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Erich von Däniken, who claimed aliens built the pyramids, dead at 90

Jan 12, 2026
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Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose 1968 book Chariots of the Gods? launched the ancient astronaut movement and sold over 70 million copies, died January 10 in a hospital in central Switzerland, reports Yahoo News. He was 90.

Von Däniken claimed the Mayans and ancient Egyptians were visited by extraterrestrials who taught them advanced technology —…

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