If You Believe in Ancient Aliens, Please Rethink

Photo by Raquel Moss on Unsplash

In Erik von Daniken’s Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past he espouses the theory that many of the great monuments of the past were obviously beyond the capability of people at the time. He invokes space aliens, because of course he does.

The ancient alien theory predates the 1968 publication of the book, but it was this book which sent it mainstream. It was turned into a documentary. (The theory appears to have first shown in in the 19th century and we probably have Wells to blame to some degree).

Many people unironically believe von Daniken was right.

At Philcon the other weekend I was asked what I thought about the ancient alien theory.

My answer was brief: It’s racist bullshit propagated by people who don’t think brown people could achieve anything.

The Inherent Racism of the Ancient Aliens Theory

The first thing you have to understand is that the theory is never applied to any European site other than Stonehenge, and even then rarely. There are myths about the construction of Stonehenge and the other great circles, usually involving the stones dancing. But people don’t tend to say aliens did it.

Why?