Ancient Skies - Vol 07 No 6 - 1980-81

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 7, Number 6
Date: January-February, 1981
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA
Theme: Exploration of ancient civilizations and mysteries.

Titicaca - Cradle of Civilization?

This article, authored by Gene M. Phillips, Founder of the Society, delves into the mysteries surrounding Lake Titicaca and the ancient ruins of Tiahuanaco in Bolivia. Phillips begins by recounting the Peruvian legend of Manco Capac, the founder of the Inca Empire, who emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca. He speculates whether this legend might allude to a space capsule landing rather than a simple emergence from the water.

Geological information about Lake Titicaca is provided, noting its formation in the late Tertiary period and its current high altitude of 12,506 feet, making it the highest navigable lake in the world. The region is inhabited by Aymara Indians, who practice agriculture and subsist on maize, frozen potatoes, and chicha.

The article then focuses on Tiahuanaco, located twelve miles south of the lake's southernmost tip. Described as the remnants of a technologically advanced and ancient culture, Tiahuanaco was already in ruins when the Incas arrived. The Spanish chronicler Cieza de Leon visited the site in 1540 and documented the statues and monoliths, which remain largely as they appear today. The ruins are situated at an altitude of 13,300 feet, about 800 feet above the present lake level, leading archaeologists to believe that Tiahuanaco was once a flourishing port at the edge of a much larger and higher lake.

The unique sculpture and stone construction at Tiahuanaco are highlighted, including the Gate of the Sun, the massive steps of the Kalasasaya, and the "idols" which are giant representations of unusual beings. The stone blocks are enormous, some appearing to have been cast rather than carved. At Puma Punku, a nearby area, the stones are bluish-gray, exhibit "machined" surfaces, and produce a metallic ring when tapped. Many of these stones are covered with a reddish rust or oxidation.

One archaeologist speculates that the stones were prepared but never erected, or that the buildings were complete and then toppled by a natural catastrophe. The presence of ruins six feet below the surface at an altitude of 13,300 feet, with no apparent explanation for such deep covering by natural erosion, remains a mystery.

Legends persist of stone structures beneath the waters of Lake Titicaca. In 1968, underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau explored the lake but found no evidence. However, in November 1980, Bolivian author Hugo Boero Rojo announced the discovery of archaeological ruins submerged about 15 to 20 meters below the surface off Puerto Acosta. Rojo, along with two Puerto Rican cinematographers, located these ruins, which he described as "pre-Columbian constructions" that "greatly antecede the Spanish colonization." He noted temples built of huge blocks, stone roads, and flights of steps leading into the lake's depths, suggesting a probable Tiahuanacan origin.

Archaeologist Arturo Posnansky concluded that the Tiahuanaco culture began around 1,600 BC and flourished until at least 1,200 AD. The article poses the question of how stone temples and roads can exist under water if the lake has been slowly receding, suggesting they were built before the lake filled.

Scientists theorize that the Lake Titicaca area was once at sea level, evidenced by marine fossils. The Andes upheaval lifted the region, forming a basin that filled to become the lake, which has since been receding. The article suggests that a worldwide flood, as described in Peruvian legends, could explain the existence of submerged ruins and marine life at high altitudes.

Phillips reflects on the agricultural terracing on the steep mountain sides in Peru, theorizing that these might have originated from a period when survivors of a worldwide flood planted crops on mountain tops, with terracing descending as the waters receded.

Boero Rojo's discovery is presented as potentially solving mysteries surrounding the disappearance of an entire civilization, possibly a victim of a worldwide flood.

Book Review: Signs of the Gods?

This section reviews Erich von Daniken's book "Signs of the Gods?", published by G. P. Putnam's Sons. The reviewer praises the book as von Daniken's best, noting its excellent writing and minimal errors. The book examines subjects such as ancient astronauts and pre-cognition. It includes a chapter that reads like a mystery novel, analyzing historical clues related to a machine. Other topics covered include genetic engineering, unexplainable tracks in Malta, and the ruins of Zimbabwe, which von Daniken connects to the Dogon story of the Sirius star system.

The review highlights von Daniken's discussion of "mind-consciousness," "four-dimensional space-time," and time travel. Significantly, the review addresses von Daniken's rebuttal of critics, particularly a BBC Television production and astronomer Carl Sagan. The reviewer reveals that the original German edition of the book contained extensive criticism of Sagan, but these passages were cut from the English translation by Souvenir Press, London, without von Daniken's knowledge. The U.S. edition, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, also omits these passages.

The omitted text includes von Daniken's direct quotes from "NEWSWEEK" describing Sagan's media renown and his work on a public TV series. Von Daniken criticizes Sagan's dismissive remarks about his book and his "contradictory excuses of the millennium," accusing Sagan of being a "lousy critic" whose arguments are "hollow" and "merely touch the subject."

Gene M. Phillips labels this omission as "the rankest form of censorship."

Other Mentions

Zecharia Sitchin's new book, "The Stairway to Heaven," is announced as available and will be reviewed in the next issue.

A photograph of a marking on the Plain of Nazca, Peru, is presented with the question, "What is it? A sky-hook?"

The Ancient Astronaut Society is identified as a bi-monthly publisher for its members, founded in 1973, and organized for scientific, literary, and educational purposes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores theories of ancient astronauts, advanced lost civilizations, and unexplained archaeological phenomena. The editorial stance appears to support the investigation of these topics, as evidenced by the publication of articles that challenge conventional historical and scientific explanations. The review of von Daniken's book and the commentary on censorship suggest a critical view of established scientific and media institutions that may dismiss or suppress alternative theories. The recurring theme of worldwide floods as a potential explanation for ancient mysteries is also prominent.