Some proponents also suggest that we are descendants or creations of these alien race/races.
Alien Intervention?
The biggest mystery asked in evolution is how and why humans have evolved to become so varied. "The Missing Link" refers to the last common ancestor we have with chimpanzees. So far archaeology is yet to find fossil evidence of an animal that was ancestral to both chimpanzee and homosapiens. These ancestors are thought to have existed about 6 to 8 million years ago, and Darwin believed that archaeologists would eventually find this link in fossilised proof, confirming man was descended from apes.
Could there be a possibly larger, and more perceived bizarre and disturbing answer to that enigma?
Maybe we have not discovered this link due to the fact that perhaps, there is more than one ancestor - and also, perhaps, it’s of an extra-terrestrial source!
Von Daniken’s claims and works have been labelled "pseudo-science","pseudo-history" and "pseudo-archaeology". The general claims through these books are that "Ancient Astronauts" visited Earth many millennia ago and helped early man "evolve" from the apes. It is also put forth that these entities helped humans construct great structures and monuments, such as the Pyramids in Egypt and the statues that are found on Easter Island.
Believers in this ideology would also argue that man was taught by these beings language and writing, agriculture, the arts, technology and social organisation, and that we were, perhaps for some time, slaves to these "Gods", providing them with food, labour and perhaps even companionship.
What happened to these beings and why they are not around now is also cause for speculation and theory.
Evidence?
Also many ancient tribes, including the Mayans and Australian Aboriginals, had knowledge of astronomy, mathematics and geometry. A remote African tribe told two French explorers in 1931 that they had acquired their knowledge of astronomy from beings called the Nommo, that resembled fish and were here to watch over mankind.
Many ancient tribes and clans speak of "men from the sky" who appeared and either guided and instructed them or caused destruction, mayhem and grief. Is it possible that perhaps humankind is descended from an ancestor that was genetically mixed, through laboratory experimentation or sexual breeding, with chimpanzees?
Or perhaps there was/is more than one ancestor?
Could the fact that we have many cultures, languages and nationalities be because we are the product of breeding done by more than one species of extra-terrestrial visitors?
Could that also explain the many religions, myths, folklore and belief systems that exist?
Fantastical Nonsense
So is a little embellishment to gain a little more publicity enough to discredit a whole theory?
The theory, Von Daniken and his works, as well as works by other proponents of this theory, continue today to be popular and are met by many with an open mind. However, more evidence is needed to further the notion and "enlighten" the scientific community.
Are we the result of an alien breeding experiment by colonies from other worlds?
If so, are they still around and continuing to help us evolve? Are we ever to find evidence of this? Are there "Missing Links" yet to be discovered by archaeology or palaeontology? Are we descendants from "Gods"?
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013