ANCIENT SKIES

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 25, Number 2
Date: May-June, 1998
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA
ISSN: 0747-7823

This issue of Ancient Skies, the official logbook of the Ancient Astronaut Society, presents a collection of articles that challenge conventional scientific and historical narratives, particularly concerning human evolution, ancient technology, and origins.

The Darwinian Theory and Human Locomotion

Dr. Thomas A. Dorman, an orthopaedic physician, delivers a presentation that questions the fundamental tenets of Darwinian evolution. He begins by highlighting the communication barriers within specialized scientific fields and expresses his pleasure in addressing an audience with a broader perspective.

Dorman dissects the mechanics of human walking, describing it as a complex bipedal process involving pendulums (legs) and counter-pendulums (the trunk), along with the storage and release of elastic energy through ligaments and the spine. He emphasizes the unique role of the pelvis as a pivotal point and transducer of forces, arguing that its structure is qualitatively different from that of more primitive creatures.

His central argument challenges the premise that humans evolved from quadrupedal ancestors. Dorman points to the lack of transitional forms in the fossil record, despite Darwin's hypothesis that they would be found. He suggests that the inherent mechanics of bipedal walking, particularly the wedged sacrum, are predicated on a unique evolutionary development, not a gradual transition from a quadrupedal state. He posits that a transitional form would be mechanically impossible and inherently non-survivable.

Dorman further critiques the concept of microevolution leading to macroevolution and the idea that non-living matter gave rise to life. He argues that natural selection and random mutation tend to preserve species rather than cause diversification, citing examples like the alligator's stability over millennia.

He proposes that the human species has been on Earth for a very long time, possibly predating current evolutionary timelines. Dorman suggests that the prevalence of Darwinian concepts in scientific circles is driven by a political agenda, including the idea that humans are merely animals, the need to manage populations, the replacement of Christianity with Humanism, and science being used as a tool for disinformation.

He concludes that the concept of uniformitarianism and Darwinian evolution are erroneous. He believes that evidence for human beings and life existing for extremely long periods, with separate lines of evidence supporting this, is more plausible than the simplistic Darwinian explanation.

What Was the Ark of Noah Made Of?

René A. Boulay, a retired cryptologist and historian, investigates the material composition of Noah's Ark. He suggests that the Ark's design, based on Sumerian accounts, was likely ellipsoid or disc-shaped, approximately 400 feet in diameter and 200 feet thick, resembling a saucer or spacecraft.

Boulay addresses the difficulty in identifying the material 'Gofer' mentioned in the Genesis account, noting it is not a known Semitic word for construction material. Drawing on the work of linguist Alexander Heidel, he proposes that 'Gofer' is a loanword from Sumerian, possibly derived from the Sumerian word 'KUPAR'.

He breaks down 'KUPAR' into two potential Sumerian word-units: 'KU' and 'PAR'. 'KU' is associated with 'bright' or 'silvery metal', similar to gold. 'PAR' or 'BAR' is suggested to mean 'outer covering' or 'skin'. Therefore, Boulay concludes that the Ark's outer covering was likely made of a silvery metallic material, suitable for withstanding ocean storms and consistent with advanced technology.

DNA Scientist Proves Heyerdahl Wrong

Fredrick M. Woodley reports on new findings that challenge Thor Heyerdahl's theory that South American people were the first settlers of the South Pacific.

While Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki expedition demonstrated the possibility of sailing from Peru to Easter Island using a balsa reed craft, a British DNA scientist, Erika Hagelberg, has conducted an eight-year study of mitochondrial DNA from Polynesians and Melanesians. Her research indicates that the original settlers of the South Pacific originated from Southeast Asia, with Melanesians settling in New Guinea and Polynesians reaching New Zealand, Hawaii, and Easter Island.

Hagelberg's findings, based on the examination of hundreds of skeletons, contradict Heyerdahl's conclusion that early humans could have accomplished such voyages. Heyerdahl had suggested that the cremation of the dead by original settlers might have prevented evidence from being found, but Hagelberg's DNA analysis provides a new perspective.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Ancient Skies consistently promotes a critical view of established scientific paradigms, particularly Darwinian evolution. It champions the idea that conventional explanations for human origins and ancient history are incomplete or erroneous. The magazine encourages readers to question accepted theories and consider alternative perspectives, often drawing from ancient texts and the concept of ancient astronauts influencing human development and technology. There is a recurring theme that evidence unearthed by members of the society points to a reality far more complex and ancient than commonly believed, suggesting that 'things are not what they seem to be'. The society positions itself as a platform for exploring these unconventional ideas and challenging the 'false premises' of modern science.