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58 Pseudoarchaeology and Ancient Aliens

Pseudoarchaeology and

the Racism Behind

Ancient Aliens

Continued from Page 57

If we look to von Däniken’s work, there
can be little doubt that his racial beliefs
influenced his extraterrestrial theories. After a
short stint in jail for fraud and either writing or
appropriating the material for a number of other
books that developed his ancient astronauts
theory, von Däniken published Signs of the
Gods? in 1979. It is here that many of his racial
views are most boldly stated. British
archaeology officer Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews
points out on his Bad Archaeology blog just a
few of the many racist questions and statements
posed by the author: “Was the black race a Colonization coded as the gift of Most Egyptologists see shows like
failure and did the extraterrestrials change the civilization remains an entrenched defense of Ancient Aliens as a program that capitalizes on
genetic code by gene surgery and then colonialism. the bizarre rather than endeavoring to be out-
programme a white or a yellow race?” He also In recent years, academics have and-out racist. In comments to Hyperallergic,
printed beliefs about the innate talents of certain increasingly called foul on alien theories as Salima Ikram, distinguished university
races: “Nearly all negroes are musical; they cultural erasures outside of Africa as well. A professor and Egyptology unit head at the
have rhythm in their blood.” Von Däniken also year ago, Christopher Heaney, a professor of American University in Cairo, noted that even
consistently uses the term “negroid race” in Latin American history at Pennsylvania State Egyptians viewing the History Channel find the
comparison with “Caucasians.” University, wrote an article addressing the program more fantastical than factual: “I think
What does it mean to deny a non- racism behind notions that Pre-Columbian that often it is more that people want the
Western civilization their accomplishments? As bodies were evidence for extraterrestrial life. extraordinary and the bizarre, and do not want
Everisto Benyera, a lecturer in the Department Others have sought to dispel the racist theories anything too real, as they crave the fantastic —
of Political Sciences at the University of South surrounding Native mound-building cultures. look at the types of films being made and their
Africa, has noted, these “Western denialists” In comments to Hyperallergic, Morag popularity.” For most watching these programs,
prefer to revoke agency and skill from ancient Kersel, an archaeologist at DePaul University, they are indeed about escapism through
Egyptians or the Shona people of the Bantu noted the connection between ancient aliens and conspiracy theories — and internet memes.
civilization, rather than recognize their the idea that an ancient and superior race had For others, the attraction to books and
intellectual ownership of these structures. In a originally built mounds like those at Cahokia in television touting ancient alien conspiracies
chapter addressing “Colonialism, the Theft of southern Illinois. The myth supported racist may be a bit more racially motivated. In
History and the Quest for Justice for Africa,” policies and has done lasting damage. comments to Hyperallergic, Robert Cargill, an
Dr. Benyera remarked: It’s an extension of the 19th-century assistant professor of Religious Studies and
Western denialists would rather attribute the myth of the mound builder. No way could the Classics at the University of Iowa who also
Great Zimbabwe to aliens, who do not exist, North American mounds and artifacts have served as an academic counterbalance on a
than attribute them to the Shona people and the been made by people of the First Nations, it had number of episodes of Ancient Aliens,
Africans who exist and who built them. The to be an “alien” (non-local) race. Rather than discussed the role of the program in supporting
denial of the Shona people of their intellectual set up a white supremacy model, which may racist ideas of ancient capability:
ownership, among others of the Great have not been as popular, von Däniken takes the There is an underlying ethnic bias
Zimbabwe, Khami ruins, is theft of history. “alien” further to “aliens” from outer space. against people of color that many white people
And while many may consider theories Kersel noted that the use of don’t even recognize when the magnificent
of ancient aliens to be an outlandish and pseudoscience revoking the accomplishments achievements of the ancient world are
ultimately harmless belief or meme, Benyera of Native American cultures is a sad part of attributed to aliens instead of to their rightful
points out that there is an extant spectrum of American history. Journalist Alexander Zaitchik creators — the ancestors of modern Egyptians,
western denialism whose occupants seek to pointed out in an article for the Southern Iraqis, Guatemalans, Peruvians, etc. This is not
rescind and reallocate great accomplishments Poverty Law Center that there was widespread to say that belief in ancient alien theory makes
from African civilizations in particular. popularity and belief in the “Lost Race of the one racist. However, attributing the
To Benyera, one example of western Mound Builders” in 19th century America. It achievements of the forerunners of darker-
denialism lies in the writings of the historian was used by Andrew Jackson and others to skinned peoples to aliens because you believe
Niall Ferguson. Benyera notes that Ferguson undermine the intellect and abilities of Native they couldn’t have possibly done it themselves
underscores the colonial gifts of parliamentary peoples as we removed them from their native might be perceived as racists to the people of
democracy and the English language to the lands. color who descend from these ancient
countries that they colonized in his book Today, many of von Däniken’s theories innovators.
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World. can still be found in television shows like As Cargill and many other right-minded
Like von Däniken, Ferguson’s views have been Ancient Aliens on the History Channel. Since academics now make clear, the necessity for
disseminated by television shows. A six-part 2009, the show has featured a mix of mostly scientists, archaeologists, and academics in
series also called Empire: How Britain Made white male conspiracy theorists posing harmful general to talk to the public about the ethnic
the Modern World aired on Channel 4, questions about the legitimacy of human biases of pseudoscience is becoming ever more
ostensibly to hype the book’s release. Arguing involvement in archaeological structures. As of apparent. In 2015, bioarchaeologist Kristina
that aliens brought magnificent structures to recently, they have at least begun to incorporate Killgrove already discussed the need for
many African civilizations erases actual Egyptians such as Ramy Romany. archaeologists to dispel pseudoscientific myths
accomplishments, but so does arguing that Despite his history of racist views, Von Däniken through public outreach. Public-facing
colonizers brought gifts (rather than imposed appears to still be a paid producer on the show scholarship in the humanities and STEM fields
obligations) upon the nations they colonized. Ancient Aliens. can serve as strong rebuttals to pseudoscientific
narratives broadcast on television and online. []