In addition to the already investigated sites of Santo Domingo and San Marcos, we were able, for the first time, to conduct measurements in the Pyramids of Güímar. The continued support of the park management and the access to the step structures are of invaluable importance to our work.

A particularly significant moment was our meeting with Prof. Carmen del Arco and the park management in Güímar. The presentation of our preliminary results attracted considerable attention—especially due to the unexpectedly high age of the pyramids. At this stage, we are deliberately refraining from publishing specific dates, as the final results can only be validated after a full calibration of the OSL signals with both the natural environmental radioactivity and the newly acquired gamma radiation data. However, this final step is now imminent.

Together with our archaeological partners, we are planning a public presentation of the final results in early July 2026 in the Canary Islands—a moment that could fundamentally change our understanding of these structures. We will keep you informed as soon as the time comes.

The stepped pyramids in the Canary Islands still hold many mysteries. Besides their age, researchers are also in the dark about their function. This aerial photograph of the stepped structures in Santo Domingo suggests that this complex may have been a giant macro-calendar, used to determine the movement of celestial bodies within the enormous, cauldron-like "amphitheater."

Dr. Jorge Sánchez brought a gamma spectrometer with him from his university in A Coruña. This allowed us to measure the stones for specific isotopes of three elements, which are ultimately crucial for the final calculation of the age of the OSL samples.

Handling the device on the steep pyramid slopes wasn't easy at all. First, we had to climb to the various OSL sampling points, and then each measurement took three minutes. However, four configurations were measured each time, which meant twelve minutes for a single measurement. So, a lot of work at a height of more than 10 meters!

In OSL dating, we analyze the charge that develops in minerals after they have been exposed to ionizing radiation for thousands of years. Rocks naturally contain small amounts of uranium, thorium, and other radioisotopes. These radioisotopes emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Gamma radiation, however, must be measured directly at the sample site because it can penetrate rock or sediment to a depth of up to 30 cm. That's why working on-site at the pyramids was so important!

For the first time, Dr. Sánchez and I presented the preliminary measurement results to a panel on the Canary Islands. In addition to the project director, Alicia B. Martin, and the two Canarian archaeologists, Professor Carmen del Arco and Beatriz G. Girona (all three at the bottom right), Thor Heyerdahl's widow (Jaqueline, next to me), our project manager, Gustavo Sánchez, and a Russian archaeologist also participated (top, from left to right). Together, we discussed the significance of this new data for research in the Canary Islands.

Jorge's spectrometer was used again on the Santis Pyramid. The measurement taken at the site of the oldest part of this step pyramid is visible. From Jorge's measurement, a ramp leads downwards and to the right. This ramp was later added in front of the older truncated pyramid. This is clearly visible in the OSL results! The area on which the pyramid stands was artificially filled with fertile soil 60 years ago. This event, too, can be seen and confirmed in the OSL data!

Der Beitrag Erste Forschungsreise nach Teneriffa – Ein entscheidender Schritt für die OSL erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

At first glance, these Bronze Age monuments appear both archaic and architecturally sophisticated. Beneath their layered stone constructions lie burial chambers, which is why they are often interpreted as funerary monuments. Yet their terraced, stepped design evokes broader architectural traditions of early monumental building in the Mediterranean world.

Pantelleria was never isolated. The island occupied a strategic position along important maritime routes linking North Africa, Sicily, and the eastern Mediterranean. Its obsidian was traded widely in prehistoric times — clear evidence of early seafaring networks and long-distance exchange. The Sesi therefore represent not only a local architectural expression, but also the cultural dynamism of an island that stood at the intersection of civilizations for millennia.

For me, Pantelleria remains a key site — a stone archive rising from the sea.

Typical monumental stone structures from the Bronze Age on Pantelleria. At first glance, they appear somewhat megalithic, yet surprisingly well-constructed. Due to the numerous burial chambers, they are often interpreted as burial mounds.

Pantelleria is located halfway between Sicily and Tunisia. The small island covers approximately 83 km². It is of volcanic origin, with its highest point being Montagna Grande (836 m).

Because of their terraced construction, they are often confused with the step pyramids of the Mediterranean. However, they are not related to them at all. They are more than 1,000 years younger than the ziggurats in Sicily and Sardinia, which also places their origin in the Middle Bronze Age.

Entrance to one of the so-called burial chambers. The stone arrangements are constructed using dry stone masonry. I personally visited the largest chambers in 1999.

A view inside the stone burial chambers. At the time, there was no further information about finds or any excavations at the structure. Some of the passages extend more than 6 meters deep into the building. Others are quite short. With very few exceptions (perhaps added later?), such "chambers" are not found in classic stepped pyramids.

The so-called "Pantelleria Cemetery." Archaeologists believe this to be the burial site of the Sesi's master builders. Here, too, the form and architecture reveal connections to neighboring islands. This site suggests that the chambers of the circular buildings likely served other purposes, but what those purposes were remains unknown.

Der Beitrag Pantelleria – Stufenarchitektur im Herzen des Mittelmeeres erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

The follow-up discussions with archaeologists, pharmacologists, and botanists were particularly enriching, opening up new perspectives – including on possible pre-Columbian tobacco traces in the Rif region. Such interdisciplinary approaches demonstrate the immense potential of networked research.

The visits to historical sites like Lixus and the impressions gained in the Rabat Museum also made clear the central role Morocco may once have played in long-distance maritime trade. Evidence of far-reaching trade contacts – trans-Mediterranean and possibly even transatlantic – is becoming increasingly compelling.

More than ever, Morocco appears as a cultural corridor between worlds – a space that should be given even greater focus in future research. I look back with gratitude on intense days full of inspiration – and I am already looking forward to continuing this exciting collaboration.

All the scientists involved in the conference were at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences at Mohammed V University in Rabat. There, Dominique established a new research collaboration with several Moroccan scientists.

Dean Professor Zakaria Boudhim (right), together with Professor Said Bennis (left), presented Dominique with the certificate of honor for the successful conference at the university. Prof. Said developed the new term "Moroccanology" from the ABORA presentation on the possible existence of pre-Columbian tobacco in Morocco. The aim of this field is to structure a research area similar to Egyptology, but one that focuses on Moroccan genius and territorial specificities (languages, anthropology, identity, humanity, history, civilization, etc.).

Another highlight was the visit to Lixus, near the modern city of Larache. Although an inspection of the megalithic walls near the harbor was impossible due to flooding, the oldest Phoenician remains are impressive. These walls date back to the late 2nd millennium BC.

The highlight was the discovery of a previously unknown Curt Rut field north of Essaouira. This structure bears striking similarities to similar wagon-track fields found throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as in the Canary Islands and the Azores. Is this all just coincidence, or did these peoples communicate across the Atlantic Ocean much earlier than previously thought?

It remains the task of future research expeditions to determine where these wagon tracks lead. The same applies to the megalithic structures in Larache and Safi. Much more will be revealed by fieldwork in the coming months. The next research expedition to Morocco is already being planned!

Der Beitrag Marokko – Wissenschaft, Geschichte und neue Horizonte erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

To date, only about ten percent of the site has been archaeologically excavated. However, what is already visible reveals the extraordinary significance of this place. The oldest known settlement layers date back to Phoenician settlements, which emerged as late as the 2nd millennium BC. Their massive, almost megalithic-looking walls differ markedly from later construction phases. Phoenician architecture appears compact and functional – a clear contrast to the subsequent Hellenistic and Roman structures. Lixus reached its greatest extent during the Roman era. Particularly impressive is the prominent location of a monumental palace complex associated with the Numidian-Mauretan kings Juba I and Juba II. From here, one once overlooked the harbor and the trade routes of the western Mediterranean. Muslim communities left their mark as the last cultural phase. However, with changing coastlines and the further decline of sea levels, the economic centre gradually shifted to the present-day location of Larache. The present-day ruins are therefore more than just an archaeological site – they are a geological and cultural-historical archive. Hardly any other place in Morocco illustrates so vividly how closely the course of history is intertwined with changes in climate, coastlines, and trade routes. Since the majority of the city still lies buried, Lixus also remains a promise for future research.

Today, the Loukos River encircles Mount Lixus like an omega. But in ancient times, the entire bay was part of the Atlantic Ocean. At its foot of this peninsula lay a small harbor, which archaeologists only recently discovered.

View of the palace of the Numidian-Mauritian kings. At the beginning of the year, torrential rains caused severe flooding in northern Morocco. Since then, the valley has resembled the ancient landscape of the ocean.

Only a few structures from the earliest settlement have been uncovered so far. This wall demonstrates the distinctive construction methods of the Phoenicians. A cistern of Phoenician origin is also believed to be located underground.

At the end of the wall, the Romans added a basilica. On the right edge, you can see the transition to the much older Phoenician structure. The difference between the two construction methods is clearly visible. The Phoenician wall used no mortar, relying solely on precisely placed large blocks.

Before the Romans, the Greeks also ventured out onto the Atlantic. They too found their way to the Loukos River, where they built a mighty fortress atop the hill. It was eventually taken over by the Romans and integrated into their complex.

The remains of the royal palace of Kings Juba I & II. They too held Lixus firmly in their grip until environmental conditions changed abruptly. Juba II also undertook an extensive voyage of discovery to explore the lands far to the south of Africa.

Der Beitrag Lixus – Eine Reise durch 3000 Jahre Geschichte erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

Dominique gave the keynote address at the end of the conference on the topic: “New Dating Approaches to Early History of the Canary Islands and Morocco.” Prior to this, the dean and numerous scholars from archaeology, geography, and social sciences spoke.

Professor Mohamed Oubihi invited Dominique and organized this conference. His academic connections will help establish important contacts with scientists in Morocco. These contacts should help clarify open questions about the existence of pre-Columbian tobacco and step pyramids in Morocco.

The Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Professor Jamal Eddine El Hani, presented Dominique with the certificate of honor for the successful conference at the university.

View of the certificate of Mohamed V University.

The day before, Professor Oubihi took us to the Museum of History in Rabat. There, together we discovered numerous rock carvings, confirming that Morocco is the right place to bridge the gaps between prehistoric Mediterranean and Atlantic cultures. This Bronze Age image most likely depicts a reed raft with a rectangular square sail – a typical representation of these seaworthy sailing rafts.

Der Beitrag Transdisziplinäre Forschung trifft Rabat – Ein erfolgreicher Auftakt an der Mohamed V Universität erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

Donini concludes that there is a 68.2% probability that the construction period of the Great Pyramid could lie between 10,979 and 38,903 BC, with an average value around 24,941 BC. Such a dating would fundamentally call into question all previous archaeological and scientific findings.

A detailed discussion of this would go beyond the scope of this article. Therefore, here are just three key facts that argue against such an early dating:

1. 1. The Wadi al-Dscharf Papyrus meticulously documents the transport of Tura limestone blocks for the pyramid's casing and clearly dates it to the reign of Khufu (around 2.600 BC). Carbon-14 analyses confirm this dating.

1. 1. AMS dating of charcoal samples from the lime mortar of the cornerstones yielded growth dates between 3.030 and 2.905 BC – in close agreement with further carbon-14 data from the workers' quarters behind the Pyramid of Khafre.

1. 1. Astro-archaeological investigations by Robert Bauval show that the orientations of the so-called "soul shafts" only precisely align with the relevant star constellations during the period between 2.700 and 2.500 BC.

I am curious to see how the academic community will react to Donini's approach. Based on current knowledge, however, I consider this extremely early dating untenable. Regardless, the question remains open whether structures below the Giza Plateau – such as the Valley Temple and the Sphinx – might actually be older than previously assumed; this is an aspect that should be further discussed intensively.

The age of the pyramids on the Giza Plateau was already debated by scholars of antiquity. According to the accounts of one of the most important scholars, Herodotus (around 500 BC), the largest pyramid was first built by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) in the 4th Dynasty, some 4,600 years ago. However, whether the megalithic structures beneath the large pyramids are located there remains a matter of debate.

Excerpt from the publication by Alberto Donini (University of Bologna). In it, Donini presents an innovative method – the so-called Relative Erosion Method ). It is based on comparing two erosion patterns of the same rock type under identical environmental conditions: one of known age, the other of unknown age. From the ratio of the erosion degrees, he then intends to derive an age estimate.

Using specific formulas, he ultimately calculates the determined age of the weathering. The Gaussian curve (from the publication) shows the probability of 68.2% that the value lies within plus or minus one standard deviation.

Fragment of one of Egypt's oldest inscribed papyri – the approximately 4,600-year-old fragments from Wadi al-Dscharf on the Red Sea. The texts document the work of a construction crew that shipped limestone from Tura to Giza. The stone was used to build the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Does this papyrus thus prove the authenticity of Herodotus's accounts?

Robert Bauval's calculations revealed that the precision of the Earth's axis, in conjunction with the alignment of the so-called "soul shafts," allows for the astronomical dating of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Only within a relatively narrow time window between 2.700 and 2.500 BC do the shafts point to specific stars or constellations.

Inspired by the author John Anthony West, Professor Robert Schoch, through his research on the Sphinx in the early 1990s, revealed that the erosion patterns might indicate strong water erosion rather than purely wind erosion. His hypothesis: The weathering could date back to a significantly wetter climatic period—around 10.000 BC. My colleague Prof. David Rohl and I reject this paleo-age based on own observations on predynastic structure at the Giza-Plateau.

Der Beitrag Neudatierung der Cheops-Pyramide auf 40.000 v. Chr.? erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

The new portal provides a comprehensive overview of the DILMUN and ABORA expeditions, the Cheops Project, current research projects such as the Canary Islands, Tenerife, and Cuba projects, and preparations for the upcoming ABORA V Atlantic mission. In addition to historical expeditions, the site focuses on new archaeometric dating methods, large-scale experiments, and previously unpublished research findings. ABORA.eu sees itself not only as an archive, but also as a vibrant research platform – and as an invitation to rethink the history of early seafaring and global contacts.

Here again is the link to the new platform: www.abora.eu

The initial upload of the new website took place at the offices of CM System GmbH in Gotha. The following members of the operational management team were present (from left to right): Dorit Temme (direct operator), Heiko Bley (managing director), Julia Prokopidis (web design), and Dr. Dominique Görlitz (ABORA project).

A look at the new homepage, which features a new informational video about all the important ABORA missions. The tabs at the top show the new categories: ABORA I-IV to ABORA V, as well as "News" and other “Projects”. These new categories have been developed in great detail and are richly illustrated. Numerous video links will be added in the coming weeks. There's also a direct link to ABORA TV – the Nuoflix.de platform – where all the new documentaries about Dominique Görlitz's research and innovative projects are presented in a multimedia format! Any questions? Just visit and explore…

As an example, let's open the "Projects" tab. This category has been completely redesigned and updated for the first time. In addition to the well-known "Cheops Project," it includes the transdisciplinary Canary Islands projects, where the ABORA team is investing considerable resources and effort to elucidate the origins of the Canary Islands' indigenous population. All of Görlitz's research projects are currently listed here. But this is a start. An identical English version will follow shortly!

Several partners of the ABORA Project, which originated in Gotha, attended the presentation. Besides ABORA members, representatives from the Gotha Thuringian Allgemeine (newspaper) and Oskar TV were also present. Ronald Bellstedt, head of NABU Thuringia (pictured on the right), has been involved since the beginning.

Let's take another look at the "ABORA I-IV" section. This section outlines the most important developments and results within the 26 years of ABORA projects. It would be too extensive to discuss every expedition. Perhaps the most significant projects for archaeology were ABORA II (2002) and ABORA III (2007).

Der Beitrag Der neue Internetauftritt des ABORA-Projekts erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

Mit EvD verlieren wir einen der letzten großen Grenzgänger des 20. Jahrhunderts. Er wird in seinen Büchern, Filmen und nicht zuletzt in den Erinnerungen seiner Freunde weiterleben. Ich bin überzeugt, dass der Tag kommen wird, an dem sich seine Vision eines ersten Kontakts mit außerirdischer Intelligenz erfüllen könnte. Wir sind im Universum nicht allein. Unser lieber Erich ist nun – sinnbildlich – zu den Göttern aufgestiegen. Möge er in unseren Gedanken und in unserer eigenen Forschung lebendig bleiben.

Erich and I shared a friendship of more than 30 years in the spirit of transdisciplinarity and the search for our cultural origins.

In this way, we overcame many a "mental barrier" together and were always open to shared jokes and playful banter. This was also true in my Cheops project, which dealt with the earthly use of wrought iron in the construction of the pyramids. Together, we waged many a battle of the gods on Earth, often to the amusement of our guests and fellow researchers.

In his hometown of Beatenberg, near Interlaken in Switzerland, we met regularly for work meetings to discuss joint projects or conference appearances. This picture is from 2023. 

I was deeply impressed by Erich's openness, as he changed considerably in his later years. He increasingly attributed greater importance to the role of early seafaring and maritime cultural exchange. In interviews and joint presentations, he emphasized that even prehistoric seafarers made a significant contribution to the spread of cultural achievements.

His successor and new managing director of A.A.S. – Ramon Zürcher – will now continue his work. For this reason, Erich has for years released Ramon from his regular duties to work on ABORA projects and supported him in preparing of new research with me. For this, too, I express my respect and deep gratitude to EvD.

Der Beitrag Farewell to Erich von Däniken erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

Der Beitrag 21.10.2024, Kartographie-Kongress war echtes Highlight erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.

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Der Beitrag 05.12.2024, Die Bestimmung des Alters der Pyramiden Teneriffas erschien zuerst auf Mission Abora.