The "Ancient Astronaut Theory"

UFO enthusiasts claim these 12 creations aren't human, are they right?

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The world harbors some impressive relics of past eras, artifacts that seem anachronistically advanced for the times in which they were created. For this reason, some theorists have suggested that the achievements of the Egyptian Empire, prehistoric Japan, and ancient Mesoamerican civilizations were influenced by extraterrestrial forces. While it's entertaining to wonder if aliens have visited Earth, in this article, we will debunk some theories that claim these 12 huge human achievements were not of terrestrial origin.

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Over the centuries, certain artworks depicting enigmatic figures have contributed to the rise of the "Ancient Astronaut Theory." This hypothesis suggests that in ancient times, extraterrestrial beings visited prehistoric humans, possibly interacting with them and sharing knowledge.

Examples like the Wandjina rock art in Australia's Kimberley region, and an image of two figures in the Val Camonica site in Italy that resemble present-day astronauts, fueled the alien landing theory. However, academics and archaeologists characterize these claims as pseudoarchaeological or unscientific. Some authors also argue that these theories are used to diminish the achievements and abilities of indigenous cultures.

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It is common knowledge that with its enormous stones dating past 2400 BC, the purpose and construction methods of Stonehenge have long been contested. While it is widely accepted that ancient humans built the monument, proponents of the Ancient Astronaut Theory argue that the precise alignment of the stones suggests an advanced understanding of astronomical events, specifically, the ability to predict eclipses.

According to these theorists, this ability wouldn't have been possible without extraterrestrial influence. Mainstream archaeologists and astronomers, however, believe this knowledge existed among the early inhabitants of this area and was passed down from generation to generation.

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Teotihuacan, whose name means "the place where the gods were created," is a vast ancient city in Mexico built more than 2,000 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Aztec Empire. The site is renowned for its architecturally significant pyramids, such as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.

With its well-preserved murals, fine obsidian tools, transportation system, and evidence of advanced agricultural practices, Teotihuacan is often viewed as more technologically developed than it was considered to be possible during its epoch. Although the city’s size and complexity make it seem somewhat otherworldly, it is undoubtedly a human creation.

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This mechanism is a clocklike instrument from around 85 BC, discovered in 1900 near the Greek island of Antikythera. Believed to have been used aboard ships as a navigation tool to accurately predict eclipses and the location of the sun and other celestial bodies. Although comparable technology did not reappear until the 14th century, this device is widely considered the oldest known example of an analog computer.

Because of the precision involved in its construction, UFO enthusiasts have regarded the Antikythera Mechanism as evidence of alien contact. However, ancient Greek literature mentions artifacts like this with no references to otherworldly visitors.

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Like many other megalithic sites around the world, the enigmas surrounding the moai, a set of huge stone figures on Easter Island, have long sparked curiosity and speculation. How is it possible that the Rapa Nui people were able to carve and transport these 13-foot-tall statues, each weighing up to 14 tons, more than 1,000 years ago?

The reasons why the moai were created are mysterious. Many may think they are the result of an alien encounter, but it is more likely that they were built for religious or ritual reasons. What remains uncertain is the fate of the artisans responsible for these statues. The main theory suggests the Rapa Nui civilization suffered a severe ecological collapse, likely caused by deforestation and overuse of natural resources.

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Dogū are small humanoid clay figurines created during Japan’s prehistoric Jōmon period. Their distinctive appearance—featuring large eyes, exaggerated limbs, and ornate detailing—has led some Ancient Astronaut theorists to speculate that they resemble beings in space suits, complete with goggles and armor.

However, archaeologists have long noted that the figures' eye shapes closely resemble Inuit snow goggles, a design meant to reduce glare from sunlight on snow. While the precise function of dogū remains uncertain, their pronounced hips, buttocks, and breasts suggest they were likely used in fertility-related rituals or symbolic practices.

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The Nazca Lines are a collection of hundreds of ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert plains of southern Peru. Some span more than 600 feet and are best viewed from the air, depicting animals, birds, fish, human figures, and various geometric shapes.

Ancient Astronaut theorists speculate that ancient Peruvians were trying to communicate with creatures capable of interstellar travel. Scientists, for their part, have claimed the drawings indicate ceremonial or ritual sites related to water and fertility, key concerns in the arid Nazca region. Also, historians have since replicated similar geoglyphs using primitive techniques without aerial assistance.

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The ancient Egyptian civilization was remarkably advanced for its time. In 1898, archaeologists discovered a small wooden artifact in a tomb at Saqqara, now known as the Saqqara Bird. Made of sycamore wood and shaped like a bird, it has been cited by Ancient Astronaut theorists as potential evidence of early knowledge of flight.

These enthusiasts claim that the figurine’s vertical tail resembles the tail of an aircraft. The lack of legs and the wings’ angle has even led them to conjecture that the artifact is evidence of the Egyptians' knowledge of aerodynamics. Far from being influenced by space creatures, modern scientific studies suggest the Saqqara Bird is either a religious relic or even just a simple children's toy.

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According to many UFO enthusiasts, the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Egypt, contains what they claim is definitive proof of advanced ancient technology. Some of the hieroglyphs appear to resemble a helicopter, a jet plane, and even a flying saucer.

However, scholars explain that these glyphs are the result of a palimpsest—a layering of two inscriptions from different time periods. Over time, erosion and the gradual flaking of plaster have caused the superimposed carvings to create ambiguous shapes. What some interpret as a "helicopter" is a combination of the original hieroglyphs from Seti I’s reign and later modifications made during the rule of Ramesses II.

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The helicopter hieroglyphs and the Saqqara Bird are not the only Egyptian archaeological findings attributed to intelligent extraterrestrial beings. Throughout history, the Pyramids of Giza have been repeatedly ascribed to aliens, mostly because of the sheer magnitude of their construction.

According to Ancient astronaut proponents, the technology needed to build the pyramids was not available 4,500 years ago. The cuts and placement of the stones as well as their astronomical alignment are said to be so precise that we couldn't re-create them even in modern times. Although the Pyramids of Giza display a remarkable knowledge of engineering, there is plenty of evidence that these tombs are the work of thousands of human hands.

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In 1966, an Australian man reported seeing a saucer-shaped craft hovering over a field near Tully, Queensland. According to his account, the craft left behind a circular pattern in the crops where it had taken off. Years later, this story inspired two English pranksters to create their own crop circle designs using simple tools.

The phenomenon quickly grew in popularity, with crop circles becoming increasingly complex and intricate. While some believe these patterns are extraterrestrial messages or evidence of advanced alien technology, the vast majority have been proven to be human-made, products of hoaxes, artistic expression, marketing stunts, or tourist attractions.

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In December 2009, a massive spiral of light appeared in the sky over northern Norway, sparking widespread speculation about extraterrestrial visitation. The unusual visual phenomenon lasted for two to three minutes, as evidenced by numerous amateur videos shared online.

UFO enthusiasts took it as evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, while the official explanation wasn't quite as spectacular. Apparently, a Russian military missile test went out of control. The spiral effect resulted either from a malfunctioning stabilizer engine or the missile spinning as it ran out of fuel before falling into the sea.

Do you have a unique skill?

11 unusual skills that became very handy in historic circumstances

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A peculiar skill is something that many of us have. It can be a special ability to recognize lookalikes, make pets fall asleep quickly, or guess names, among a million other things. However, some people manage to make a career out of their unusual skills, and this has happened over and over again throughout history. Take a look at the following 11 examples. Did you know any of these?

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Although it requires a good measure of specific knowledge, being a barber does not seem like a spectacularly complicated job these days. But, back in Medieval times, before the advent of modern medicine, barbers often performed minor surgical procedures, such as bloodletting and tooth extraction.

This odd combination of haircutting and basic surgery was a peculiar skill set that eventually evolved into separate professions.

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It may sound like the job for a food critic, but it really wasn’t. In ancient and medieval times, rulers and wealthy individuals employed food tasters to protect themselves from poisoning.

This very dangerous job required a keen sense of taste and the ability to detect subtle signs of toxins in food and drink.

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Catching rats was such a valued skill in past times that it was even a specific royal appointment in Great Britain, where the rat catcher was responsible for keeping the royal palaces and grounds free of rats.

It required specialized knowledge of rat behavior and effective trapping methods.

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These days, anybody can create a decent portrait using her or his smartphone, but back when photography wasn’t yet invented, limners created miniature portraits, often on ivory or vellum. As one can imagine, these tiny works of art required exceptional skill and attention to detail.

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In a time when communication was mostly carried out by people on their own two legs, horses, or ships, being able to establish successful communication at the speed of a flying bird was nothing short of a miracle.

Pigeon trainers were highly sought after and required due to their ability to train these humble birds to fly to particular places with tiny messages attached to them, and then go back.

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In the days of sailing ships, sailors used flags to communicate. Knowing how to interpret and send flag signals was crucial for coordinating naval maneuvers, and very few people knew how to perform these tasks correctly.

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While its scientific basis is obviously debated, dowsing (using a forked stick or other instrument to locate underground water or minerals) has been a skill used in various cultures for centuries.

Those who were believed to have this ability were often sought after in communities where water was scarce.

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Unbreakable code has always been a much-appreciated commodity during wartime. During WWII, Marine Corps leadership selected 29 Navajo men, the Navajo Code Talkers, who created a code based on the complex, unwritten Navajo language.

This system allowed the Code Talkers to translate three lines of English in 20 seconds, not 30 minutes as was common with existing code-breaking machines.

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Just like code talkers were a necessity, so were code breakers. Also during WWII, British mathematician Alan Turing cracked the "Enigma" code, which was a type of enciphering machine used by the German armed forces to send messages securely.

Codebreaking was a highly complex ability, involving a large set of skills ranging from mathematics to linguistics, mastered by very few individuals.

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Aside from the occasional title cards, silent films were a visual, rather than a verbal expression. But, as you must have seen, silent film actresses and actors did move their lips in those movies, even if you could not hear them.

Lip reading became a useful ability in those days, allowing filmgoers to understand what the performers were actually saying during the film. While most of the time, the uttered words had some relation to the scene itself, sometimes, actresses and actors said very different things, to the surprise of lip readers.

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During the mid-20th century, complex mathematical calculations were performed by hand to be used in astronomy, engineering, ballistics, and other developing fields. Many of these "human computers" who were able to perform incredibly complex calculations were women, like Katherine G. Johnson, Mary W. Jackson, or Dorothy Vaughan, to name a few.