Literature Review #1

CHARIOTS OF THE GODS: LITERATURE REVIEW 

    For my first literature review, I decided to focus on literature that would supply a counterargument to my main thesis. The book Chariots of the Gods by Erich Von Daniken proposed a rather interesting theory concerning a paranormal explanation for the lines that was completely different than David Johnson's hypothesis, which is the main focus of my research paper. Von Daniken insists that the Nazca Lines served as runways of ancient airfields for extraterrestrial beings. He continued his argument by mentioning that the drawings found on mountainsides in multiple parts of Peru were meant as signals for extraterrestrial beings in the air. He denies the creativity and ability of ancient peoples to construct such an elaborate design without the help of "flying beings". 

However, Von Daniken's theory is simply that, just a theory. His proposal is filled with inconsistencies and does not provide factual evidence to support his claims. It's important to acknowledge that if Von Daniken researched the purpose of the Nazca Lines and familiarized himself with the topic, he himself would realize that his initial theory did not have the facts or data to sustain itself. 

It was pretty difficult to find some key terms considering that he wrote 3 pages on the Nazca Lines however I decided to define 2 terms that he used quite a bit throughout his argument: 

1. Archaeology: the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

2. Extraterrestrial beings: originating, existing, or occurring outside the earth or its atmosphere("aliens"). 

Quotes:

"Enormous drawings that were undoubtedly meant as signals for a being floating in the air are found on mountainsides in many parts of Peru. What other purpose could they have served?" (Von Daniken 21). 

"These tasks would have taken decades without modern machines and appliances. Their whole activity would have been senseless if the end product of their efforts had not been meant as signs to beings approaching them from great heights" (Von Daniken 22). 

"Why did they do all this if they had no idea they flying beings actually existed?" (Von Daniken 22). 

This book is relevant to my research because it plays off of the mysteriousness of the Nazca Lines. In turn, this has made them an enigma in the public realm which has sparked interest in the lines and drove tourism into the area by those seeking a paranormal explanation or experience.  

Citation:

Däniken, Erich von, and Michael Heron. Chariots of the Gods. Berkley, 2018.