Free Republic

People who believe in extraterrestrial life are sometimes referred to in a mocking manner. In the ‘X-Files’ TV-series Fox Mulder is often referred to as ‘Spooky,’ but according to a recent article, maybe he should be called ‘racist’– if Mulder believes that aliens built the pyramids in Africa. The Quartz Media article, “Outlandish theories that aliens built the pyramids are rooted in racism,” by Julien Benoit is critical of those who believe the pyramids or other ancient structures were built by aliens. Some may call this belief simply "odd," but Benoit just out and out labels it racist. From the article:...

The Italian government on Wednesday said police had seized more than 5,000 ancient artefacts in a record 45-million-euro haul after dismantling a Swiss-Italian trafficking ring. Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said it was the country's "largest discovery yet" of looted works and consisted of 5,361 pieces, including vases, jewellery, frescoes and bronze statues, all dating from the 8th century BC to the 3rd century AD. The archaeological treasures came from illegal digs across Italy and "will be returned to where they were found", the minister told reporters. Police said the items were worth around 45 million euros ($52 million) and were...

Researchers have shown that ancient Egyptian iron beads held at the UCL Petrie Museum were hammered from pieces of meteorites rather than iron ore The objects. which trace their origins to outer space also predate the emergence of iron smelting by two millennia. Carefully hammered into thin sheets before being rolled into tubes, the nine beads — which are over 5000 years-old - were originally strung into a necklace together with other exotic minerals such as gold and gemstones. revealing the high value of this exotic material in ancient times The study is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science_...