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Expansion of SETA to Planet Earth
By Ulrich Dopatka and Giorgio A. Tsoukalos
Abstract and text of poster presented by the A.A.S. R.A. / legendatytimes.com at the "Bioastronomy 2002 - Life among the Stars" Conference, Hamilton Island, Australia
Abstract
The Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts, SETA, should become a highly recommended and important additional search method in conjunction with SETI.
So far, SETA's emphasis solely relies on possible discoveries of extraterrestrial clues in our solar system. Such clues could exist in the form of lost extraterrestrial space probes and/or intentionally left behind probes/artifacts of former extraterrestrial visits.
A logical expansion of such a search would be to expand the search to planet Earth. Hidden clues of extraterrestrial artifacts, and/or clues of extraterrestrial contact on Earth in the remote past could be uncovered by the analytical comparison of ethnological, mythological and historical sources.
Such cultural traditions, myths of ancient folklore, and, for example, petroglyphs, could be regarded as a possible source of actual information recorded after extraordinary observations or events had been made. Even possible clues in the fossil record or in the genetic code (genomics) should not be ignored.
In the lecture/poster the methodology for such an expanded search will be described with an outline of possible results.
Expansion of SETA to planet Earth: Methodology and possible results
Any extraterrestrial objects, be they of artificial or natural/biological origin, which have entered our solar system in the form of either lost extraterrestrial space probes, or intentionally directed space craft, could have possibly survived or remained in various places.
They could be hidden in planetary orbits, or stationed on certain planets or moons for extended periods of time.
Logically speaking, this also includes planet Earth itself. Even more so, from a purely scientific point of view, any probe that was directed into our solar system by an intelligent civilization would have chosen Earth especially as the most attractive candidate for exploration. Expanding the search to our own terrestrial environment thus makes not only sense, but actually has a logical justification; it is also the most cost-effective scientific attempt, compared to expensive space flight exploration, to locate any extraterrestrial leftovers.
Obviously, such a search is immensely handicapped because of the strong natural and cultural erosion that has occurred over the millennia. Any relict or extraterrestrial probe would run the great risk of being destroyed over time by gradual deterioration, or possibly become hidden not only through natural environmental influences, but, even more so, by humans.
If such extraordinary remnants were indeed discovered in past eras of fast-moving cultural evolution (in many cases accompanied by political unrest, catastrophies, and/or natural disasters), the discovery's true significance might have been greatly underestimated and possibly not even properly recognized.
In similar cases where such technology-related objects were located or discovered by non- or lesser technologically advanced people, ethnologists compiled and documented a human reaction pattern of highly peculiar cultural behavior of these people 'misinterpreting' such "foreign" objects. In most of the documented cases such discoveries/confrontations resulted in the creation of completely new forms of traditions in which the newly found objects, and/or the strange visitors, played the central part.
Ethnologically speaking, this is called a "Cargo Cult". Examples can be found all over the world, especially in the Melanesia region of the South Pacific.
Even after the "evidence" or the "artifact" was lost, hidden, or destroyed, the memories and recollections pertaining to the object and/or the visitors associated with it, remained. Facts were preserved orally through ritual traditions of significant events which happened a long, long time ago, dating back decades, centuries, or possibly even longer.
Using this inherent form of "recording," actual - at that time highly significant - events in the remote past were preserved over the course of millennia. These accounts should thus be used in the careful analysis of ancient myths and traditions containing intricate descriptions of "confrontations with technological content and background". Such descriptions can be found worldwide, and it should be attempted to bring these accounts under one common denominator.
The analytical comparison of such accounts, following the judgement of actual results, seems to be particularly effective with certain advanced ancient cultures, such as ancient India.
Also, the methodology has to include other areas of study in which further clues could possibly be detected. For example, ancient illustrations, such as petroglyphs, or man-made replicas of strange discoveries and observations reported worldwide, could be directly compared to oral and mythological traditions.
Other examples of the actual contents of truth and the feasible longevity of such methods of 'recording' such important events can be found in Australia where Aborigines in their myths and legends recorded observations of volcanic events in the remote past with the help of petroglyphs. Geologists date the last volcanic eruptions of Australia to about 5000 BC.
Of course today, in most parts of the modern world, the attitude and behavior of people confronted with the discovery of a possible extraterrestrial artifact (or any other form of contact) would yield a quite different result than in the past. At least there would be a good chance that the interpretation and description of a strange discovery or event would merit its technological significance, if such an origin is applicable. However, the probability of such a "first contact" in our present time is next to zero, compared to such a probability during the long time span of our past. Consequently, any speculative UFO interpretations are resolutely excluded from this analysis.
Even more so, further methods of figuring out evidence of extraterrestrial contact with Earth and its biosphere have to be taken into consideration. Going deeper into the past, not even certain paleontological relicts should be ignored.
If, although highly speculative, a temporary expedition of extraterrestrials wants to intentionally leave behind evidence of their visit, or any other long-term message, they could have also used any type of genetic or biological medium to preserve the code or proof. If such were the case, then only the right technologically and scientifically advanced civilization would be capable to find, decipher, read and, above all, understand the message. Like this, no earlier, technologically inferior culture would have been capable of destroying the evidence.
If Earth itself is regarded as a SETA target area, it seems to be much more suitable, realistic and pragmatic, to focus on the analysis of the actual records of cultural sources at first. Still, one should not dismiss the chance of locating real artifacts even if such a discovery is less likely. In both cases, however, the found clues could possibly justify the effort of supporting a theory which postulates that in the remote past there might have been contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence. The "SETA on Earth" strategy is just the start.
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