The Ancient Astronaut Theory is something that is mentioned a lot in UFO circles, but what exactly is it? In short, it is the notion that extraterrestrial visitors came to Earth in the distant past, intentionally or not, shaping human history as they did.

However, in truth, and in part because of the sheer speculative nature of the general premise of the Ancient Astronaut Theory, it is an idea and concept that branches off into several different areas, with an equal abundance of different possibilities. And what’s more, investigation into these areas may well lead to other possibilities and conclusions. For example, might we find that what we believe to be “ancient astronauts” right now, might actually prove to be an ancient civilization?

Indeed, serious study into the so-called “alternative” accounts of human history may prove to be invaluable in predicting and protecting against potential future events. Perhaps, in particular, circumstances which while we understand the consequences of, we may have drastically misunderstood the cause.

Whether these apparent warnings and messages, etched into the many stone monuments from antiquity, as well as in the writings, legends, and ancient texts that have survived the same journey through time will be recognized and heeded or not remain to be seen. The answers are there, though. Of that, we can be certain. It would appear we may simply need to look a little deeper for them.

As with many of our other case study articles, the subject matter here could, and has, and will likely continue to fill entire volumes of books such is the complexity of the subject and the many different paths it takes us down.

Dragged Into The Mainstream By The Chariots Of The Gods!

Perhaps the best place to start with the Ancient Astronaut Theory is with Eric Von Daniken, who while not forming the theory solely from his own research, is largely seen as responsible for dragging such a fringe theory closer to the mainstream in his 1968 book Chariots Of The Gods.

In it, Von Daniken would argue that many ancient texts, legends, religious writings, and even creation myths all pointed to some kind of alien intervention with humanity at some stage in the distant past. In fact, so significant was this intervention from unknown extraterrestrials that the encounters would result in the eventual creation of many of the world’s major religions. And more specifically, the “gods” that were worshipped because of them.

Whether this was a purposeful consequence from such an intervention, if indeed such an intervention did occur, remains open to debate. It would certainly make sense, at least to some, that an alien race would purposely act as “gods” so as to secretly rule over humanity. We have even discussed such a matter in our case study of the Reptilian conspiracies, which to a certain degree, intertwine with the Ancient Astronaut theories.

Some theories, some of which we will explore shortly, claim such intervention went as far as to genetically modify a primitive version of Neanderthal or some other Homo Erectus-type creature, and so creating the human race – Home sapiens – as we know it today. This may, for example, explain the “missing link” that for all of its apparent answers, mainstream science still can not explain. We will come back to this shorty.

First, though, might it be that such a meeting between apparent races from different parts of the Universe been purely down to chance?

An Accidental Cosmic Intervention With Unintended Consequences?

Perhaps such a consequence was an unintentional one. The result of a primitive society, that misunderstood these highly advanced, but merely “flesh-and-blood” entities, albeit from elsewhere. A good example of this type of situation occurred in our own recent collective past during the Second World War.

American troops, in anticipation of strikes against Japan, would establish bases in the south Pacific on islands inhabited by people largely unfamiliar with modern civilization and all of the technology that comes with it.

Consequently, they believed the American soldiers who stationed themselves on their island were actually “gods” who had chosen to visit them. So much so, that the people would build wooden replica “planes”, “helmets”, “weapons”, and all manner of items they had witnessed their “gods” carrying and using.

The reaction in ancient times, one would suspect, would have been much the same. Is this why many bizarre carvings and depictions of ancient gods and deities look so familiar to modern astronauts? Why so many of these statues appear to show these gods wearing helmets and breathing apparatus?

And, as we will examine later if these apparent visitors, who many texts clearly state arrived “from above” or “from the stars” were not of extraterrestrial origin, who were they? Might, as will come back to, our ancient aliens actually be ancient and forgotten civilizations?

Before we move on, check out the 1970s documentary based on Von Daniken’s bestselling book.

Thoughts That Go Against The Myopic And Protective Mainstream

If we return to the intentional genetic manipulation of the dominant species already here on Earth (likely Homo Erectus or Neanderthals) by visitors from a planet elsewhere in the reaches of outer space, we would have to ask, why was this?

Again, there are many different takes on this, some arrived at by a study of ancient writings, others through apparent cosmic messages and memories of a life before their own. One of the most interesting employs the former method to arrive at what would become a set of books entitles The Earth Chronicles by Zecharia Sitchin.

Before we move on to examine Sitchin’s work in more detail, he, much like Von Daniken, was shunned by those in the mainstream. His ideas, however, would attract the attention of freethinkers and those who operate on the fringes of the mainstream.

With this last point in mind, we should perhaps also remember other freethinkers such as Immanuel Velikovsky – who would face similar attacks from the myopic and protective mainstream for his 1950 book Worlds In Collision. We should further remember that as the years went on, long after the scientist’s death, a great many of his theories were proven accurate and correct. He was, in fact, years ahead of his apparently “better-informed” contemporaries.

In short, the mainstream, whether it be science or history, the arts, or anything else, is rarely a display of expertise but rather a small skimming of the blinkered surface of safe and accepted thought. The real breakthroughs come from the outer edges where freedom of thought and truth of findings takes precedence over toeing the line and the procurement of funds.

A History Much Different To What We (Think) We Know!

Perhaps what is most bizarre – at least to some – about Sitchin’s apparent translation of the cuneiform on the Sumerian clay tablets discovered in the 1920s in what is now modern-day Iraq, and was thousands of years ago, the heart of the Sumerian empire, is that the accounts apparently speak of happenings that took place on Earth almost half a million years ago. This, of course, would certainly go against the accepted timeline of civilization from mainstream historians.

Sitchin would claim that a race of aliens called the Anunnaki came to Earth, from a “roving” planet named Nibiru, with an orbit that brings it into our solar system every 3,600 years. Furthermore, he would suggest that Nibiru gave a “winged” appearance to anyone that saw it. This, according to his translations was due to a cloud of oxide dust which would disperse from either side of the planet’s apparent equator and giving the illusion of wings.

Sitchin would also liken many apparent disasters from antiquity, in a similar way to the aforementioned Velikovsky, with the cosmic interference of such a close passing of this huge behemoth of a planet. According to Sitchin’s research, the last close passing of Nibiru was 556 BC, with the next due around the year 2900.

Of course, not everyone, in fact, very few people agree with Sitchin’s claims, at least not in their entirety. We should also note that many of the “fringe upon fringe” groups that would claim to be “contactees” or “messengers” of the Anunnaki, each proclaiming one imminent arrival or another, were not recognized as credible by Sitchin. In fact, he would go out of his way right up until his death in 2010 to distance himself from such claims.

Nibiru And The Many Claims Of An Imminent Appearance

There have been many of them, however. Perhaps the most disturbing of these were those made by Nancy Lieder in 2003. Lieder had made several previous announcements via the Internet and radio interviews of the immediate arrival of Nibiru since the late-1990s. However, her announcements from her interview of 27th May 2003 on a Los Angeles radio station perhaps finished off whatever – if any – credibility she may have had.

She would tell people that the “powers that be” were ready to implement “martial law” around the world. It is perhaps worth remembering here that the 9/11 attacks were still just over 18 months old and the United States and “allied” forces were fully engaged across the Middle East in the “War on Terror”. As bizarre as they sound, such claims of the “end of the world” would truly resonate with some at the time.

Lieder would even go as far as to tell people to “euthanize their pets” as the approach of the planet would spark a “massive pole shift”.

The date she gave would ultimately pass without incident. Her response was that was merely attempting to “fool the establishment”. Whether Lieder believed in her predictions is not known. Regardless, though, there are many people who do believe that this elusive tenth planet remains out there. And what’s more that it is due to arrive in view any day.

For their part, NASA maintains that a planet unknown to us in the far reaches of our solar system is not at all beyond the realm of possibilities. Indeed, several recent stories in the mainstream news have stated the possibility of such a planet.

However, they state that a planet the size described by Sitchin would simply not be able to hide its presence due to its sheer mass.

A Scientific Mission That Spawned The Human Race?

According to Sitchin’s translations, around 450,000 years ago, the hunt for gold brought the Anunnaki to Earth in the first place. Although this was not in the way that we might perceive gold today in the modern world. According to Sitchin, the Anunnaki’s use for gold was much more technical as opposed to a status symbol. We should perhaps consider that today gold is used in electronics and is a great conductor. In terms of space travel, it is an almost ideal material to possess and work with. Perhaps not surprising, then, that a spacefaring race would seek out such a substance.

The missions to Earth would land in what is now modern-day South Africa. Indeed, many Zulu tribes whose creation stories stretch back to deep antiquity speak of “visitors from the stars”. And what’s more, they came to Earth to “mine for resources”.

This apparent mining mission was led by two brothers. A scientist, Enki, and a military leader who had ultimate rule, Enlil.

As time went by, however, the drain of extracting the gold from the “belly of the land” was a constant grind on the Anunnaki. So much so that they would eventually revolt. They would demand that Enki create a “worker race” to take over the mining missions.

After several failed attempts, Enki would create such a worker – Adapa, perhaps the basis for the “Adam” in the Biblical stories. Again, these encounters are mirrored in the Zulu legends of the region. They claim that the “first people” were a slave race created by the Anunnaki.

The Origins Of “The Flood” Myths!

Over the thousands of years that would follow – such was the Anunnaki’s lifespan – Enlil would “grow tired” of humans. So much so, that he planned to let them all perish in an upcoming flood. During this event, the Anunnaki would take to their space crafts and await the disaster to pass in orbit around the planet. At least according to Sitchin’s translations.

Enki, however, was not tired of humans – especially to the first “Adapa” who he had taken to educating with wisdom and knowledge. It was because of this that he instructed him to construct a “vessel” that would allow him and his family to wait out the flood and then begin life again.

This is essentially the story of Noah and the Arc from The Bible. An exact replica of the essence of this tale is also told in The Book of Enoch. In fact, it can be found in creation myths and legends from countless civilizations and societies around the world. Might it be, then, that the origins stretch back to this event?

And, perhaps even more bizarrely, might this event’s own origins be of an extraterrestrial nature?

The short documentary below looks at Sitchin’s theories in a little more detail.

Civilizations Far Advanced Of What The History Books Say?

Just to demonstrate how advanced Ancient Sumer was – part of southern Mesopotamia, now modern-day Iraq – it is often referred to as the first civilization on Earth. They were essentially practicing many aspects of modern life – such things as, law, courts, education, medicine, science, agriculture, harvesting and purchasing of goods, marriage to name just a few, 6000 years ago.

As you might expect much of the artifacts and ancient texts that told us of their existence were held in the Baghdad Museum – until the early 2000s that is.

In the wake of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the museum in Baghdad where much of these ancient relics and clay tablets were stored was plundered and robbed of nearly all of its content. While some of the relics were undoubtedly taken by looters who would scavenge anything they could get their hands on, much of it seemed to have been whisked away by an organized “military” presence. The curators of the museum were responsible for some of these which were essentially salvage operations.

Other relics, however, have since completely vanished – in particular, clay tablets that held information dating back thousands and thousands of years. Some conspiracy theorists will tell you that this information has disappeared purposely and for a reason. Is it possible that these missing artifacts may have contained information regarding the origins of human beings on Earth?

Many people have also noted how a lot of the old Mesopotamian relics and deities are almost identical to other ancient civilizations, despite having had no known contact with each other. Would this suggest that most, if not all creation stories and indeed the births of most religions trace back to one source, the Anunnaki?

Connections To Reptilians And Other Ancient Legends

While we will certainly not go into detail here about the Reptilian conspiracy, it would be irresponsible to not mention it at least in passing as it forms one of several “branch-off” theories of the Ancient Astronaut theory.

For example, the Adam and Eve stories and the Serpent (reptilian) is a tale that could, and has had, many different interpretations. Was this, for example, and in terms of the Ancient Astronaut theory, a twisted telling of the creation of the worker race by Enki?

Might the Garden of Eden have been some kind of scientific biosphere or biodome where the first tests of human beings were carried out? Was the serpent representative of the “secret knowledge” given to humans against the wishes of Enlil?

Incidentally, and as a way of how the same stories are seemingly told again and again across many different legends, should we look at the Greek legends of Prometheus giving the gift of fire (knowledge) to humans as telling the same story?

The fact is, this, and many other stories and legends from antiquity would appear to be telling the same story in different ways. In fact, it isn’t a suggestion, it is something that leaps out at even the most novice of researchers.

In short, it would appear that for the rich tapestry of accounts that makes up the human existence on our planet, they all appear to stretch back to one ultimate source. Of course, what lies behind that source is a question in itself.

The Same Characters In The Same Stories With Different Names!

Furthermore, and perhaps most interesting, are the Biblical verses that speak of the Watchers. First of all, if we assume the Watchers were the Anunnaki, who were to watch over humans as they mined for gold. However, according to the verses in the Book of Genesis, it states:

When human beings began to increase in number on the Earth, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose!

We have spoken of this scenario at length before. With one of the Watchers (Shemyaza) seemingly having an uncanny resemblance to the eventual legends of The Devil or Satan, describing his particular skills revolving around “magic and medicine”.

Is this another scenario of ancient visitations twisting into the legends from ancient times that still affect many of us still today? Legends of “temptation” by creatures from “another realm or world”?

And, as we asked in our Reptilians case study:

Can we accept that Shamyaza, Enki, and Satan are one and the same person?

It would certainly appear that many of the ancient legends originate from the same single source. Where might that source have come from? And what will it ultimately say about the history and timeline of humanity?

Incidentally, this course of action by the Watchers would lead to a civil war between those “below” and those in “the heavens”. As we have asked previously, might such concepts as “Hell” (below) and “The Heavens” (a spacecraft in space) have their roots in a conflict between an extraterrestrial race who would crossbreed with (to them) an alien race who they had helped create?

Clues Around The Missing Link Of Evolution?

Whatever the truth of the Anunnaki, whether they are indeed real, or whether they are shape-shifting reptilian entities or something more similar to how we look today, might such notions as the Ancient Astronaut theory begin to explain the parts of evolution that have so far eluded us, perhaps especially the “missing link”.

For example, in terms of human beings, they essentially appeared out of nowhere with dramatically increased brains power. Almost as if they were a product of intelligent design. As has been asked before, the only way to begin to account for such a “leap” is to bring “God” into the equation, which generally speaking goes against most scientific thinking. Unless that is, we ask who “God”, or more to the point “the gods”, (let us make man in OUR image) might have actually been.

Might this also explain why seemingly no other living entity on the planet has experienced such a sudden and seemingly random rate of development? As well as explaining why humans, rightly or wrongly, are so dramatically different to most living things on the planet – not so much genetically, but in brain function and our ability to collect, organize, and quite literally “build” the world in which we live.

As silly as it might sound to some, the fact is, we do not see dogs or horses or dolphins or anything else building huge structures, organizing societies, not to mention the advancements that swept humanity in the second half of the twentieth century. We would think, at least one other living entity would have developed similar skills to ourselves. However, the fact is, not one has even come close. Why is this? What makes humans so special?

Again, creationism aside, only a technologically advanced intervention in the distant past can begin to explain.

Biblical And Historical Accounts – Most Likely Fact Not Fiction?

Whether it is Biblical accounts such as the aforementioned Adam and Eve story or The Flood, or the ancient writings of such civilizations as the Sumerians, Egyptians, or the Mayans, apparent accounts of interaction with flesh and blood entities from another realm are rife. Why is this?

Surely not all such writings, and indeed writers, would have allowed themselves such indulgence as to force the reader to interpret every written account. Remember, many of these writings are not legends, fables, or poems, open to interpretation and conveying a very definite if guarded message.

These are, for the most part, seemingly factual accounts, often interspersed with everyday record-keeping accounts and receipts of transactions conducted in an age before antiquity. With that in mind, then, why would such tales of fiction be mixed in with such matter-of-fact records?

We should also bear in mind that writing of these accounts, was a laborious task. Not to mention an expensive one should a mistake be made and the clay tablets so ruined. It is hard to imagine, then, that each word committed to such tablets would not be meaningful, factual, and true. It would appear that it would make more sense to suggest that the accounts are most likely factual and perhaps should be taken much more at face value.

Further still, how can we explain why these civilizations, separated by miles, oceans, and indeed time itself, speak of almost identical beginnings, with almost identical legends?

The fact that these legends and myths likely stretch back an untold amount of time into the void that is pre-history where they existed in oral form only explains how open to corruption, intentionally or not, they must have been over the eons of time before they were written down.

The Stories Of The Megalithic Sites

Of course, whether it’s Eric Von Daniken, Zecharia Sitchin, or any number of researchers and authors who have delved into or skirted around the subject of the Ancient Astronaut theory, what many believe to be undeniable clues of some otherworldly intervention on our planet are the many precise and accurately aligned megalithic monuments and site complexes found right across the globe.

We have, for example, explored many of the spaceport-type ruins of the Mayan world, complete with their creation legends that could very well describe such alien intervention. Similarly, many of the legends of the Native American tribes of the North American continent speak of teachers who came “from above” and started their civilizations.

We have also explored on several occasions such connections in the legends of Ancient Egypt, whose own rituals, bizarrely enough, appear to come up in the many secretive activities of the so-called, Illuminati, themselves with connections to apparent “shapeshifting reptilians”, who may or may not be the Anunnaki of ancient times. The Gods, who spawned the God-Kings whose bloodlines, if you believe the conspiracies, still rule over humanity today.

From the Nazca Lines, to Stonehenge, and the creation myths and legends of the Far East and the mysterious but enchanting history of China – all have connections to an unknown, technologically advanced civilization.

Where might that civilization have come from?

Ancient Aliens? Or Ancient (And Unknown) Civilizations?

As we mentioned earlier, however, what if our ancient aliens were not extraterrestrial at all, but a very terrestrial civilization that called the Earth home long before we did? Perhaps they themselves were even human, although advanced. Perhaps they survived the floods and other disasters that are told in the many creation myths around the world? Might it be possible that these survivors of the world before the deluge, with their technology, intellect, and acquired wisdom, were seen as “gods” to the pockets of survivors most likely strewn around the world and cut off from each other?

As we have examined on several occasions, these same creation legends and myths all speak of the same “white-cloaked” beings with “beards” who came from across the waters or from above and taught mankind the need for social order, family, cultivation and agriculture, and forbid such actions as murder, rape, and cannibalism.

And what’s more, this took place in ancient worlds across the planet. From the beginnings and creation myths of Ancient Egypt, to the Americas, and to the Far East.

These are all things we have examined separately in previous articles. However, in relation to the Ancient Astronaut theory, all such theories are essentially transferable to the “Ancient Civilization” theory. Essentially, there would appear to be a growing amount of evidence that suggests the history of humans, or certainly civilizations, on Earth, go back much further than we might think.

And what’s more, these civilizations might be numerous. Furthermore, thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years may separate such civilizations. After all, there are seemingly advanced items discovered in archeological sites that date back, in some cases, millions of years.

Perhaps our understanding of history, or lack thereof, will be important to our collective futures.

A Potentially Lethal Overlooked Warning From History?

Perhaps we should spend some time looking at the stories of The Flood or the alleged destruction of such places as Sodom and Gomorrah. Although not so much whether they happened, when, and in what form, but the reasons for bringing such destruction. Or, as the texts state, for allowing such destruction to take place without warning humanity of its arrival.

This is an interesting notion, both in light of (relatively) recent research on such subjects as the precession of the Earth and cosmic cycles, as well as some of the fringe groups who use very real environmental issues to make their own twisted cases for anything from extreme depopulation policies to a complete “reset” of the planet.

We touched on this recently in our examination of the “Zombie Apocalypse” scenario. It is a perfectly reasonable stretch of the imagination to think that one “crazed” individual – however much they might believe in their heart to be doing the “right thing” – could spell the end of all humanity. After all, we should remember that history is full of people who have performed truly horrendous actions safe that they were doing the “right thing”.

What if these types of situations were also prevalent in ancient times? Might these warnings be wrapped up in legends of “gods” who brought “vengeance and wrath” upon all life on the planet? And what about those who value animal life over fellow humans?

While we are told that humanity had become “depraved”, hypothetically speaking, which one person, or even group of people, has the right or even the credentials to make such a widespread blanketing and ultimately lethal generalization? Perhaps we should look at such seemingly “crazy but harmless” groups who spout such rhetoric today in a serious and threatening light?

The Importance Of Understanding The “Fingerprints” Left Across The Ages!

So, what should we make of the Ancient Astronaut Theory? It is hard, although not impossible, to see how absolute proof will ever be obtained. Barring, that is, a discovery of the likes of the Hall of Records. However, at the same time, it is equally difficult to see how anyone could completely dispel such a notion entirely.

Perhaps author, Graham Hancock sums it up best. When he states that the “fingerprints” of an unknown and advanced civilization are seemingly all over the ancient world right around the planet. Whether these fingerprints have a decidedly human look to them or an extraterrestrial one is perhaps open to debate. That the fingerprints are there, however, surely isn’t.

Many researchers continue to point out the inconsistencies with our history. As well as how those inconsistencies impact on our understanding of the modern world in which we all live today. Only serious and openminded study of the deep past, utilizing the many “off-limits” ancient writings and manuscripts, as well as thorough studies of such ancient sites as the Sphinx and Pyramid complex at Giza, will begin to bring us within reach of the intelligence behind those fingerprints.

That intelligence, and the messages those fingerprints were molding in an effort to reach out to us across unknown ages through the several astronomically precise megalithic structures around the planet, may prove to be of utmost importance. Perhaps even leaving us capable of “breaking the cycle” that would appear to have played repeatedly since before antiquity. Leaving gaping holes in our collective understanding in its wake.

Are we closer to such an understanding than previous civilizations might have been? Or might we be in exactly the same precarious place? A chilling, but necessary thought.

The video below looks at the Ancient Astronaut Theory in detail.