Ancient Skies - Vol 14 No 2 - 1987-88

Magazine Overview

Title: Ancient Skies
Issue: Volume 14, Number 2
Date: May-June, 1987
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA
Theme: Exploration of ancient mysteries, archaeology, and the ancient astronaut theory.

Temple of the Seven Dolls

This article, by Vladimir N. Gercke, details the archaeological site of Dzibilchaltun in Yucatan, Mexico, focusing on the "Temple of the Seven Dolls." Excavations began in 1956 at this Mayan site, estimated to be the largest and longest inhabited in ancient America, spanning 3500 years. The "Great White Way," a 60-foot wide causeway, leads to various complexes, including the "Palace Complex," which is larger than a significant portion of Chichen Itza.

The "Temple of the Seven Dolls" was discovered buried under rubble. Its walls are made of thick stone slabs with a high-relief stucco frieze. Beneath the sanctuary floor, seven small, crudely modeled clay dolls were found, some depicting deformities, which experts suggest were used for curing disease, hence the temple's name.

A key discovery was the presence of what appeared to be "true Maya windows," unlike the small ventilation openings found in other Maya buildings. Gercke, accompanied by his Maya guide Sr. Eleazar Canul, investigated these windows. He found that they were not parallel but angled to converge at a point about 300 feet in front of the temple. At this point, they discovered a granite "needle" (a stone monolith) about 6 feet tall, with its top broken off, standing on a raised platform. The old Mayan man they spoke with related a legend about priests instructing a boy to climb the "needle" annually to attach and retrieve something, possibly a stone with a round hole.

Gercke hypothesizes that the Temple of the Seven Dolls was built as an observatory. The "tunnel windows" and the "needle" with its hole could have functioned as a unique type of telescope, allowing priests to observe celestial events with extreme precision, possibly marking the "beginning of the year."

Quotations in this section are attributed to an article by E. Wyllys Andrews in the National Geographic Magazine, January 1959.

Excerpts from Opening Address to the Ancient Astronaut Society World Conference

Gene M. Phillips, Founder of the Society, presents excerpts from an address to be given at the World Conference in Yugoslavia in September 1987, marking the Society's 14th anniversary. Phillips emphasizes the Society's goal of encouraging open-mindedness towards the ancient astronaut theory. He notes the difficulty in publishing such theories in English-speaking countries due to scientific opposition and media boycotts.

Phillips highlights the impact of the Society in shifting the scientific community's view on extraterrestrial intelligence, noting that scientists who once ridiculed the idea now accept and even seek government grants for such research.

A major problem identified is the stagnation of archaeology worldwide, with archaeologists having exclusive control over excavations and often being protective of their findings. Phillips points to sites like Palenque in Mexico, where only a small portion has been explored, and the potential for undiscovered tombs, such as that of "Pacal."

He also expresses concern about a secret project to build power dams on the Usumacinta River, which could inundate significant Mayan and Lacandon sites like Yaxchilan, Piedras Negras, and Bonampak. Phillips criticizes archaeologists for not actively exploring and documenting these sites before they are lost to the water.

Phillips concludes by asserting that lay persons can indeed find new evidence and that the search for proof of the ancient astronaut theory is ongoing.

Prehistoric Civilizations

This article by Ted Powell discusses the origins of prehistoric technology and knowledge. Powell suggests that while alien visitations might be a factor, other sources are significant, including the great Library of Alexandria, which contained vast knowledge of ancient civilizations. He references a Greek historian's work titled "Ancient Civilizations," implying that ancients also had their own histories of earlier peoples.

Powell mentions two advanced civilizations destroyed by cataclysms around 12,000 BC and 9,654 BC, as described in the Tibetan Dzyan Bible. He argues that these events, along with the destruction of the Alexandria Library and book burnings in ancient China, led to a "dark age" for modern humanity.

Powell touches upon the intellectual achievements of the Greeks, noting that they may have been influenced by Egyptian priests and scribes. He highlights figures like Euclid and Apollonius, suggesting their work might have been aided by "mechanical computers" and wooden models. He also points to the advanced algebraic and trigonometric knowledge found on early Sumerian clay tablets, surpassing that of the Greeks.

Powell proposes that some Greek science theories, particularly on the atomic nature of matter, might have originated from direct observation of natural phenomena like Brownian movement and nuclear-fission particles, which could be perceived by focused eyes or heard as faint sounds in quiet environments.

The article also discusses the common prehistoric origin of the Hindu, Sumerian, and Greek sexagesimal (base-60) number system, which was convenient for calculations, unlike the alpha-numeric systems.

Powell connects the Judeo-Christian creation myth to a possible misinterpretation of an advanced civilization's legend about the Earth passing through seven epochs. He also references the Admiral Piri Reis map, suggesting it is a copy of a prehistoric map from tens of thousands of years ago, predating a cataclysmic asteroid impact around 51,000 BC that altered the Earth's orbit, spin-axis, and geography.

Powell concludes that aliens not only visited Earth but also settled and inter-married with humans. He lists potential sources of information on advanced prehistoric technology: the destroyed Alexandria Library, the Tibetan Dzyan Bible, ancient Indian records, and legends from various cultures, including South American myths of gods descending from the sky and Egyptian legends of gods arriving from the "western sea."

The 12th Planet Nears?

This section discusses Zecharia Sitchin's theory about a "12th Planet" (referred to as Nibiru or Marduk) in our solar system. NASA data from Pioneer space probes suggests the possibility of another planet, potentially five times the mass of Earth, with an elongated orbit that is nearly at a right angle to the orbits of the known nine planets.

Sitchin's book, "The 12th Planet," published in 1976, claims that Sumerians knew of a twelve-member solar system (ten planets, the Sun, and Moon) 6000 years ago. This included planets like Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, which were discovered much later by modern astronomers. Sitchin states that Nibiru has an orbit that brings it near Earth between Jupiter and Mars every 3600 years.

The article includes figures illustrating the possible orbit of the 10th planet and the solar system, showing the relative positions of planets.

It is mentioned that Sitchin's books, including "The Earth Chronicles" series, are available from Avon Books. Sitchin is described as a biblical scholar and linguist.

Upcoming Events and Society Information

An announcement is made for the "Next World Conference of the Ancient Astronaut Society," scheduled for September 10-12, 1987, in Novi Vinodolski, Yugoslavia. A list of speakers from Austria, Mexico, Switzerland, the USA, USSR, West Germany, and Yugoslavia is provided.

Information about the publication "Ancient Skies" is given: it is published bi-monthly by the Ancient Astronaut Society, located at 1921 St. Johns Ave., Highland Park, Illinois 60035-3105 USA. The Ancient Astronaut Society, founded in 1973, is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation for scientific, literary, and educational purposes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the ancient astronaut theory, suggesting that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations have influenced human history and technology. It highlights archaeological anomalies, ancient texts, and legends as evidence. The editorial stance is one of challenging mainstream scientific and historical narratives, advocating for open-minded research, and criticizing the establishment for suppressing alternative theories. There is a strong emphasis on uncovering evidence of advanced prehistoric civilizations and their potential connection to extraterrestrial visitors. The magazine also serves as a platform for promoting the Ancient Astronaut Society's activities, conferences, and publications.