Ancient Skies - Vol 19 No 6 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 19, Number 6
Date: January-February, 1993
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA
Price: $3.00

This issue of Ancient Skies delves into ancient mysteries, featuring a detailed exploration of the unique chullpas of Sillustani in Peru and a speculative article on ancient hovercraft.

The Chullpas of Sillustani

By Gene M. Phillips, Founder of the Society

The article begins by quoting a 1617 Portuguese traveler who described Sillustani as having "the most remarkable ancient monuments and buildings in the whole of Peru." The author, driven by interest, included Sillustani in a Member Expedition to Peru.

The journey to Sillustani involved an eleven-hour train ride from Cuzco to Puno, a city situated at 3,827 m (12,550 ft) on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. The train journey offered scenic views of the Vilcanota Valley, herds of sheep, alpaca, and llama, and the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Oriental, including Ausangate at 6,384 m (20,945 ft). The expedition experienced mountain sickness ('soroche') at La Raya, reaching 4,313 M (14,150 ft).

From Puno, the group traveled to Lake Umayo, where the Sillustani Peninsula juts into the lake. The peninsula is home to the most impressive chullpas, described as funerary towers. The word 'chullpa' is of Colla or Aymara origin, its meaning now forgotten, but it signifies 'tomb' or 'funerary tower' in Aymara.

The chullpas are described as square, rectangular, or circular towers built of stone or a mixture of stone and adobe. Modern Aymaras consider them the dwelling places of their ancestors. There are approximately 150 chullpas in the Peruvian part of the Collao region, which spans parts of Peru and Bolivia.

The article discusses the origins of the Collas, indigenous Andean peoples, partly Aymara, whose principal industries are agriculture and stock farming. It references Garcilaso's 1590 account of various theories regarding the first ancestors of the Collas, including emerging from Lake Titicaca or from crevices after a deluge.

It is not known precisely when the chullpas were built, but they are considered pre-Incaic. Victor von Hagen suggests they were built "500 years before the advent of the Inca," which would place their construction between 500 AD and 700 AD, assuming the earliest Incas appeared around 1000 AD and Cuzco was founded in 1200 AD.

The author connects the construction of the chullpas to the 'deluge' theory, referencing Patten and Windsor's assertion that the Genesis flood occurred on October 24, 2484 BC, due to Mars's close fly-by. This event is proposed to have caused global devastation, tidal waves, and the uplift of mountain ranges, forming Lake Titicaca and leveling structures like those at Tiahuanaco and Puma Punku. The article notes that Arthur Posnansky believed Tiahuanaco to be at least 30,000 years old.

The chullpas themselves are described as circular towers, about 4 m (12 ft) in diameter at the base and up to 7.5 m (25 ft) high. They are constructed of ashlar masonry without mortar, with outer curved surfaces of finely dressed stones. A unique 'boss and socket' interlocking system is highlighted, where each stone has a concave cavity and a protruding boss, ensuring a tight fit. These structures have withstood the elements for the last 15 centuries.

Another unique feature is that the top course of stones has a greater circumference than the ground level course, creating an acute angle and a rounded effect at the top. The author argues that the architectural design, engineering skills, and precision required to build these structures imply the use of advanced technology, including metal tools.

The article critiques Hammond Innes's statement that the stones were "beaten into shape" by primitive hammer tools, calling it "pure fantasy." The author points to evidence from Puma Punku, where slots for metal straps were found, suggesting that metal tools were indeed available. The author concludes that the builders likely possessed advanced technology, or were part of an older, lost civilization.

Fig. 3 and 4 show side and back views of a chullpa, noting that Spanish conquistadors may have used blasting powder to break them open in search of gold. The 'boss and socket' interlocking mechanism is clearly visible.

Ancient Hovercraft?

By Vaughn M. Greene

This article explores the possibility of ancient aircraft, citing airplane-like figurines found in prehistoric cultures. The author presents a specific example: a pre-Columbian artifact from the Vera Cruz (Mexico) culture, dated to about 200 AD, which is labeled as a "flute" but is believed by the author to be a model of a Ground Effect Machine (GEM), or hovercraft.

The described artifact consists of twin aluminum booms, approximately 20 feet long and one foot in diameter, held in a shallow Vee by a platform where the pilot sits. It features a saddle with a backrest, a belt acting as a seat strap, and a 'loin cloth' interpreted as an instrument panel. A shield with a human face on the front is thought to cover the engine.

Half-circle wings with large holes in the middle are present on each side of the booms. These holes are characteristic of ducted aircraft, designed to suck in air via propellers and blow it downward. A tasseled fringe about 6 inches long on the outside of the wings is identified as a skirt, a common feature in hovercraft used to allow excess air to escape and to maneuver the craft.

The article explains the principle of hovercraft operation: air blown into a confined space lifts the craft off the ground by air pressure. While typical GEMs hover only about 6 inches, the author notes that Russians and Fokker Aircraft Co. have built GEMs capable of flying up to 100 feet altitude using a tail for control. The Vera Cruz device is suggested to be such a craft.

A unique feature is a "scorpion tail" that curls up behind the pilot's seat, believed to be used for drag and control. The pilot is depicted wearing a long, narrow helmet shaped like a dragon head, with a human eye visible within the 'dragon eye,' and also wearing shoulder pads. The author suggests that ancient aircraft and flying suits were often shaped like dragons to intimidate superstitious natives.

The author speculates that these hovercraft were used to traverse the Yucatan Peninsula, which once had an extensive canal system, flying at speeds up to 200 miles per hour just above the water surface. The Vee shape of the museum piece suggests it was a cargo carrier. The dragon helmet and shoulder pads are interpreted as protection against low-hanging vines and branches.

The article concludes by suggesting that hovercraft technology, similar to what is described, will be used in jungles again soon, as it was 2,000 years ago.

*Vaughn M. Greene worked in the aircraft and utilities industries before retiring.

Society Announcements and Events

20th Anniversary World Conference: Scheduled for August 1-5, 1993, at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Speakers include Richard T. Crowe, Rudolf Eckhardt, Erich von Daniken, and Zecharia Sitchin (who later withdrew). The conference fee is US$150 per person and includes lectures, a show, a banquet, and an auto collection. Reduced room rates and airfares are available.

Final Call for Member Expedition to Guatemala and Honduras: May 6-19, 1993. The cost is US$1,964 per person (double occupancy) and includes hotels, ground transportation, some meals, site admissions, and internal airfares. International airfare is extra. The tour visits Tikal, Quirigua, and Copan, with a rest on Roatan Island.

One-Day Meeting of the Ancient Astronaut Society: To be held on September 11, 1993, at the Hotel Nova-Park in Zurich, Switzerland. All lectures will be in German.

Books Reviewed

• *Die Grossen Ratsel der Letzten 2500 Jahre* by Walter-Joerg Langbein (German).
• *Magical and Mystical Sites: Europe and the British Isles* by Elizabeth Pepper and John Wilcock.
• *Megalithic Adventures* by Donald L. Cyr.

Publication Information

ANCIENT SKIES is published bi-monthly by the ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY, 1921 St. Johns Ave., Highland Park, Illinois 60035-3105 USA. The Society was founded in 1973 and is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation for scientific, literary, and educational purposes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of ancient civilizations, their advanced technologies, and the potential for extraterrestrial influence or intervention in human history. The magazine consistently questions conventional archaeological interpretations, proposing alternative theories based on artifacts and ancient texts. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena and ancient mysteries, encouraging readers to "Come Search With Us!" and to consider possibilities beyond mainstream historical narratives.