Immanuel Velikovsky's name is, for many, synonymous with paleobabble. I can think of a few other candidates I'd move ahead of him for such an honor, but Velikovsky indeed belongs to the "modern classical period" of wacky stuff related to study of the ancient world....
pseudoscience
Ancient Astro-Nuttiness, Al-Maqrizi, and Giorgio Tsoukalos’ Pseudo-Research
Jason Colavito has called Giorgio Tsoukalos' bluff -- precisely what needs to be done to all ancient astronaut BSers. The research they produce is impressive only to non-specialists and those who never check their work. It's pure paleobabble. Here's the introductory...
Aryan Mythology as Science and Ideology
I recently came across this interesting scholarly article on how Aryan Paleobabble was used by the Nazis. It's a good academic introduction tracing their rationale and (mis)use of archaeology, linguistics, and social science data.
Akhenaten’s Mummy Identified via DNA Testing?
I just wanted to post an update on what has emerged as a controversy regarding the identification of Akhenaten's mummy (or not). The Egyptology News blog has been keeping up with the discussion pretty closely. Yesterday a post appeared in favor of confirmation that...
The 2012 Phenomenon: New Age Appropriation of an Ancient Mayan Calendar
Such is the title of this sixteen page academic essay from Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions. It is very worthwhile reading. The author discusses, among others, John Major Jenkins' ideas about 2012. Here's the abstract: ABSTRACT:...
Fantasy Channel Special on Ancient Astronauts
Well, I guess some of you may have caught last night's Fantasy Channel (what I used to refer to as the History Channel) special promoting the ancient astronaut idea. I didn't watch it since there's nothing new here except better special effects and CGI to help shovel...
Elongated Skull, Red-Haired Mummy Myth
Are there very old skeletons that have red hair? Sure. That isn't the myth. The myth is that a skeleton or mummy with red hair means that said specimen is evidence of nephilim or visitation of Old World giants in the New World. (I've asked before for the verse that...
Scientists (Again) Saying Junk DNA Isn’t Junk
One of the claims of ancient astronaut theorists is that the "non-coding" DNA in the human genome is alien -- allegedly proving the intervention of extraterrestrials in human evolution in the ancient past. It's a wonderful non sequitur: "Some of this DNA doesn't...
Ancient Astrology as a Common Root for Science and Pseudo-Science
That's the title of this essay from the Electronic Journal of Folklore. The essay is from vol. 15 (published in 2000). It's also available in PDF. It's a good overview of ancient astronomy / astrology and gets into familiar concepts and themes that will be familiar to...
Are UFOlogists Scientists?
That's the question Antonio Paris asked on the Aerial Phenomenon blog. Have a look - a nice graphic illustrating the difference between science and pseudoscience. Editor's note: added the image:
The Geo-Centric Universe: Yep, There are Still People Who Believe It
The Exposing Pseudoastronomy podcast devoted a recent episode to this long held myth. It's a classic mis-reading of the Bible, which never actually makes the claim, though church authorities of all stripes assumed it (assisted by "creatively" reading into the text)...
Poof! The Magic Creationist Dragon Disappears
Readers know I have no axe to grind against the idea of a creator. I know too many scientists with PhDs teaching at research universities to think that the idea of a creator is impossible for a modern scientist to embrace. And I've read enough good evolutionary theory...
Doodling and Chicken Scratch of the Gods
It's been a while since I posted anything about the Nazca lines. Fortunately, some thoughtful material has appeared this year online that I thought worth sharing (translation: the analyses at the links below didn't come from the History Channel's Ancient Aliens...
Those “Incredible” Inca Walls: A Matter of (Photographic) Perspective
Jason Colavito recently posted a picture worth a thousand of von Daniken's words over at his blog. A good illustration of some photographic sleight of hand that draws in the gullible when it comes to ancient astronauts. Check it out at "Are Inca Walls Too Big for...
Soviet Gullibility and Ancient Astronaut Research
Another succinct and interesting post by Jason Colavito on that nemesis of clear thinking, the ancient astronaut theory. It's about Soviet interest in the theory. Some Russians are just as gullible as those in the good old USA.