are estimated to be 3,500 years old, he notes that older ones exhibit greater sophistication, suggesting they depicted actual sightings rather than later copies. He points out similarities to modern space suits and mentions that these statues were found buried in miniature stone combs, a practice not used for their own dead.

Greene also notes the presence of Jomon pottery fragments in Ecuador, South America, and California, USA. He draws a parallel between the Japanese 'Dogu' and the 'Nommo' of the Dogon tribe of Mali, a half-human, half-fish creature from the Sirius star system, noting the linguistic similarity between 'Dogon' and 'Dogu'.

Japanese mythology is also referenced, with mentions of 'iron birds', space stations, flying demons, and 'jewels' with extraordinary powers. The first Shinto temple at Izumo is described as having a thirty-degree incline and a structure resembling a launch platform, suggesting advanced technology.

The Palenque Script

BY KATSUMI KOOSAKA

A reader, Katsumi Koosaka, writes about the similarity between the writing on a wall in the Mayan ruins at Palenque, Mexico, and ancient Japanese script. Despite the deteriorated state of the wall, Koosaka believes the script to be ancient Japanese, citing historical records of Japanese explorers traveling worldwide over 50,000 years ago, including Central and South America. The similarity in language sounds between Japanese, Quechua, and Aymara is also noted.

New Books

This section lists new books relevant to the ancient astronaut theme:

• PROPHET DER VERGANGENHEIT (Prophet of the Past) by Erich von Daniken (German hardcover edition).
• RATZEL SEIT JAHRTAUSENDEN (Mysteries for Thousands of Years) by Sachmann, Ertelt, J. Fiebag, and P. Fiebag (German paperback).
• RAMESES II AND HIS TIME by Immanuel Velikovsky.

Member Expeditions

Announcements are made for planned member expeditions in June or July 1980 to New Zealand, Australia, and South Sea Islands, including Ponape, Tahiti, Fiji, and Easter Island. Members are also invited to express interest for future expeditions in 1981 and 1982.

Archeological Deeds

A brief account of Alfred P. Maudslay's work in the Yucatan in 1882 is presented, detailing how he removed and shipped original stone panels and lintels from the ruins at Yaxchilan to England. A more critical note is added about the Palace Complex at Palenque, Mexico, where early explorers cut away the heads from oval picture frames in the 'Portrait Gallery' to send the remaining frames to museums, lamenting these 'terrible deeds committed in the name of archaeology'.

The "Goldhut" of Etzelldorf

This section describes a 3,000-year-old, rocket-like gold plate object found by a bricklayer in 1953. Initially mistaken for a tin cannister, it was nearly destroyed but was eventually recognized by an archeologist. The object, about 35 inches high, was pieced back together.

Tips to Egypt Travellers

Wayne Serven shares practical advice for travelers to Egypt, including tips for climbing the Great Pyramid, visiting the Sphinx, and navigating bargaining practices in Cairo and Luxor. He mentions an antenna on the Great Pyramid and suggests that the method of cutting and moving the unfinished obelisk in Aswan could have involved laser beams or anti-gravitation.

Recommended Reading for Egypt-England Expedition

A list of recommended books and National Geographic Society journals for those interested in Egypt and England, focusing on the pyramids, Sphinx, and Stonehenge.

More on the Great Pyramid

BY DR. STUART W. GREENWOOD

Dr. Stuart W. Greenwood responds to theories about the Great Pyramid's age, offering supporting evidence for the idea that it may have been built 73,000 years ago. He speculates that the limestone facing was designed as a reflecting surface for sunlight, possibly to signal the presence of advanced beings. Greenwood connects the pyramid's slope angle (approximately 52 degrees) to the Earth's axial tilt (around 23.5 degrees) and Giza's latitude (around 30 degrees). He suggests that when these angles summed to 52 degrees, the southern faces would be perpendicular to the Ecliptic at noon on the Winter Solstice.

He notes that the Earth's axial tilt (Obliquity of the Ecliptic) fluctuates and is currently decreasing. By examining astronomical estimates, Greenwood proposes that around 73,000 years ago, the Obliquity of the Ecliptic was approximately 22.4 degrees, which, when added to Giza's latitude, closely matches the pyramid's slope of 51.8 degrees. He also points out that the Pyramid of Chephren has a similar slope, suggesting a continuation of this design principle.

Sixth World Conference Program

The final program for the Sixth World Conference of the Ancient Astronaut Society, to be held in Munich, Germany, on June 14-16, 1979, is detailed, listing speakers and their affiliations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly promotes the ancient astronaut theory, presenting various artifacts and legends from different cultures (Japan, Egypt, Maya) as evidence of extraterrestrial contact in prehistoric times. The magazine encourages members to participate in expeditions and stay informed through its publications and conferences. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of exploring unconventional explanations for ancient mysteries, often citing authors like Erich von Daniken and Immanuel Velikovsky.