Digging Up Ancient Aliens

Let's dust off our thinking hats and join in exploring two special objects surrounded by strange claims. First, we will spend time with four golden hats from the European Bronze Age. Some claim they functioned as priestly antennas, but how do they fit into the Bronze Age cult. Then we will move on to the Copper Scrolls, one of the maybe more mysterious documents in the Dead Sea Scroll collection....

This time, we will continue our examination of the pyramids of Ancient Egypt, especially the Great Pyramid of Khufu. We will investigate the queen's pyramids, take a trip with Khufu's sun boat, and sit down and read the Red Sea scrolls. Ultimately, we will see that this marvel of human engineering was indeed done by a workforce organized by Khufu. In Digging up Ancient Aliens, our host Fredrik use...

How were the great pyramids of Giza built? This is a question that's been asked for a long time. The answers have been ranging from those based on the best available evidence to the more far-out ideas. Among those there are suggestions that such precision and scale could only be the work of extraterrestrial intervention. But what do the most recent archaeological discoveries and scientific experim...

Giants have long fascinated us humans and seem to be a never-ending resource for archaeological hoaxes. Towards the end of the 19th century, there almost became a trend to create giant hoaxes. In some cases, this was just to amuse; in others, it was to prove the Bible right. In this episode, we will look at three cases. The Lovelock giant. The San Diego giant. And, of course, the most famous of th...

In this episode of Digging Up Ancient Aliens, the host, Fredrik, revisits Gunung Padang, a site in Indonesia that has become known due to a study and a pseudo-documentary on Netflix. We compare Ancient Aliens narratives and Graham Hancock's Atlantis Hyperdiffusion Theory. The then-sitting government initiated the excavation project at Gunung Padang in 2011 as part of a strategy to redefine nationa...

In this episode, we delve deeper into the top ten pyramids of the world according to the TV show "Ancient Aliens." Our focus is on the Egyptian pyramids and the myths surrounding their construction. We will examine the Djoser Step Pyramid, the oldest pyramid on the list, and discuss how it was built as a tomb for the third dynastic ruler, Netjerikhet. We will also discuss the great pyramid builder...

This time, we are going to look at the top 10 pyramids of the world according to Ancient Aliens. I could not tell if the list is based on how significant evidence the pyramids are for extraterrestrial visitation or how cool they are. The episode would also become too long if we did the whole list simultaneously, so this will be a two-parter. You could also view it as a compilation episode of some...

This time, we have a guest, Angela, from the "Ancient History with Angela" channel on TikTok and Instagram, who will discuss a few clips about classical Greece and Rome with us. We will learn that we can all be fooled when several emperors share the same name and that Ancient Alien proponents will use this to their advantage. We will also discuss source criticism, how historians approach a subject...

In this live episode 50, Fredrik takes us on a journey through the history and usage of obelisks in ancient Egypt. He discusses the early history of obelisks, their association with the pharaohs, and their use as grave markers. Fredrik also talks about the sun temples dedicated to the sun god Ra and their resemblance to pyramid complexes. Additionally, he touches on the benben stone and its signif...

This time, I'm not alone! I have Ph. D. candidate Grace Rinehart Macrae, the Time Traveling Archaeologist , with me. We will learn more about the Cathars and one of their influential personalities, Esclarmonde of Foix. A woman who was very important among the Cathars and told to go back to the kitchen by the Dominican orders founder Saint Dominic. Esclarmonde did not to the saint's frustration. Sh...

An archaeologist discussing Rasputin, the famous scapegoats from the Russian Revolution, Nazi symbology, and the stigmatization of mental health in pop culture? Yes, you do want to hear this. First, we will talk about how Ancient Aliens and similar shows add to the stigma of mental health with the claims they make in their show. Then we move on to talk about the Rasputin myth, and while finding ou...

Halloween is soon upon us. Therefore, we will venture into the world of mummies, vampires, Camazotz, and draugr from an archaeological perspective. So we will look at how mummies became a medicine in Europe, the Book of the Dead, and the afterlife of Ancient Egypt. Then we will talk about the bat creature Camazotz, usually depicted with a knife and a human head in his hand. Lastly, we will discuss...

Something that's become more and more common on the web is the use of harassment tactics. Skeptics and archaeologists have not been spared from being on the receiving end of these campaigns, so let's have a serious discussion about this. I will look into the harassment campaign by Graham Hancock and Jimmy Corsetti and previous attacks concerning the Bosnian Pyramids and Gungun Padang . I will exam...

This time, we will explore the fantastic ruins of Puma Punku (or Pumapunku), a temple complex located within Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco or Tiahuanacu). This site lies in modern Bolivia, and its stunning stone masonry has given rise to speculation about alien visitation. Let's investigate the site, what we know, and what has been done in the past. We will see that the alien theories are rather lazy compa...

In this intriguing episode, we seek to uncover the origins of Grey aliens and their creation as a modern myth. We will also explore Hopi society, Peruvian pyramids, and elongated skulls. At last, we will also disprove Brien Foerster's claimed alien DNA results. Segment 1: The Betty and Barney Hill Abduction (2:38) We kick off our exploration by stepping outside archaeology to delve into the famous...

Weapons, something that has been driving our evolution and survival as a species. Ancient Alien theorists suggest alien beings from other worlds gave us weapons, metals, and techniques. But what would an archaeologist say about all of this? In this episode, we will look at the evolution of metallurgy, from the earliest copper age to the invention of steel. What do we know, and how did these techni...

Vikings - many myths surround this era and the people of Scandinavia who lived during this time. Were they raiders, traders, or a bit in-between? Let's look into what a Viking was and what the word meant, and who could call themselves a Viking. As we will learn, it is less clear-cut than one might believe. I will also talk about the Viking horned helmets. Are these accurate depictions? The answer...

The Atlantis story may be one of the myths that have inspired numerous theories and speculations. But what happens if we apply a scientific approach to the story told by Plato in his works Timeaus and Critias? We open up the archaeologist's toolbox and a historical approach to the literary works of Plato. How does Plato's story hold up, and was he really trying to give us a literal account from a...

It's summertime, so why not take a breath and relax? While examining pseudo-scientific claims is important, it's good to remember to take a breath and relax. It is also essential to look at the source material for the claims we investigate. So we will combine these things and have a bit of summer reading. This episode is different since we will spend time reading Plato's work "Critias" from start...

Come along with archaeologist Fredrik as he leads a critical exploration into alternative historical theories and the portrayal of Ancient Aliens in mainstream media on our podcast, Digging Up Ancient Aliens. With his guidance, you'll be able to distinguish fact from fiction and expand your knowledge alongside him. Whether you're a seasoned skeptic, a history enthusiast, or simply intrigued by ext...

Could it be conceivable that the tales of myths, legends, and divine entities are evidence of extraterrestrial interactions with our planet? It is plausible that the ancient Greek writers, historians, and intellectuals could not accurately express what they observed due to a lack of language and understanding. Additionally, is it possible that the La Danza de los Voladores, an ancient Central Amer...

Some people claim that monsters and gods could be evidence for alien visitations and that E.T. could have changed and mixed DNA on creatures that became gods for ancient people. But is there any truth to this? Archaeologist Fredrik is looking into the claims that the Montauk Monster found in 2008 could be evidence of this. Or could the monster be an ordinary creature distorted by postmortem proces...

This time the listener's questions and comments are in the spotlight! I have opened up the giant bag of electronic communications and will take some time to answer some of the questions and comments from you, the listener. The questions ranged from dangers during excavations, melted stones, and Ancient Egyptian Wi-FI. I also have an update on a previous story we covered solving a claim's true orig...

Let's venture into a world of supposed mysteries. Could alien interference be behind the reputation of Aokigahara Forest, or as some have named it, "The Suicide forest," and the tragedy at Dyatlov Pass? In Digging up Ancient Aliens, our host Fredrik uses his background in archaeology to discover what is genuine, fake, and somewhere in between in popular media such as Ancient Aliens. This time we'r...

Most of us are most likely aware of the arguments against the theory of evolution presented by religious extremists. But did you know that Ancient Aliens believers have their version of evolution denialism? In this episode, we will examine their arguments for this fringe idea. More importantly, we will learn more about human evolution from a real expert. We have Josh Lindal, a paleoanthropologist...