Ancient Skies - Vol 22 No 6 - 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: VOLUME 22, NUMBER 6
Date: JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1996
Publisher: ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY
Country: USA

This issue of ANCIENT SKIES, the Official Logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society, focuses on mysteries from both China and Peru, alongside a discussion on ancient lifespans and calendars.

Bayan-Kara-Ula: Mystery of the Century

This article, by Hartwig Hausdorf and translated by George T. Sassoon, explores the persistent rumors surrounding the 'stone platters' found in the Bayan-Kara-Ula Mountains of central China. Hausdorf's research, including expeditions into forbidden zones, suggests these stories describe the crash of an extraterrestrial spacecraft thousands of years ago.

The 'stone-platter report' dates back to the late 1960s and details findings from a 1937-1938 expedition by archaeologist Chi Pu Tei. He discovered numerous cave burial sites with small skeletons (about 4 feet 3 inches tall with oversized heads) and stone disks, approximately a foot in diameter and one-third of an inch thick, bearing inscriptions in an unknown groove-writing.

In 1962, Professor Tsum Um Nui reportedly deciphered parts of the script, revealing a story of beings, the 'Dropa', forced to land their spaceship and unable to leave. The Beijing Academy of Sciences allegedly banned publication due to the shocking nature of the findings. Tsum Um Nui's paper on 'Inscriptions in Connection With Spaceships that Existed 12,000 Years Ago' was met with scorn, and he later emigrated to Japan, where he died in 1965.

During China's cultural revolution (1966-1976), the artifacts were scattered. In 1974, Austrian engineer Ernst Wegerer photographed two of these 'impossible artefacts' in the Banpo Museum of Xian. Figure 1 illustrates these objects.

Hausdorf's own expeditions, including visits to numerous large pyramids in China, are mentioned. He co-authored 'Satelliten der Götter' with Peter Krassa and presented on the subject at the Ancient Astronaut Society's World Conference in Bern, Switzerland. He planned further research in the Bayan-Kara-Ula region in 1996 and was scheduled to present findings at the Society's 24th Anniversary World Conference in Orlando, Florida, in August 1997.

Further information comes from England, where Dr. Karyl Robin-Evans was shown an unusual platter by Professor Lolladoff, who claimed it belonged to a tribe called the 'Dzopa' and was used for 'religious purposes'. Robin-Evans reported that the object, about 9 inches in diameter and 2 inches thick, gained and lost weight over a 24-hour period when placed on a scale coupled to a chart recorder.

Robin-Evans's report, published posthumously in 1978, detailed his 1947 expedition to the 'Dzopa' region via Lhasa, Tibet. He met the 14th Dalai Lama and was reportedly interviewed by advisors. He learned that the 'Dzopa' tribe's original home was a planet in the Sirius system, with two expeditions to Earth occurring about 20,000 years ago and another in 1014 AD, which ended in mechanical failure.

Discrepancies in the pronunciation of 'Dropa' versus 'Dzopa' are discussed, with 'Dzopa' being considered closer to the correct pronunciation. Differences in time data (12,000 years ago vs. 20,000 years ago and 1014 AD) are also noted, possibly due to translation issues or different interpretations of the hieroglyphic script.

The article also touches on the political situation in China at the time of Robin-Evans's visit, with Tibet not yet incorporated into the People's Republic of China. The Bayan-Kara-Ula Mountains run parallel to the former Chinese-Tibetan border.

Attempts to trace descendants of the 'Dzopa' are mentioned, with the possibility of genetic analysis. The name 'Tsum Um Nui' is identified as a geographical adaptation of a Japanese name, suggesting a possible explanation for his academic struggles and emigration to Japan.

Peruvian Surgical Instruments?

Authored by Rolf Eipper, this section discusses artifacts from Peru. Eipper, a camera repair technician, became interested after a Society expedition to Peru in 1994. He examined metal objects from a flea market in Vancouver, which he believes are Peruvian.

The illustration shows two objects: the ubiquitous 'tumi', a symbol of Peru, and a long, slender object over 8 inches long, resembling a surgical scalpel. Eipper notes that while 'tumi' knives are common, he couldn't conceive of their practicality for surgery and speculates the other object might be a scalpel. He mentions that the renowned Peruvian surgeon Dr. Francisco Graña performed skull trepanning procedures using a 'tumi' knife.

Lunacy: Biblical Lifespans and Calendars

Filip Coppens, a writer and editor, critiques the theory that the extreme ages of biblical patriarchs (e.g., Adam, Enoch) were measured in lunar years, not solar years. He argues that dividing these ages by 12.37 would result in unrealistically short lifespans for individuals who had children at advanced ages (e.g., Terach living to 205, having a son at 70, implying a solar age of 5.4 years).

Coppens suggests that these 'lifespans' might be part of a code or secret teaching, possibly interpreted in a similar manner by Kabbalah. He concludes that the dates do not stem from a lunar calendar and that the gradual decrease in lifespans after the Deluge, settling around 70 years, indicates a shift to a solar calendar or a 'normal lifespan'. He also questions whether the ancients truly lived so long, proposing the numbers could be symbolic.

Member Expedition to Peru to Visit Cabrera Museum

This section announces a Society Member Expedition to Peru in May 1996, which will include a visit to the Cabrera Museum of Engraved Stones in Ica. The museum, founded by Dr. Javier Cabrera Darquea, houses over 11,000 engraved stones depicting a wide range of subjects, including human and dinosaur interactions, heart transplants, and Earth's continents in prehistoric times.

Dr. Cabrera began collecting these stones, often discovered by 'huaqueros' (grave robbers), about 30 years prior. The archaeological establishment reportedly showed little interest, dismissing them as fakes or creations of Dr. Cabrera himself. However, Cabrera argues that the sheer number of intricately engraved stones makes this impossible.

The Ica stones challenge conventional views on the antiquity of Peruvian civilization and the origin of man, suggesting humans co-existed with dinosaurs millions of years ago. The expedition will include guided tours by Dr. Cabrera, visits to other significant Peruvian sites like Chavin de Huantar, Sechin, Chanquillo, Cuzco region sites, Machu Picchu, the Plain of Nazca, and an optional extension to the Amazon jungle.

Announcements and News

• Zecharia Sitchin's latest book, 'Divine Encounters', is available in paperback.
• A new Erich von Daniken book, 'Eyes of the Sphinx', will be released in March 1996.
• The 24th Anniversary World Conference of the Ancient Astronaut Society will be held in Orlando, Florida, August 3-8, 1997, featuring lectures and two field trips: to Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center and the Kennedy Space Center.
• The Ancient Astronaut Society's telephone area code has changed to 847.
• The Eighth Annual Ozark UFO Conference is scheduled for April 12-14, 1996, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of ancient mysteries, extraterrestrial hypotheses, and the re-examination of historical and biblical accounts through an alternative lens. The Ancient Astronaut Society, as the publisher, clearly promotes a perspective that seeks evidence of ancient astronauts and advanced ancient civilizations, often challenging mainstream archaeological and historical interpretations. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena and ancient anomalies, encouraging members to participate in expeditions and conferences to further explore these subjects.