Ancient Aliens

Ancient Aliens
Genre	Entertainment
Narrated by	Robert Clotworthy
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	104
Production
Executive producer(s)	Kevin Burns
Camera setup	Multiple
Running time	88 minutes (season 1) 44 minutes (season 2 – present)
Production company(s)	Prometheus Entertainment
Distributor	A&E Television Networks
Release
Original network	History
Original release	March 8, 2009 (Pilot) April 20, 2010 – present
External links
Website
Production website

Ancient Aliens is an American television documentary series that premiered on April 20, 2010 on the History channel.^[1] Produced by Prometheus Entertainment, the program presents hypotheses of ancient astronauts and proposes that historical texts, archaeology, and legends contain evidence of past human-extraterrestrial contact.^[2][3] The show has been criticized for presenting pseudoscience and pseudohistory.

The series' de facto pilot was a TV special of the same name that aired on March 8, 2009, on the History channel. Seasons 1–3 aired on the same channel until 2011. From season 4 to the middle of season 7, the series aired on H2. On April 10, 2015, episode premieres returned to History. Season 8 began on July 24, 2015.

Production

The executive producer of Ancient Aliens is Kevin Burns, who also directed and wrote the pilot episode. Giorgio A. Tsoukalos serves as consulting producer and appeared on screen in the pilot.^[4] Erich von Däniken appeared in the pilot episode, and UFO researcher C. Scott Littleton served as an expert consultant for the show until his death in 2010.^[5]

Radio talk show host George Noory speaks in five episodes, including the pilot. Reverend Barry Downing, known for describing angels in the Bible as ancient astronauts, offered his viewpoints in the pilot episode. Psychologist Jonathan Young, who brings a mythological perspective, appears on screen in every episode but the first pilot. Alternate history author David Hatcher Childress speaks frequently in most episodes.

On April 22, 2016, Giorgio A. Tsoukalos announced on Twitter the renewal of the series with an eleventh season that will premiere on May 6, 2016 and will be aired as usual on the History channel.^[6]

Episodes

Series overview

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	Pilot	1	March 8, 2009	N/A
	1	5	April 20, 2010	May 25, 2010
	2	10	October 28, 2010	December 30, 2010
	3	16	July 28, 2011	November 23, 2011
	4	10	February 17, 2012	May 4, 2012
	5	12	December 21, 2012	April 19, 2013
	6	11	September 30, 2013	December 13, 2013
	7	8	January 24, 2014	March 14, 2014
	8	9	June 13, 2014	August 22, 2014
	9	12	October 31, 2014	May 1, 2015
	10	10	July 24, 2015	October 9, 2015
	11		June 5, 2016May 6, 2016	TBA

Pilot (2009)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
0	0	"Chariots, Gods & Beyond"	March 8, 2009
The pilot presents the views of author Erich von Däniken who theorized that advanced beings from another world visited primitive humans, gave them the knowledge of the solar system, concepts of engineering and mathematics, and became the basis for their religions and cultures as he claims are evidenced by ancient monuments such as the Nazca Lines, the Pyramids of Giza and the Moai statues of Easter Island.

Season 1 (2010)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
1	1	"The Evidence"	April 20, 2010
This episode suggests that aliens made contact with primitive humans, and cites as evidence, Indian Sanskrit texts that are suggested to describe flying machines called Vimanas; Egyptian megaliths that are said to show precision cutting work thought to be too advanced for the time; and Jewish Zohar writings that are said to describe a "manna machine" similar to chlorella algae processing of today.
2	2	"The Visitors"	April 27, 2010
The episode proposes that alien visitations have occurred around the globe, and cites as evidence, claims that the Dogon people were given galactic knowledge by a star god; the Hopi and Zuni celebrations of Kachinas (or "gods from the sky") that are symbolized with headdress that are said to resemble modern space helmets; and that the Chinese Huangdi was a Han leader who came to Earth on a yellow dragon which is suggested to have been a metaphor for a spaceship.
3	3	"The Mission"	May 4, 2010
This episode proposes that extraterrestrials have a mission plan for Earth and mankind, and cites as evidence, Sumerian tablets that allegedly describe the Anunnaki as a race of creatures that came to Earth to mine gold; the purpose of cattle mutilations; the mile-long "band of holes" near Pisco, Peru; Egyptian hieroglyphs that are said to depict hybrid creatures that are part man/part animal; and crystal skulls and crop circles that are said to contain messages from aliens.
4	4	"Closer Encounters"	May 18, 2010
This episode suggests that alien encounters have been documented in various historical texts, citing as evidence, the 13th-century book Otia Imperialia which describes an incident in Bristol, England ascribed to UFOs; the log entries of Christopher Columbus that report lights in the sky; stories of cigar-shaped craft allegedly seen over Europe during the Black Plague; and Medieval art that supposedly depicts disc-shaped objects floating in the heavens.
5	5	"The Return"	May 25, 2010
Perhaps aliens have contacted humans in the 20th century.

Season 2 (2010)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
6	1	"Mysterious Places"	October 28, 2010
This episode examines locations around the Earth that are proposed "hot spots" of UFO activity, such as the Bermuda Triangle; Mexico's "Zone of Silence", an area of land said to naturally disrupt radio signals; the portal-like structure at Peru's Puerta de Hayu Marca; and the curious rock formations of the Marcahuasi Plateau.
7	2	"Gods and Aliens"	November 4, 2010
This episode looks at legends about powerful gods and fearsome monsters that are said to share similarities even though these legends are found in different cultures separated by vast distances; this episode also suggests that these legends may be eyewitness accounts of alien visitations. Also discussed are tales of gods interacting with humans, imparting wisdom and technology and impregnating women to create demigods, who are supposedly the offspring of human/alien unions.
8	3	"Underwater Worlds"	November 11, 2010
This episode suggests that various underwater structures and ruins said to have been found around the globe may have been used by extraterrestrials, such as the temple ruins found under Lake Titicaca in Peru, the geometric structures of Yonaguni off the coast of Japan, and ancient Indian texts that allegedly describe other sunken cities yet to be discovered.
9	4	"Underground Aliens"	November 18, 2010
This episode hypothesizes that various underground places may have been extraterrestrial lairs, such as a lost cave in Ecuador said to hold metal tablets containing alien knowledge, the underground city of Derinkuyu in Turkey, Native American legends of "inner-earth" beings, and rumors of a secret U.S. military base supposedly built alongside aliens inside the Archuleta Mesa near Dulce, New Mexico.
10	5	"Aliens and the Third Reich"	November 25, 2010
This episode speculates that Nazi Germany had experimented with advanced alien technology and built flying machines, such as the Haunebu and the Die Glocke (The Bell), and rumors that some of this technology may have made its way to the United States and helped jumpstart the Apollo program.
11	6	"Alien Tech"	December 2, 2010
This episode proposes that some advanced weapon technologies currently in development, such as laser and sonic weapons, are rediscovered technologies used by advanced beings in the past. Also discussed are theories that aliens provided gravity manipulation devices to help man construct colossal stone structures around the world.
12	7	"Angels and Aliens"	December 9, 2010
This episode looks at various stories of angelic visitations that to some ancient astronaut theorists read more like alien encounters than divine appearances, and suggests they are not supernatural beings, but visitors from distant planets.
13	8	"Unexplained Structures"	December 16, 2010
This episode suggests that various sites around the world; such as Göbekli Tepe in Turkey; the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuamán in Peru; the Carnac stones of France; and Zorats Karer in Armenia, show construction techniques and mathematical concepts that were not believed to have been known at the time, and that this knowledge was gained from alien visitors.
14	9	"Alien Devastations"	December 23, 2010
This episode surmises that aliens may have caused various disasters, as depicted in the Bible and other texts, or even tried to warn man of them; such as Noah of the Great Flood. Also proposed is that some disasters ushered changes in human evolution and that our leaps in technology over the centuries were achieved with alien help.
15	10	"Alien Contacts"	December 30, 2010
This episode proposes that extraterrestrials may have contacted various humans throughout history, such as Moses and Joan of Arc, to help guide and inspire them to achieve great things; or to pass on important messages for humanity; such as a supposed binary message given to a UFO-contactee during the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident who believes it is the coordinates to a mythical island called Hy-Brazil.

Season 3 (2011)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
16	1	"Aliens and the Old West"	July 28, 2011
Opening with clips from the 2011 film Cowboys & Aliens, this episode looks at American Old West legends that may have involved ET contact, such as the Aurora, Texas UFO incident where a local cemetery claims to hold a body from an 1897 UFO crash; Native American legends surrounding the Serpent mound in Adams County, Ohio; reports of a Thunderbird that periodically emerged from California's Elizabeth Lake, and a story of ranchers shooting at "metallic birds" near Tombstone, Arizona.
17	2	"Aliens and Monsters"	August 4, 2011
This episode examines modern-day genetic engineering, cloning and hybridization technology, and suggests that such technology could have been used by ancient aliens in the past to manipulate mankind and the environment. Also theorized are that the legends of creatures, such as the Chimera and Hydra, and humanoids, such as the Minotaur and Medusa, may have been encounters with beings created through alien animal/human hybrid experimentation.
18	3	"Aliens and Sacred Places"	August 11, 2011
This episode suggests that some of mankind's most sacred places were points of contact by alien beings. Examples given are Jerusalem's Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock; the Kaaba stone at the Islam shrine at Mecca; the temples of the Ajanta Caves in India; the churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia that are carved out of rock; and the ancient city of Baalbek in Lebanon which was allegedly built with a "landing pad" of monolithic rock.
19	4	"Aliens and Temples of Gold"	August 18, 2011
This episode contends that aliens came to Earth to mine gold. Examined are the legends of cities of gold such as El Dorado and Paititi; Lake Puray in Peru where UFO sightings may be linked to gold beneath the lake; the gold-creating device called the Philosopher's Stone; the Hall of Records beneath the Great Sphinx of Giza, (suggested to be a repository of ancient knowledge); a Medieval church in the French village of Rennes-le-Château that may hold the secrets of alchemy; and Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel where a helix-shaped pillar, (suggested to represent DNA), may be the hiding place of the Holy Grail.
20	5	"Aliens and Mysterious Rituals"	August 25, 2011
This episode proposes that various ancient sites and the rituals performed there were not to praise mythical gods, but to reenact contact and communication with alien beings. Examples given are the Mayan temple of El Castillo, Chichen Itza; the Celtic Beltane Festival; the ceremonies of the Kayapo people of Brazil that involve a dancer dressed in an outfit that resembles a spacesuit; Medieval coronation ceremonies and the symbolic meanings of thrones, crowns and scepters as communication devices to the heavens; Native American and Shamanistic chants and prayers; and the ritual meanings of the Catholic Mass.
21	6	"Aliens and Ancient Engineers"	September 1, 2011
This episode surmises that several ancient sites were built with help from aliens. Examples given are the ruins of Ollantaytambo in Peru, (an Inca city believed built atop a far older and more advanced-built fortress); the pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico, (which use heat and radiation shielding Mica in their engineering); the temples of Vijayanagara in India, (suggested to have been designed to tap into cosmic energy); the temples of Karnak in Egypt, (which show symmetrical and precision sculpting believed unobtainable by primitive hand tools); and the ancient ruins on Malta, (whose designs seems to have incorporated an acoustic energy technology).
22	7	"Aliens, Plagues and Epidemics"	September 8, 2011
This episode suggests that some plagues and diseases were brought on by pathogens of extraterrestrial origin. Examples given are sudden pandemics such as the Spanish Influenza, the Plague of Athens, the Justinian Plague and the Black Plague, which were accompanied by reports of unusual celestial phenomena, and the appearance of strange creatures and objects in the sky; ancient carvings of figures dressed in what are suggested to be hazmat suits; unexplained illnesses that have appeared after meteor impacts, NASA experiments with bacteria and extremophiles that can survive in the extreme conditions of space; and the recent appearance of unusual medical conditions such as Morgellons Disease.
23	8	"Aliens and Lost Worlds"	September 15, 2011
This episode postulates that various past civilizations were ruled by otherworldly beings. Examined are carvings in the Mayan city of Copán that are suggested to depict kings dressed in spacesuits; the Greek and Persian temples of Nemrud Dagi in Turkey, constructed by King Antiochus who some believe had advanced knowledge of astronomy and access to "magical" technology; the Nazca people of Peru who elongated their skulls to possibly mimic beings they encountered; the Moai statues of Easter Island that may have been erected with anti-gravity technology, and the Garden of Eden which may have been an alien laboratory for the creation of mankind.
24	9	"Aliens and Deadly Weapons"	September 22, 2011
This episode suggests that the development of various weapons throughout history may have been guided by aliens. Examined are ancient legends that speak of fire and the secrets of metalworking as gifts from the gods; stories of divine weapons such as Excalibur as possibly powered by an alien source; the mystery of Greek fire as a gift from angels for the Byzantines; the development of the complicated chemistry of gunpowder by the ancient Chinese; the writings of the Hindu Mahabharata describing weapons reminiscent of guided rockets, beam weapons and nuclear devices used by the gods; and the Cambodian tales of Preah Pisnulok who wielded a blazing sword reminiscent of the science-fictional lightsaber.
25	10	"Aliens and Evil Places"	September 28, 2011
This episode examines various places on Earth that are associated with evil and death, and suggests that they may have otherworldly connections, such as being dumping grounds for dangerous alien waste material or containing portals to other realms. Featured are Japan's Aokigahara "Suicide Forest" near Mount Fuji, where countless people have gone to die; Russia's remote Mt. Otorten "Mountain of Death" where in 1959, nine hikers were found burned and mutilated by an undetermined cause; Australia's Black Mountain (Kalkajaka) where people have mysteriously disappeared in the area, and the "Valley of the Dead" at Yakutia, Russia, where unexplained deaths and illnesses are attributed to a possible underground alien base.
26	11	"Aliens and The Founding Fathers"	October 5, 2011
This episode suggests that some of the philosophies, and alleged secret symbolism surrounding the founding of the United States, have connections to extraterrestrials. Examined are Benjamin Franklin's writings on the "plurality of worlds;" stories that George Washington had an alien visitation at Valley Forge; Thomas Jefferson's report of a UFO sighting; the Freemason interest in ancient cultures and astronomy, and the possible influence it all had in the architecture and layout of Washington, D.C..
27	12	"Aliens and Deadly Cults"	October 12, 2011
This episode examines various cults around the world that have committed horrific acts and suggests that some may have been influenced by aliens with a sinister agenda. Examined are groups who claimed to receive messages from ETs such as the suicidal Heaven's Gate and the Order of the Solar Temple; the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God whose leader murdered 750 followers; the human sacrifice murders of Adolfo Constanzo who claimed worship of the "trickster god" Eshu; the mass-murderous Thuggee cult of India; the Christian Circumcellions suicide-sect; Aztec human sacrifice rituals, and the theory that humans were hard-wired through genetic manipulation to worship alien beings as gods.
28	13	"Aliens and the Secret Code"	October 19, 2011
This episode theorizes that various megalithic structures around the Earth are built upon a "world grid" of electromagnetic energy and that this power may have been tapped for travel and communication. It also suggests that there are hidden messages within these sites that show they have connections to one another. Featured are Teotihuacan and Easter Island, (sites separated by 2000 miles of ocean, but having similar architecture); the Pyramids at Giza, Thornborough Henges, and ancient Hopi cities (all three configured to resemble Orion); the straight line alignments of sites such as Trelleborg, Delphi and Giza; and stone carvings at Gavrinis (from 3500 BC) accurately calculating the circumference of the Earth and Pi.
29	14	"Aliens and the Undead"	October 26, 2011
This episode discusses the possibility of life after death, the beliefs associated with it in various cultures and raises the question of whether certain rituals can be attributed to ancient aliens.
30	15	"Aliens, Gods and Heroes"	November 16, 2011
This episode looks into various legends about gods and heroes and surmises that the existence of such beings was not only possible, but that they were also beings of extraterrestrial origin.
31	16	"Aliens and the Creation of Man"	November 23, 2011
This episode asks why humans are so different from other lifeforms on Earth, and proposes that advances in human evolution were the work of interstellar beings.

Season 4 (2012)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
32	1	"The Mayan Conspiracy"	February 17, 2012
This episode suggests that the ancient Maya were given their knowledge of mathematics and astronomy by extraterrestrials. It alleges advanced city engineering despite the use of metal tools and the wheel; knowledge of celestial events (such as pole shifts) thousands of years before the culture began; and a complex writing system only understood by the rulers and clerics among them. Featured artifacts include the sarcophagus lid of Palenque's King Pakal, who is said to be piloting a rocket ship; the La Venta Olmec heads suggested to represent African people in flight helmets; and the feathered serpent god Kukulkan possibly depicted elsewhere in the world as the Naga and Chinese dragon.
33	2	"The Doomsday Prophecies"	February 17, 2012
This episode looks at the Maya civilization and their advanced knowledge of mathematics and timekeeping. It presents theories as to why the Maya backdated the 5125-year long-count calendar to 3114 BC (over 3,000 years before their civilization began) and what could happen after it ends December 21, 2012. Discussed are two artifacts, Tortuguero monument six and a Comalcalco mud brick, that may suggest the return of a star god Bolon Yokte; the Popol Vuh creation myths; the Chilam Balam manuscripts; and the monuments of Tikal (which is suggested to have been built to mimic the Pleiades cluster); and Chichen Itza, dedicated to the return of the Maya god Kukulkan.
34	3	"The Greys"	February 24, 2012
This episode focuses upon the so-called Greys, alleged alien beings characterized as having pale skin and big round heads with large black eyes, and connected within the last century to supposed alien abductions and UFO-related cases such as the Roswell incident. It also proposes that the Greys may have contacted human cultures in the distant past, such as the Hopi Indians and the Sumerians, and these events have been preserved in various ancient writings, sculptures and cave paintings.
35	4	"Aliens and Mega-Disasters"	March 2, 2012
This episode looks at various accounts of ancient civilizations that were destroyed by natural disasters such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and floods and proposes that otherworldly beings may have had a hand in these catastrophic events.
36	5	"The NASA Connection"	March 9, 2012
This episode delves into various reports by former NASA scientists and astronauts, as well as classified government files that purportedly suggest the space agency had alien contact in both the recent and ancient past.
37	6	"The Mystery of Puma Punku"	March 16, 2012
This episode investigates the ruins of Puma Punku in Bolivia, where an ancient civilization constructed sophisticated and intricately carved blocks that interlock. Ancient alien theorists suggest the site was not built and inhabited by humans, but by advanced extraterrestrials.
38	7	"Aliens and Bigfoot"	March 23, 2012
This episode examines the legends of Bigfoot, a creature described as half-man/half-ape that allegedly stalks remote woodlands around the world, and suggests the creature may have connections to an alien species that may have visited Earth. Also suggested are that the legends of supernatural giants such as the Bible's Goliath, the hybrid Nephilim, the Sumerian Enkidu, are tales of human interaction with such creatures.
39	8	"The Da Vinci Conspiracy"	April 6, 2012
This episode examines some of the paintings, sketches and journals of legendary artist and engineer Leonardo da Vinci, and alleges that some of his work may have been inspired by alien technology he may have encountered. Discussed are the possibility of hidden messages within his work such as parts of his paintings that disappear under x-ray scans; his use of mirror writing to make his notes illegible to prying eyes; his sketches of inhuman and monstrous creatures, and what Da Vinci might have been doing when he seemingly disappeared for two years after finding a mysterious cave.
40	9	"The Time Travelers"	April 27, 2012
This episode suggests that some alleged alien encounters may be of beings from Earth's future traveling in time machines and that these beings visited Earth's distant past. Examined are the rumors of the Nazi "Die Glocke" time travel machine; the advanced cosmic knowledge of the Anasazi and their similarities to the ancient Sumerians; stories of time travel in the Bible and other ancient texts; and actual space/time experiments that could one day open the door for possible time travel technology.
41	10	"Aliens and Dinosaurs"	May 4, 2012
This episode suggests that man and dinosaurs may have coexisted in ancient times and past cultures had knowledge of prehistoric animals long before the study of paleontology. Examined is a carving found in Angkor Wat that is suggested to be a depiction of a stegosaurus; the thousands of Ica Stones of Peru that depict alleged human/dinosaur interaction; and fossils from Dinosaur Valley State Park suggested to contain both dinosaur and human footprints. Also suggested is the idea that dinosaurs may have been wiped out, not by an asteroid impact, but by alien extermination so that humans could become the dominant species on Earth.

Season 5 (2012-13)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
42	1	"Secrets of the Pyramids"	December 21, 2012
Researchers discuss ancient pyramidal structures; in Bosnia, Egypt, Russia & throughout Mesoamerica.
43	2	"Aliens and Cover Ups"[7]	December 28, 2012
Researchers discuss how extraterrestrials might have hidden evidence of their visits.
44	3	"Alien Power Plants"[8]	January 4, 2013
Researchers question the accomplishments of ancient man without modern technology.
45	4	"Destination Orion"[9]	January 11, 2013
Researchers speculate about why ancient civilizations focused on the Orion constellation.
46	5	"The Einstein Factor"[10]	January 18, 2013
Theorists talk about potential extraterrestrial connections to famous historical figures committed to science such as Albert Einstein, Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, Nikola Tesla and Srinivasa Ramanujan.
47	6	"Secrets of the Tombs"[11]	January 25, 2013
Researchers suggest that an extraterrestrial connection links tombs in Egypt, China, and other locations.
48	7	"Prophets and Prophecies"[12]	February 8, 2013
Researchers discuss extraterrestrial-based prophecies and prophets, including some of the world's deadliest cults.
49	8	"Beyond Nazca"[13]	February 15, 2013
Researchers discuss extraterrestrial matter possibly contributing to Nazca.
50	9	"Strange Abductions"[14]	February 22, 2013
Researchers discuss extraterrestrial-linked disappearances.
51	10	"The Von Daniken Legacy"	April 5, 2013
Researchers discuss the legacy of Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods?.
52	11	"The Viking Gods"	April 12, 2013
Researchers discuss the possibility of alien contact with the Vikings.
53	12	"The Monoliths"	April 19, 2013
Researchers discuss Sigiriya, Easter Island and various monoliths.

Season 6 (2013)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
54	1	"The Power of Three"	September 30, 2013
Researchers discuss the Trimurti, Trinity and the common occurrence of the number three in ancient texts.
55	2	"The Crystal Skulls"[15]	October 7, 2013
Researchers discuss the worldwide phenomena of the crystal skull.
56	3	"The Anunnaki Connection"[15]	October 14, 2013
Researchers discuss a possible connection between extraterrestrials and the Mesopotamian deities known as the Anunnaki.
57	4	"Magic of the Gods"[15]	October 21, 2013
Researchers discuss magic, Merlin, and extraterrestrials.
58	5	"The Satan Conspiracy"[15]	October 28, 2013
Researchers discuss Satan and the worldwide concept of a devil figure.
59	6	"Alien Operations"[15]	November 1, 2013
Researchers discuss medicine, surgery, miracles and alien technology.
60	7	"Emperors, Kings and Pharaohs"[15]	November 8, 2013
Researchers discuss historical dynasties possible relationship to extraterrestrials.
61	8	"Mysterious Relics"[15]	November 15, 2013
Researchers discuss mythic powers attributed to worldwide religious relics.
62	9	"Aliens and Forbidden Islands"[15]	November 29, 2013
Researchers discuss mysterious occurrences, including reported alien visitation, on remote islands.
63	10	"Aliens and The Lost Ark"[15]	December 6, 2013
Researchers discuss the Ark of the Covenant as misunderstood technology.
64	11	"Aliens and Mysterious Mountains"[15]	December 13, 2013
Researchers discuss Mt. Olympus, the Inca of Peru, the Japanese Apu and aliens.

Season 7 (2014)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
65	1	"Aliens and Stargates"[15]	January 24, 2014
Researchers discuss aliens traveling through wormholes and space travel.
66	2	"Aliens in America"[15]	January 31, 2014
Researchers discuss alien influence in the United States.
67	3	"The Star Children"[15]	February 7, 2014
Researchers discuss the Starchild skull, Star people and the reported Black Eyed Kids.
68	4	"Treasures of the Gods"[16]	February 14, 2014
Researchers discuss mythic ancient treasure and curses including King Solomon's Ring, lost Aztec treasure, and the Omphalos.
69	5	"Aliens and the Red Planet"[16]	February 21, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that ancient alien civilizations existed on the planet Mars, and speculate that features photographed by probes may be ruins of ancient structures built by these aliens.
70	6	"The Shamans"[16]	February 28, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that beings contacted by shamans in altered states of consciousness are actually extraterrestrials.
71	7	"Aliens and Insects"[16]	March 7, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that some aliens may be insect-like, and argue that such beings serve as inspirations for many cultures' gods and legendary figures.
72	8	"Alien Breeders"[16][17]	March 14, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that aliens influenced the course of human evolution, and argue that genetic manipulation of humans by aliens allowed for civilization to arise.

Season 8 (2014)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
73	1	"Alien Transports"[16][18]	June 13, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that modern transportation systems are influenced by aliens who visited Earth in the remote, and not-so-remote past.
74	2	"Mysterious Structures"[16][18]	June 20, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that some of Earth's mysterious structures and monoliths are the work of aliens in the remote past.
75	3	"Mysterious Devices"[16][18]	June 27, 2014
Researchers discuss the mysterious objects which may have been the technology of, or have been influenced by the technology of, alien gods who visited us in the past.
76	4	"Faces of the Gods"[16]	July 25, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that many tales of angels and giants in the ancient world were inspired by extraterrestrial visits and experimentation on human DNA. Note: This was a special episode that was aired immediately after a short hiatus.
77	5	"The Reptilians"[16]	July 25, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that many mythological figures in ancient cultures were inspired by actual reptile-like aliens, some of which may have bred with humans.
78	6	"The Tesla Experiment"[16]	August 1, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that the great technological developments made by inventor Nikola Tesla were inspired by extraterrestrials.
79	7	"The God Particle"[16]	August 8, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that the creation of the Large Hadron Collider was foretold in ancient sources that were inspired by aliens.
80	8	"Alien Encounters"[16]	August 15, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that aliens set into motion some of the most significant turning points in human history and have ultimate control over our destiny.
81	9	"Aliens and Superheroes"[16]	August 22, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that legends of super-powered beings in ancient mythologies, as well as stories of modern superheroes, originate from retellings of people's encounters with aliens in the distant past.

Season 9 (2014-15)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
82	1	"Forbidden Caves"[15]	October 31, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that caves have served as portals for contact with extraterrestrial beings, becoming the inspiration for various mythological traditions.
83	2	"Mysteries of the Sphinx"[16]	November 7, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that the Sphinx statue originally represented an otherworldly being that came to Earth some 10,000 years ago.
84	3	"Aliens Among Us"[16]	November 14, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that the evolution of technology is not entirely of our own making and that we are being watched by entities from beyond our world.
85	4	"The Genius Factor"[16]	November 21, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that many of history’s greatest scientists were inspired by extraterrestrial sources.
86	5	"Secrets of the Mummies"[16]	November 28, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that the global practice of mummification is proof that extraterrestrials visited Earth in the past.
87	6	"Alien Resurrections"[16]	December 5, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that incredible stories about the dead rising from their graves, mummies journeying into the afterlife, and people on the brink of death mingling with deceased relatives in a celestial netherworld are proof that extraterrestrials visited Earth in the distant past.
88	7	"Alien Messages"[16]	December 19, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that some strange and cryptic communications can help us unlock the mysteries of the universe and contact extraterrestrial beings.
89	8	"The Great Flood"[16]	December 23, 2014
Researchers discuss the possibility that extraterrestrial beings were responsible for causing the Great Flood.
90	9	"Aliens and the Civil War"[15]	April 10, 2015
Researchers discuss the possibility that aliens influenced the course of events in the American Civil War.
91	10	"Hidden Pyramids"[16]	April 17, 2015
Researchers discuss the possibility that aliens inspired long-buried megalithic pyramids which are only now being rediscovered.
92	11	"The Vanishings"[16]	April 24, 2015
Researchers discuss the possibility that history's mysterious disappearances were caused by extraterrestrials transporting people to other planets.
93	12	"The Alien Agenda"[16]	May 1, 2015
Researchers discuss the theory that aliens have been secretly influencing human history for thousands of years. Several things are discussed, among them: the Tower of Babel story, the destruction of Lanka from Hindu mythology, Mohenjo-daro and the Library of Alexandria, Paul Hellyer's extraterrestrial claims, the Annunaki and the Nazi's supposed advanced technology.

Season 10 (2015)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
94	1	"Aliens B.C."[15]	July 24, 2015
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that an alien civilization inhabited Earth in the distant past.
95	2	"NASA's Secret Agenda"[15]	July 31, 2015
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that rocket technology pioneered by NASA and Wernher von Braun may have extraterrestrial origins.
96	3	"Aliens and Robots"[15]	August 7, 2015
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that sophisticated robots really did exist in the ancient world.
97	4	"Dark Forces"[15]	August 14, 2015
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that Grigori Rasputin, the Nazi SS, and Aleister Crowley were in league with sinister otherworldly entities.
98	5	"The Alien Evolution"[15]	August 21, 2015
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that prehistoric remains point to numerous extraterrestrial species inhabiting Earth.
99	6	"The Other Earth"[15]	August 28, 2015
Researchers discuss the possibility of humans finding life on Earth like planets, the colonization of other planets by humans and the potential colonization of our planet by extraterrestrials.
100	7	"Creatures of the Deep"[15]	September 4, 2015
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that legendary aquatic monsters such as kappa, Champ, and the Kraken may be alien creatures that originate from underwater wormholes to other dimensions.
101	8	"Circles from the Sky"[15]	September 18, 2015
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that crop circles are messages from extraterrestrials.
102	9	"The Alien Wars"[15]	October 2, 2015
Ancient Astronaut theorists suggest that there are numerous factions of alien races with competing agendas visiting Earth, and that there is evidence they have been in conflict with each other for thousands of years. According to these theorists, there is evidence that these wars actually took place here on Earth in the distant past–not between gods, but between extraterrestrial visitors.
103	10	"The Forbidden Zones"[15]	October 9, 2015
Ancient Astronaut theorists suggest that the idea of aliens visiting us in the past is being censored from us today. Knowledge of extraterrestrial visitation might be found in places forbidden from outsiders.

Season 11

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
104	1	"Pyramids of Antarctica"[15]	May 6, 2016
Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that an alien civilization inhabited Earth in the distant past.

Reception

The program had 1.676 million viewers in late October 2010,^[19] 2.034 million viewers in mid-December (for the "Unexplained Structures" episode)^[20] and in late January 2011 it had 1.309 million viewers.^[21][22]

Reviewers have characterized the show as "far-fetched",^[23] "hugely speculative",^[24] and "...expound[ing] wildly on theories suggesting that astronauts wandered the Earth freely in ancient times."^[25] Many of the ideas presented in the show are not accepted by the scientific community, and have been criticized as pseudoscience and pseudohistory.^[26] History professor Ronald H. Fritze observed that pseudoscience as offered by von Däniken and the Ancient Aliens program has a periodic popularity in the US: "In a pop culture with a short memory and a voracious appetite, aliens and pyramids and lost civilizations are recycled like fashions."^[26][27]

Forbes.com contributor Brad Lockwood criticized Ancient Aliens as an example of the History Channel's addition of "programs devoted to monsters, aliens, and conspiracies", commenting that, "Ancient Aliens defies all ability to suspend disbelief for the sake of entertainment."^[28] Forbes.com staff writer Alex Knapp also criticized the series and cited archaeologist Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews' rebuke of the History Channel for "treating (Ancient Aliens) nonsense as though it were fact."^[29]

Smithsonian.com science writer Brian Switek was extremely critical of the series, particularly an episode that suggested "aliens exterminated dinosaurs to make way for our species." He characterized the show as "some of the most noxious sludge in television’s bottomless chum bucket."^[30][31]

Others have called attention to a paucity of opposing viewpoints. Kenneth Feder, Professor of Archaeology at Central Connecticut State University and author of Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology,^[32] has said that he was approached by Ancient Aliens producers regarding his potential participation. "My response was, I’d be happy to be on your show, but you should know that I think that the ancient astronaut hypothesis is execrable bullshit," he said, in an interview. "I haven’t heard back from them, rather remarkably. So, I guess maybe they’re not interested in the other point of view."^[33]

South Park parodied the show in an episode entitled "A History Channel Thanksgiving" (November 11, 2011, episode 15.13). Reviewer Ramsey Isler commented, "The aim is placed squarely on Ancient Aliens specifically," and described the animation as "a perfect satire of all the ridiculousness of this series, including the black and white art with aliens photoshopped in, and interviews with people of dubious authority."^[34]

See also

• List of topics characterized as pseudoscience
• Pseudoarchaeology
• Unsealed Alien Files

References

1. "Ancient Aliens Episode Guide". History.com. December 25, 2010.
2. "Ancient Aliens Theory". History.com. December 25, 2010.
3. "Evidence of Ancient Aliens?". History.com. December 25, 2010.
4. Barb (December 4, 2010). "December 4, 2010, Giorgio Tsoukalos, "Ancient Aliens" & "Twilight of the Gods"" (podcast). Radio Amerika Now. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
5. "Obituary of C. Scott Littleton". Anthropology News 52 (2): 31–32. February 17, 2011. doi:10.1111/j.1556-3502.2011.52231.x.
6. "History Channel". April 30, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
7. "Aliens and Cover Ups". Ancient Aliens: Episode Info. MSN TV. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
8. "Alien Power Plants". Ancient Aliens: Episode Info. MSN TV. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
9. "Destination Orion". Ancient Aliens: Episode Info. MSN TV. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
10. "The Einstein Factor". Ancient Aliens: Episode Info. MSN TV. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
11. "Secrets of the Tombs". Ancient Aliens: Episode Info. MSN TV. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
12. "Prophets and Prophecies". Ancient Aliens – Season 5 Episode Guide. History. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
13. "The Mystery of Nazca". Ancient Aliens – Season 5 Episode Guide. History. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
14. "Ancient Abductions". Ancient Aliens – Season 5 Episode Guide. History. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
15. "Ancient Aliens Episode Guide". History channel. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
16. "Shows A-Z – ancient aliens on h2". the Futon Critic. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
17. "LocateTV". www.LocateTV.com. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
18. "Ancient Aliens Episode Guide - Season 6 - History.com". www.History.com. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
19. "TV Ratings for October 29, 2010". TV By the Numbers.
20. "TV Ratings for December 17, 2010". TV By the Numbers.
21. "TV Ratings for January 27, 2011". TV By the Numbers.
22. "TV Ratings for January 28th, 2011". Inside TV Ratings.
23. SH (April 30, 2011). "Ancient Aliens". The Daily Telegraph (London). p. 38.
24. Clay, Joe (April 30, 2011). "Digital Choices". The Times (London). p. 35.
25. Ryan, Andrew (April 25, 2011). "Tonight on TV/Critical Picks". The Globe and Mail (Canada). p. R2.
26. Fritze, Ronald H. (November 2009). "On the Perils and Pleasures of Confronting Pseudohistory". Historically Speaking 10 (5): 2–5. ISSN 1941-4188.
27. Fritze, Ronald. "Ronald H. Fritze, On his book Invented Knowledge: False History, Fake Science and Pseudo-Religions, Cover Interview". July 08, 2009. Rorotoko.com. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
28. Lockwood, Brad. "High Ratings Aside, Where's the History on History?". October 17, 2011 (Forbes). Retrieved March 21, 2012.
29. Knapp, Alex (September 19, 2011). "An Archaeologist Watches the History Channel and Questions the Part About the Aliens". Tech (Forbes.com). Retrieved February 7, 2013.
30. Switek, Brian. "The Idiocy, Fabrications and Lies of Ancient Aliens". May 11, 2012. Smithsonian.com. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
31. "About Brian Switek". March 2, 2012. Smithsonian.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
32. Feder, K. (1990). Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology. New York, McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages. ISBN 978-0078116971.
33. Ancient Alien Astronauts: Interview with Ken Feder. Skeptic.com archive. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
34. Isler, Ramsey. "South Park: "A History Channel Thanksgiving" Review". IGN Television Reviews. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved November 12, 2011.

General references

• "Ancient Aliens Episode Guide". History channel. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
• "Ancient Aliens Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
• "Shows A-Z – ancient aliens on h2". the Futon Critic. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
• "Ancient Aliens – Seasons & Episodes". MSN TV. Retrieved December 21, 2014.

External links

• Official website
• Ancient Aliens at the Internet Movie Database