Ancient Skies - Vol 07 No 1 - 1980-81

Magazine Overview

Title: Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society
Issue: Volume 7, Number 1
Date: March-April, 1980
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA

This issue of Ancient Skies delves into evidence supporting the ancient astronaut hypothesis, focusing on archaeological findings in Australia and Peru, as well as exploring ancient artifacts and lost locations.

Ancient Pyramid Builders of Australia

BY REX GILROY

Rex Gilroy, an archaeologist and historian, presents a case for ancient astronaut intervention in Australia. He cites numerous aboriginal cave paintings and rock drawings depicting figures with astronaut-like characteristics, which the aborigines attribute to 'culture-heroes' who descended from the stars during their 'dream-time.' Gilroy has documented stone alignments, standing stones, and carved human-head stone circles in central New South Wales, suggesting they were erected by a highly advanced race of astronomers approximately 15,000 years ago.

His excavations at eight ancient camp sites in western New South Wales have yielded large artifacts, including hand-axes, clubs, and pounders, some weighing up to 36 pounds. He also found fossilized human molar teeth, one measuring 67mm in length, and animal bones. The strata of these sites date to the Pleistocene period (500,000 years ago). The size of the artifacts and remains suggests that giants, standing 12 to 20 feet tall and weighing hundreds of pounds, occupied the region, with evidence pointing to at least two races of giants.

Gilroy has also photographed large fossilized footprints of giant humans in Queensland and New South Wales. Aboriginal legends speak of strange beings, including giants, arriving from the sky in great birds and imparting culture. These legends also mention the erection of megalithic stone structures in the New Guinea region by these 'culture-heroes,' which are now submerged off the coast.

The most compelling evidence, according to Gilroy, is the presence of numerous stone and earthen pyramidal structures across Australia and New Guinea. In Papua New Guinea, five crude, stepped pyramids, about 100 feet high, are located in the East Sepik district. A similar structure near Brisbane, Australia, stands 100 feet high with 18 terraces made of rock, capped by a 10-ton rock, and built of ironstone. Farther north, two more pyramidal formations, built of stone rubble, stand 600 feet high with bases 500 yards long. Near Rockhampton, another 600-foot pyramid of dolorite rubble features hexagonal stone logs and a series of 54 stone mounds. In southern Queensland, three earthen pyramidal structures rise to 1,000 feet with a circumference of over 3,000 feet. Similar structures are found near Cooma and on the Murray River in New South Wales, and in northern Victoria.

Aboriginal folklore suggests these formations were built by 'culture-heroes' to study celestial movements and to 'trap' natural energy fields. The issue notes that one earthen pyramid south of Sydney, standing 200 feet high, offers an excellent view of the heavens. Strange stone 'altars' carved in the forms of eagles and serpents have been found on cliff tops in the Blue Mountains, believed to be the work of a vanished race. Another pyramidal structure has recently been located in the Blue Mountains but is yet to be fully explored. Gilroy concludes that these structures are remnants of a lost civilization with technology far beyond modern capabilities, whose home was among the stars.

Fantastic Discoveries in Peru, South America

On April 6, 1980, Dr. Eloy Linares Malaga, a Peruvian archaeologist, discovered numerous gigantic ground drawings (geoglyphs) on the pampas of Majes and Sihuas in southern Peru. These discoveries are similar to the drawings on the Plain of Nazca and include representations of a llama, a serpent, a herd of llamas, concentric circles, and geometric figures, visible only from above. The expedition also found ruins of two citadels constructed of lava rock, one in the highlands of the Quishuarani and another near Alto Vitor. The areas are scheduled for irrigation, raising concerns about the preservation of these sites. Dr. Linares Malaga, Director of the Museum of the National University of San Augustin, emphasized the need for official measures to protect the drawings and called for scientific cooperation in studying their significance and antiquity. He had previously discovered similar drawings at Toro Muerto in 1951.

The Archaeological Site of Cerro Mascaras

BY CARLOS A. BENEDETTO

Carlos A. Benedetto, a history student, reports on the archaeological site of Cerro Mascaras in the province of Cordoba, Argentina. This site features numerous rock drawings, including one of particular interest described as an 'astronaut.' While previously interpreted as a representation of a person in ceremonial attire, Benedetto suggests it could depict a figure wearing a one-piece suit and helmet, with antennae, life support hoses, and communication cords, reflecting modern technological concepts. The drawing, originally documented in a 1951 book by Luis R. Altamira, has become almost obliterated over the past thirty years, with only the head and 'antennae' remaining visible. Benedetto notes that interpretations are subjective and acknowledges the possibility that the drawings represent something entirely different, beyond current human understanding.

More on the Churinga

This section discusses the 'churinga' artifact, first published in Ancient Skies 4:5. The artifact is described as a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional crystal or molecular structure, similar to those used in crystallography. A diagram of the molecular structure for Na3As is provided, and the author, Philip M. Jaffe, Ph.D., suggests that if a complete picture of the churinga were available, its represented compound might be identified.

Other Reports

• Robin Collyns, author of 'Did Spacemen Colonise the Earth?', has a new book, 'Prehistoric Germ Warfare,' due out in May. He reports an artifact he believes to be a six-million-year-old crimped iron disc with three embossed grooves, found embedded in sandstone, suggesting extraterrestrial origin.
• Gerardo Levet, a Mexican engineer, has published his first book, 'Mision Vital en Planeta Tierra.'
• Zecharia Sitchin, author of 'The Twelfth Planet,' addressed a Select Committee of the House of Lords in London regarding his research.

In Search of Lake Petha

This article details the ongoing search for the lost Lake Petha in Mexico, first described by archaeologist Teobert Maler in 1898. Maler's account describes a large, circular lake over six kilometers long, located in Chiapas. Despite initial inquiries with local natives and the use of maps, including one by the late Franz Blom, the lake remained elusive. A recent effort, led by Enrique Burmeister of ABC Travel Service, S.A., and utilizing a map produced by Franz Blom, suggests that Lake Petha might be the same body of water known as 'Santa Clara.' The article outlines a planned Ancient Astronaut Society Member Expedition in February 1981 to explore Lake Petha, photograph the 'picture-rocks' described by Maler, and visit Mayan ruins in the region, including Palenque, Bonampak, and Yaxchilan, before proceeding to Oaxaca and the Pacific coast.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently promotes the ancient astronaut hypothesis, presenting archaeological and folkloric evidence from various parts of the world, particularly Australia and Peru, to support the idea of extraterrestrial influence on early human civilizations. The articles highlight mysterious structures, ancient artifacts, and legends of celestial visitors, framing them as proof of advanced ancient technologies and non-human intervention. The editorial stance is one of advocating for further research and exploration into these phenomena, encouraging readers to 'Come Search With Us!' The publication is presented as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation dedicated to scientific, literary, and educational purposes related to ancient astronaut theories. A warning is issued about the potential loss of 'freedom of innovation' in scientific inquiry.