1561 Germany, are reports of colors in the sky signs of alien battle? 1668 an American preacher looks through a telescope and notices something on the moon. 1187, as Saladin's forces break through the gates to Jerusalem, a few soldiers smuggle out a precious artefact and hide it on a Canadian island. 

Our host Fredrik continues the mission to discover what is genuine, fake, and somewhere in between on the TV-show Ancient Aliens. This week we are joined again by archaeologist and teacher Erik Palmgren on a sightseeing tour through the close encounters of our past. 

This week we finished up episode 4 from season one titled “Closer Encounters”. In this second half we do uncover old journals, a few theories and some new travel destinations. 

Topics discussed in this episode:

1561 Celestial phenomenon Nuremberg 

Cotton Mathers UFO

Plurality of worlds theory

Thomas Paine

Chaco Canyon

Hopi Linguistics 

Oak Island Mystery

Knights Templars

If you can please think about supporting The Solstice Project. They are doing amazing work and would benefit from your donations. You can find all relevant information on their website.

Sources, resources and further reading suggestions 

Apiarius, S. et al. (1566) Seltzame gestalt so in disem M. D. LXVI. Jar/ gegen auffgang vnd nidergang/ vnder dreyen malen am Himmel ist gesehen worden / zů Basel auff den xxvij. vnd xxviij. Höwmonat vnd volgends auff den vij. Augsten. [Online]. Basel: Getruckt durch Samuel Apiarium.Short, Thomas. (1749) A General Chronological History of the Air, Weather, Seasons, Meteors, &c. in Sundry Places and Different Times: More Particularly for the Space of 250 Years : Together with Some of Their Most Remarkable Effects on Animal (especially Human) Bodies and Vegetable

Glaser, H. & Wick, J. J. (1561) [Himmelserscheinung über Nürnberg vom 14. April 1561]. [Online]. zu Nürmberg: Bey Hanns Glaser Brieffmaler.

Middlehurst, Barbara M. et al. (1968) Chronological Catalog of Reported Lunar Events - Chronological catalog of reported lunar events or temperature changes on moon recorded between 1540 and 1967. NASA, Washington DC. 

Silverman, Kenneth (2001). The life and times of Cotton Mather. New York: Harper & Row

Basalla, George. (2006). Civilized life in the universe: scientists on intelligent extraterrestrials. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Ziesche, Philipp (2010). Cosmopolitan Patriots: Americans in Paris in the Age of Revolution. University of Virginia Press

Hawke, David (1974). Paine. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.

Baldwin R. (1809) The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, from Their Commencement, in 1665, to the Year 1800: Volume 8. C and R Baldwin, London.

Short, Thomas. (1749) A General Chronological History of the Air, Weather, Seasons, Meteors, &c. in Sundry Places and Different Times: More Particularly for the Space of 250 Years : Together with Some of...