Ancient Skies - Vol 24 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 24, Number 3
Date: July-August, 1997
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Location: Highland Park, Illinois, USA

This issue of Ancient Skies delves into the mysteries of ancient civilizations, focusing on megalithic structures, astronomical alignments, and the potential influence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The articles question conventional historical narratives and propose alternative interpretations of archaeological evidence.

Was the Megalithic Society the Mother Culture?

This lead article by Filip Coppens challenges the traditional view of Stonehenge's builders. It highlights the work of archaeologist Aubrey Burl, who suggests Stonehenge was built by French immigrants rather than native Englishmen, sparking controversy. Coppens also discusses Alan Alford's findings on the builders' astronomical knowledge, noting the alignment of Stonehenge's Station Stones to the 18.6-year lunar cycle. John North's research is cited, indicating the Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan and Stonehenge's Avenue were aligned to Sirius, contradicting 'new age' interpretations by aligning Stonehenge to the winter solstice sunset.

The article introduces the concept of a 'symbolic landscape' as proposed by researcher Paul Devereux, where man-made structures blend with nature. It further explores the more radical theory by David Percy and David Myers, who suggest that the megalithic sites in England, like Stonehenge and Avebury, are scale models of structures found on Mars. While acknowledging the lack of definitive proof due to limited knowledge of Martian monuments, the theory is presented as a provocative interpretation.

The Oval Network and the Significance of Sens

Belgian historian Marcel Mestdagh's research reveals an integral relationship between Stonehenge and Avebury, linked by a perfectly curved road forming an oval. This oval network is also found in France, with the city of Sens identified as a central point. Mestdagh's discovery of concentric ovals and ditches suggests a sophisticated ancient system, possibly related to waterways. The article posits that Sens, historically a religious capital, may have been a mythical 'Valhalla' for the Vikings, who navigated using this ancient road system.

Woodhenge and the Sirius Connection

Woodhenge, a series of concentric ovals with wooden poles, is discussed as a site with stellar relationships, not merely a depiction of the Sun. Mestdagh's findings suggest Woodhenge is a perfect depiction of the ovals he discovered in France. The article touches upon the idea that ancient civilizations may have used these structures to attract the attention of 'passing aliens', citing historical figures like Carl Friedrich Gauss and Joseph von Littrow who proposed similar methods.

Researcher Wim Zitman's work is mentioned, linking the dimensions of ancient civilizations to numbers related to Sirius. He believes that ancients equated time with space and that astronomical measurements were incorporated into myths and legends, reflecting a belief in 'as above, so below'.

Eleusis, Sirius, and Martian Pyramids

Xavier Guichard's study of the place name 'Eleusis' (Elysium) is presented. Guichard linked this name to the Eleusinian mysteries, which are related to the Mysteries of Isis and the star Sirius. The article notes the emphasis on Sirius in Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife and the gods, a belief also found elsewhere.

Intriguingly, the Mariner space probes photographed what appear to be pyramidal structures on Mars in the Elysium region, raising questions about a potential connection to the ancient concept of Elysian Fields.

Guichard's book, 'Eleusis Alesia', published in 1936, suggested that places named 'Alesia' or similar were named in prehistoric times, possibly deriving from an Indo-European root meaning 'a meeting point to where people travelled'. The majority of these sites are found in France, but some exist in Greece, Egypt, and Spain.

Megalithic Sites in France, Britain, and Malta

Guichard's research indicates that sites named 'Alesia' often featured hills overlooking rivers and were built around wells of salt or mineral water. These sites lay on lines radiating from Alaise, in eastern France, similar to Mestdagh's findings regarding Sens. Guichard identified 28 radiating lines, possibly connected to lunar cycles, and noted that numbers like 28, 56, 64, and 72, which feature in Stonehenge and Egyptian mythology, could be derived from this system.

The article suggests an intimate relationship between Egyptian and megalithic civilizations, noting the discovery of Egyptian blue beads in a Wessex burial ground. The Tuat, the Egyptian afterlife, is described as an island in the west, an oval formed by Nut, with an opening to the 'Imperishable Star', Sirius. The dismemberment of Osiris into fourteen pieces, corresponding to the fourteen states in the Tuat, is linked to the Mysteries of Isis and Osiris.

The Shamir Tool and Malta's Megalithic Enigmas

Joseph S. Ellul's article, 'The Shamir in the Stone Age', addresses the perplexing smooth channels, deep water wells, and underground palaces (Hypogeum) found in Malta's Neolithic temples. Ellul argues that these feats, achieved by Stone Age people without metal tools, suggest the use of an extraterrestrial 'divine tool' or 'laser tool' known as the 'shamir'.

Ellul recounts his family's involvement in excavating and caring for Malta's ancient sites. He criticizes the current state of archaeological preservation in Malta, highlighting the disappearance of artifacts from museums and the poor condition of sites like the Hypogeum and Mnajdra. He disputes the dating of Malta's temples to 1500 BC, citing Professor Vere Gordon Child's assertion that they are 12,000 years old, a claim supported by carbon-14 testing.

Ellul also discusses the 'fireplace' stone at Hagar Qim, which is reddish with fire but not cracked, suggesting it was not local stone and required extraterrestrial assistance.

Florida House of Representatives Tribute

A tribute from the Florida House of Representatives welcomes the Ancient Astronaut Society to their 24th Anniversary World Conference in Orlando, Florida. The tribute acknowledges the society's incorporation in 1973 and its mission to search for evidence of advanced technological civilizations in Earth's past and extraterrestrial visitation.

In Memoriam

The issue notes the death of Mr. Rustum D. Patel, a long-time member and contributor to Ancient Skies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the idea that ancient civilizations possessed advanced knowledge, particularly in astronomy, and may have been influenced or guided by extraterrestrial beings. The articles challenge mainstream archaeological and historical interpretations, advocating for an 'alternative' perspective that connects ancient myths, monumental architecture, and celestial observations. The editorial stance appears to support the exploration of these unconventional theories, emphasizing the potential for uncovering lost knowledge and understanding humanity's place in a broader cosmic context. The importance of Sirius and its potential role in ancient belief systems is a consistent thread throughout the articles.