17 March 2010—Researcher Giorgio Tsoukalos discussed his research in the ancient astronaut field. The theory, first popularized by Erich Von Daniken, posits that Earth was visited by extraterrestrials in ancient times.
Civilization was sparked by the ET's "targeted mutation of our genes in the remote past," said Tsoukalos. Many diverse cultures have similar creation myths that involve descriptions of something like a cosmic egg emerging from a faraway place, and then a heavenly ladder descending with beings who come to teach humankind, he noted.
Tsoukalos suggested that ancient peoples didn't understand the ET aspect and misinterpreted their technology as something magical, spiritual, or God-like. Along those lines, ancient dragons in Chinese folklore and the huge Native American Thunderbirds may have been machines rather than animals, he said. For instance, an ancient Chinese wood carving depicted flying chariots drawn by dragons who bellowed out noise, and had iron feet.
Return top
