The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters

by Story, Ronald

  The fact that the Nazca configurations are seen only from the air is consistent with the ancient desire that the gods in the sky notice the peoples below. And what would make the people more noticeable to them (at a time without electric lights or radio signals) than giant pictorial representations of certain forms of life indigenous to their own particular region of the Earth? Even von Däniken admits that the ancients already worshipped the Sun and the Moon before “the gods [came] down from heaven.”

  Whether these mysterious markings represent constellations, ceremonial pathways, an astronomical calendar, or something quite different, we do not know. But one thing is fairly certain, and that is the absurdity of the ancient-airfield theory.

  In both The Space-Gods Revealed (1976) and Guardians of the Universe? (1980), I gave reasons why the lines were probably not ancient landing strips, namely that: (1) there simply would be no need for a runway, several miles long, to accommodate a space vehicle that should be capable of a vertical landing, and (2) the soft, sandy soil would not be a suitable surface for any kind of heavy vehicle to land on.

  Another version of the spaceport theory maintains that the exhaust from hovering spacecraft was responsible for blowing away the sand and thus creating the lines. Again, a nice try, but this idea would seem to prove just the opposite of what its proponents intend. It is not the lightweight soil that was removed to create the lines, but rather the heavier rocks, that are actually stacked in linear piles all along the borders of the lines and figures.

  What then, could have been the purpose of such an enormous array of lines, shapes, and animal figures created more than a thousand years ago?

  When Professor Paul Kosok of Long Island University first studied the lines, his most significant finding came not from his aerial surveys, but while he was standing on the ground gazing down one of the lines towards the setting sun on June 22, 1941. This happened to be the day of the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere; and the apparent alignment gave Kosok a startling idea: perhaps the lines represented “the largest astronomy book in the world.” He later confirmed more than a dozen such alignments, some for the solstices and others for the equinoxes, indicating that the Nazca “‘landing field” very likely comprised a gigantic astronomical calendar and observatory. It has been found also that several of the large animal drawings have solstice lines associated with them. After all, how would the Nazcans be able to recognize which lines were which, if they had not devised some reference system by which to find them later?

  Von Däniken and some others have rejected the Nazca calendar theory because, they say, not all of the lines have been shown to be astronomically oriented. We must realize, however, that this does not negate the fact of the many solstice lines that have been discovered. These also “happen” to be special lines marked prominently by certain bird, spider, and other animal figures.

  The fact that most of the lines on the Nazca plain radiate from central mounds also appears significant, and fits logically the theory that they were used as sight lines. Considering all the evidence, it seems likely that the Nazca markings were of astrological and astronomical significance.

  —RONALD D. STORY

  References

  Hawkins, Gerald S. Beyond Stonehenge (Harper & Row, 1973).

  Kosok, Paul. Life, Land and Water in Ancient Peru (Long Island University Press, 1965).

  Kosok, Paul, and Maria Reiche. “The Mysterious Markings of Nazca,” Natural History (May 1947).

  ———. “Ancient Drawings on the Desert of Peru,” Archaeology (December 1949).

  McIntyre, Loren. “Mystery of the Ancient Nazca Lines,” National Geographic (May 1975).

  Morrison, Tony. Pathways to the Gods (Harper & Row, 1978).

  Reiche, Maria. Mystery on the Desert (Privately published, 1968).

  Story, Ronald. The Space-Gods Revealed (Harper & Row, 1976; New English Library, 1977).

  ———. Guardians of the Universe? (New English Library/St. Martin’s Press, 1980).

  Von Däniken, Erich. Chariots of the Gods? (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1970).

  ———. Chariots of the Gods? (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1970).

  ———. Gods from Outer Space (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1971).

  Williamson, George Hunt. Road in the Sky (Neville Spearman, 1959).

  NDE (near-death-experience) This term is used to indicate an experience of conscious separation from the physical body under circumstances approaching the death and dying process. It is often associated with spiritual and transcendent visions, insights, and meetings with benevolent ET beings.

  —SCOTT MANDELKER

  NICAP See NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE ON AERIAL PHENOMENA.

  Nickell, Joe (b. 1944). Dr. Nickell is a Senior Research Fellow of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). A full-time paranormal investigator, he has been called “the real-life Scully” (after the skeptical character in The X-Files). He worked professionally as a stage magician, private investigator, and journalist before returning to the University of Kentucky (1980–1995) to teach technical writing and to obtain a Ph.D. in English.

  Joe Nickell

  His articles have appeared in numerous magazines and journals, including International UFO Reporter—and he has authored (or coauthored or edited) sixteen books, including Entities (1995) and The UFO Invasion (1997). He has also appeared on numerous radio and television shows.

  His contributions to UFOlogy including research relating to crop circles, the Nazca lines, the cultural evolution of the familiar humanoid-type extraterrestrial, and the experiences of alien abductees (seen primarily as “waking dreams” and hypnotic fantasies).

  Address:

  c/o CSICOP

  P.O. Box 703

  Amherst, NY 14226

  U.S.A.

  POSITION STATEMENT: Since the modern wave of UFO reports began in 1947, an elaborate extraterrestrial mythos has developed. Like other mythologies, it features supernormal beings interacting with humans and has implications to man’s origins and place in the universe. Thus far a great quantity of evidence has accumulated relating to alien visitation, but it is unfortunately of very poor quality, consisting of dubious physical evidence and anecdotal reports that, when investigated, typically prove to be due to misperceptions and hoaxes.

  Nevertheless, there remains a residue of unexplained cases which proponents and skeptics interpret quite differently. Proponents treat the residual cases as if—simply by being unsolved—they infer a paranormal cause. But that is, at best, a logical fallacy called “arguing from ignorance” and, at worst, mystery mongering. Skeptics may sometimes be too dismissive, but they correctly observe that incidents may be unexplained for various reasons, including insufficient, erroneous, or even falsified evidence—the same reasons that many crimes remain unsolved.

  The appropriate response to reports of alien encounters is neither uncritical acceptance nor a priori dismissal. Rather, substantive cases should be carefully investigated in an attempt to solve them.

  —JOE NICKELL

  No Earthly Explanation (Phillips Publishing, 1974). John Wallace Spencer proposes that UFO bases in the Earth’s oceans use the Bermuda Triangle to snatch ships and planes for their experiments. These extraterrestrial colonizers absorb energy from the world’s power lines and then leave a trail of confusing patterns of sightings to deceive human governments about the true nature of their mission.

  No further study or serious attention should be given UFOs by the scientific community, Condon concluded, though his report admitted some UFO reports are difficult to explain by conventional means. In nearly all cases examined, the project staff found the persons who reported UFOs “to be normal, responsible individuals.”

  —RANDALL FITZGERALD

  O

  Oberg, James E. (b. 1944). Jim Oberg is a computer specialist by education (M.S. in computing science, University of New Mexico, 1972), served in the U.S. Air Force from 1970 to 1978, was a
flight controller at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and since 1997 has been a full-time author.

  He is a prolific science writer, having written numerous articles for popular science magazines in America and Europe, particularly Astronomy and Omni. He is also a principal member of the UFO Subcommittee of the Committee on the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. In 1979 he won the worldwide Cutty Sark UFO Essay Contest.

  Address:

  Rt. 2, Box 350

  Dickinson, TX 77539

  E-mail:

  JamesOberg@aol.com

  Web site:

  www.JamesOberg.com

  POSITION STATEMENT: The grossest source of error concerning popular ideas about UFOs remains the sensationalist news media and the pro-UFO groups whose research has been shown time and again to be superficial and biased. UFO believers pin their hopes on the “residue” of “unexplained sightings,” perhaps 2 to 5 percent of the total, insisting that these cases are qualitatively different from those caused by terrestrial or otherwise “normal” stimuli.

  Without more vigorous work, such a thesis cannot be accepted by anyone who considers all the facts. Generally, UFO writing which is not appallingly sloppy is in such an advocative mode that deliberate or unconscious distortions and omissions are commonplace. Until the serious UFO movement refuses to tolerate such low standards, any “real” UFOs which might represent anomalous phenomena or extraterrestrial visitors cannot be rigorously separated out from the overwhelming “noise.” Until that happens, contemporary science is entirely justified in applying its energies elsewhere.

  However, just in case there is something to be learned from the “UFO phenomenon,” I support the work of such UFO research groups as CUFOS; and I shall endeavor to correct any straying which I detect from scientific standards, considering myself a sympathetic critic who really hopes that science can advance because of discoveries made via UFO research. It is not a view based on rational observation of the results of the first thirty years of so-ca1led “UFO research,” but, rather, a judgment similar in nature to that exemplified by the words of Samuel Johnson, quoted by Boswell, in a comment upon a friend’s remarriage: “Ahh, the triumph of hope over experience!”

  —JAMES E. OBERG

  occult connection with UFOs and ET encounters The relationship between occultism and UFO/extraterrestrial encounters may be ambiguous and difficult to decipher—but is certain, nonetheless. Long before the modern age of “flying saucers” began, related—and often identical—phenomena were known to mystical adepts.

  Over the millennia, the secret canons of numerous secret societies have alluded to visitors from “elsewhere.” More often than not, the preponderance of “extraterresrialism” in arcane studies tends to present itself on psychic, spiritual, and/or mediumistic levels. Two exquisite examples are Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) and Hélène Smith (1861-1930). The former asserted that he was not only conceptually and telepathically in touch with God and the angels, but with creatures of other planets as well. The latter was in contact with entities from Mars, whom she described as “…people exactly like the inhabitants of our earth, save that both sexes wore the same costume….” (Flournoy, 1899) She related her psychic transmigrations to the red sphere in diaries composed in fluent “Martian,” which no one, other than herself, could decode.

  The last great magi Aleister Crowley is said to have had in his employ, at one time, a scientist who had contact with Kenneth Arnold. So far this writer has been unable to authenticate this contention, although like names are to be found in both contexts.

  Certain New Age sects have claimed spiritual liaison with “poly-planet” masters of infinite knowledge and wisdom, but often seem to reflect misconceptions of South Asian mysticism more than anything else; though similarities can still be seen with such saucerological mentors as Van Tassel’s “Council of the Seven Lights” and Angelucci’s spiritual “Overlords.”

  Psychic reciprocity is frequent in much of saucerdom and UFOlogy; and almost all of alienology is permeated with telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, and precognition with some telekinesis thrown in. Apportation, teleportation, astral projection, and prophecy often enter the picture as well, completing the connection with occultism.

  Gloria Lee (Byrd), one of the better known minor contactees, found her way into that odd realm only by virtue of her solely telepathic rapport with Jupertarians (Jovians).

  The connection between these two worlds is one of the most uninvestigated dimensions of UFOlogy, but possibly could be among the most fruitful. Unfortunately, even a cursory examination of this strange interplay requires a solid foundation in both saucer lore and the outré—a rare combination in scholars of the improbable.

  —PARIS FLAMMONDE

  References

  Flournoy, Théodore. From India to the Planet Mars (Princeton University Press, 1994). Originally published in 1899.

  Spence, Lewis. Encyclopedia of Occultism (University Books, 1960). Originally published in 1920.

  Omega Project, The (William Morrow, 1992). Psychology professor Kenneth Ring spent ten years studying near-death experiences and then read Communion by Whitley Strieber, which convinced him that numerous similarities exist between near-death and UFO encounters. In a survey of several hundred people reporting UFO and near-death episodes, Ring found no evidence such people had fantasy-prone personalities, yet he did find a pattern of them reporting much higher than normal incidences of childhood abuse, trauma, and serious illnesses.

  —RANDALL FITZGERALD

  One Hundred Thousand Years of Man’s Unknown History (Editions Robert Laffont, 1963). Robert Charroux proposes that secret societies, such as the Freemasons, preserve evidence that Atlantis was an extraterrestrial colony. Using Incan and other traditions, this Frenchman tries to make a case that beings from Venus colonized Central America and mated with the humans found there.

  —RANDALL FITZGERALD

  Operation Mainbrace sightings A particularly interesting series of UFO reports came from the vicinity of the “Operation Mainbrace” NATO maneuvers held in September 1952. The maneuvers commenced September 13 and lasted twelve days. According to the U. S. Navy, units of eight NATO governments and New Zealand participated, including 80,000 men, 1000 planes, and 200 ships in the vicinity of Denmark and Norway. Directed by British Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, it was the largest NATO maneuver held up until that time.

  September 13—The Danish destroyer Willemoes. participating in the maneuvers, was north of Bornholm Island. During the night, Lieutenant Commander Schmidt Jensen and several members of the crew saw an unidentified object, triangular in shape, which moved at high speed toward the southeast. The object emitted a bluish glow. Commander Jensen estimated the speed at over 900 mph.

  Within the next week, there were four important sightings by well-qualified observers. (Various sources differ by a day or two on the exact dates, but agree on details. There is no question about the authenticity of the sightings; the British cases were officially reported by the Air Ministry, the others are confirmed by reliable sources. All occurred on or about September 20).

  September 19—A British Meteor jet aircraft was returning to the airfield at Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England just before 11 A.M. As it approached for landing, a silvery object was observed following it, swaying back and forth like a pendulum. Lieutenant John W. Kilburn and other observers on the ground said that when the Meteor began circling, the UFO stopped. It was disk-shaped, and rotated on its axis while hovering. The disk suddenly took off westward at high speed, changed course, and disappeared to the southeast.

  About September 20—Personnel of the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier participating in the Mainbrace maneuvers, observed a silvery, spherical object which was also photographed. (The pictures have never been made public). The UFO was seen moving across the sky behind the fleet. Reporter Wal1ace Litwin took a series of color photographs, which were examined by Navy Intelligence officers. The Air F
orce project chief, Captain Ruppelt stated: “[The pictures] turned out to be excellent. judging by the size of the object in each successive photo, one could see that it was moving rapidly.” The possibility that a balloon had been launched from one of the ships was immediately checked out. No unit had launched a balloon. A poor print of one of the photographs appears in the Project Blue Book files, but with no analysis report.

  September 20—At Karup Field, Denmark, three Danish Air Force officers sighted a UFO about 7:30 P.M. The object, a shiny disk with metallic appearance, passed overhead from the direction of the fleet and disappeared in clouds to the east.

  September 21—Six British pilots flying a formation of RAF jets above the North Sea observed a shiny sphere approaching from the direction of the fleet. The UFO eluded their pursuit and disappeared. When returning to base, one of the pilots looked back and saw the UFO following him, He turned to chase it, but the UFO also turned and sped away.

  September 27/28—Throughout Western Germany, Denmark, and southern Sweden, there were widespread UFO reports. A brightly luminous object with a cometlike tail was visible for a long period of time moving irregularly near Hamburg and Kiel. On one occasion, three satellite objects were reported moving around a larger object. A cigar-shaped object moving silently eastward also was reported.

  Since existing documentation shows that U. S. Navy and Air Force Intelligence, and the RAF, were studying these incidents, it is a safe assumption that more information exists in the files of NATO, the British Air Ministry, the U. S. Navy, and the U. S. Air Force. The sightings remain unexplained.