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ancient astronauts. ... Erich von Daniken claims that the myths, arts, social organizations
of ancient cultures were introduced by astronauts from another world. ...
... According to the online article from ThothWeb called "Ancient Astronauts-The Search
for the Truth", advance beings or aliens had many interactions with early ...
... by Buzz Aldrin (Chaikin, 209.) Together, the two astronauts took photographs, collected
rock samples, and planted the American Flag on the ancient dust of the ...
... There were no police in the ancient times. ... Supposedly above the sky but astronauts
have been up there and there is nothing much but stars, planets and radiation ...
... As soon as the astronauts were comfortable with this strange and dreamy scene, the ...
as if the rest of the members were disrespecting the ancient Martian's way ...
Submitted by classcheats on April 22, 2008
Category: American History
Words: 686 | Pages: 3
Views: 72
Popularity Rank: 105,688
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Ancient Astronauts
The basic story/argument being presented is the notion that aliens are responsible for the most ancient civilizations on earth. Erich von Daniken claims that the myths, arts, social organizations of ancient cultures were introduced by astronauts from another world. He questions not just the capacity for memory, but the capacity for culture and civilization itself, in ancient people. Prehistoric humans did not develop their own arts and technologies, but rather were taught art and science by visitors from outer space.
Daniken’s evidence is in the form of specious and fallacious arguments. His data consists mainly of archaeological sites and ancient myths. He beings with the ancient astronaut assumption and then forces all data to fit the idea. For example, in Nazca, Peru, he explains giant animal drawings in the desert as an ancient alien airport. The likelihood that these drawings related to the natives' religion or science is not considered. He also frequently reverts to false dilemma reasoning of the following type: "Either this data is to be explained by assuming these primitive idiots did this themselves or we must accept the more plausible notion that they got help from extremely advanced peoples who must have come from other planets where such technologies as anti-gravity devices had been invented."
Where is the proof for von Däniken's claims? Some of it was fraudulent. For example, he produced photographs of pottery that he claimed had been found in an archaeological dig. The pottery depicts flying saucers and was said to have been dated from Biblical times. However, investigators from Nova (the fine public-television science program) found the potter who had made the allegedly ancient pots. They confronted von Däniken with evidence of his fraud. His reply was that his deception was justified because some people would only believe if they saw proof.
There have been many critics of von...
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