This is a brief reference list to support students in the ANTH 215 course that relates to Ancient Astronauts or Ancient Aliens. Many of these resources are not scholarly are are full of what we call called "woo" in class.
The idea of ancient astronauts suggests that extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth in the distant past and interacted with humans, influencing the development of human civilizations. This idea has captured the imagination of many people and has been the subject of much debate and controversy.
The idea of aliens can be traced back to the writings of author Erich von Däniken, who published his book "Chariots of the Gods?" in 1968. In this book, von Däniken proposes that many ancient structures, such as the pyramids of Egypt and the Nazca lines in Peru, were created with the help of advanced technology provided by extraterrestrial beings. He argued that these beings had visited Earth in the distant past and had interacted with humans, influencing the development of human civilizations. He also claimed they helped the Mayans.
Von Däniken's book was a commercial success and spawned a number of similar works, including the "Ancient Astronauts" series of books and TV documentaries. The idea of ancient astronauts has since become a popular subject in fringe science and conspiracy theories.
One of the main arguments for the idea of ancient astronauts is the existence of ancient structures that are difficult to explain using conventional archaeological theories. For example, the construction of the pyramids of Egypt, with their precise alignments and massive size, has led some to suggest that advanced technology was used in their construction. Similarly, the Nazca lines, which are large geoglyphs etched into the desert floor, have been interpreted by some as evidence of a landing strip for extraterrestrial spacecraft.
Another argument for the idea of ancient astronauts is the existence of ancient texts and artwork that depict beings that resemble modern depictions of extraterrestrial beings. For example, the ancient Sumerian texts describe the Annunaki, a group of beings that were said to have come to Earth from another planet. Similarly, ancient Egyptian artwork depicts beings that have elongated skulls and large eyes, which some have interpreted as evidence of extraterrestrial contact.
Despite these arguments, the idea of ancient astronauts has been met with considerable skepticism from the scientific community. One of the main criticisms is that the idea relies on speculation rather than concrete evidence. While it is true that there are ancient structures and artwork that are difficult to explain using conventional theories, this does not necessarily mean that extraterrestrial beings were involved in their creation.
Furthermore, there is no physical evidence of extraterrestrial beings having visited Earth in the distant past. While there have been numerous UFO sightings and alleged encounters with extraterrestrial beings, none of these claims have been substantiated with concrete evidence.
Despite the skepticism of the scientific community, the idea of ancient astronauts has remained popular in popular culture. The idea has been the subject of numerous books, TV shows, and movies, and has inspired countless works of science fiction. While the idea may never be fully proven or disproven, it will likely continue to capture the imagination of people for years to come.
In conclusion, the idea of ancient astronauts is a fascinating but controversial concept that suggests extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth in the distant past and influenced the development of human civilizations. While there are arguments for and against the idea, it remains a popular subject in fringe science and conspiracy theories, and has inspired numerous works of science fiction.
Ancient Aliens by 
The Sagan Conspiracy by 
