Needless to say, the reason this proposal isn't taken seriously by a majority of scientists, even the many quite open to the idea of alien life existing; is the lack of any evidence. (For additional analysis of this and other reasons why this is implausible, see our page on Occam's Razor.) Because of this it is very firmly in the realm of psuedoscience with people pushing it either ignorant of reality or seeking monetary or fame through it. All of the commonly cited claims are contradicted by multiple findings in multiple fields of study.
- Claim: "Ancient people didn't have the knowledge or technology to create works such as the Egyptian Pyramids." Explanation why this isn't true Ancient people weren't stupid and were no less intelligent than modern people. Even grand works of engineering are surprisingly simple mechanically with a basic knowledge of leverage, layout design, and a lot of time or labor. All great works of engineering such as the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge were preceeded by simpler works along the same design, giving a clear line of progression. All of said works also show quarries, toolmarks, and engineering clues showing they were made with the tools avalible at the time. Anyone claiming otherwise is either ignorant of this, or exhibiting falsehoods to make lots of money through talks and promotions.
- Claim: "Ancient technologies too advanced for their time have been found." Explanation why this isn't true All recovered artifacts found in archaeological digs have been shown to be feasible to construct with the tools and knowledge available at the time. An entire field called Experimental Archaeology exists specifically to recreate tools and wares from ancient times, with techniques or knowledge that existed back then. Claims of technology seemingly "lightyears" ahead of what is expected are all either explainable this way, or turned out to be forgeries exhibited for lots of money.
- Claim: "Writings talk about 'gods' coming down from the sky that could be ancient explorers or engineers." Explanation why this isn't true In the modern age people talk about a flying man who rescues people from harm, friendly monsters that accompany children on adventures, a giant radioactive dinosaur, and a crew of a ship that can travel through space; despite none of those being real. People have been creating complete fiction or exaggerating reality into fiction since the capability of telling stories has existed. While real events are often documented in history texts, telling which was actual witnessed history, what was complete fiction, and what might, at best, be a heavily distorted retelling of historic events long after the fact is effectively impossible. Stories are thusly not considered scientific documentation as they cannot be fully relied on without supporting evidence. Besides, the sky and the celestial bodies have always fascinated humanity, even more so when lack of pollution showed the stars in all their glory and lack of electricity means that the dark of the night is almost absolute; so it is not strange at all that the sky would be included in all the "grander than life" fantasies.
- Claim: "This ancient drawing shows something that can only be astronauts, a spaceship or both."Explanation why this isn't true Besides the possibility that the ancient folks were just being imaginative, as said, those claims always jump straight to the "it has to be aliens!" conclusion and ignores other simpler explanations. Those things in the sky may be alien ships, or just birds. People with strange helmets may be astronauts... or just people with helmets.
