THE 2021 C.R.A.P. AWARD GOES TO THE DISCOVERER OF HOPI U.F.O.s:

 2021 C.R.A.P. AWARD

Yes, that’s right, the esteemed C.R.A.P. (Certifiable Rock Art Prevarication) award for 2021 goes to Gary A. David for his discovery of Hopi Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). David is a self-described “independent researcher of Southwestern archaeological ruins and rock art for twenty-five years. He earned his master’s degree in English literature from the University of Colorado and is a former college professor.  

Paatuwvota (Hopi flying saucer) identified by Gary David, photograph www.ancientcode.com.

Among other esoteric subjects David has found evidence that the Hopi knew of, and pictured in their rock art, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). He talks of Hopi Indian legends about craft called flying shields piloted by kachinas. He also likens some katcina masks to space helmets. (David 2008:1)

Sotuknang katcina. By Lenno Polingyumptewa, Hopi.

Comparing the Hopi flying shields to artifacts from Atlantis or the lost continent of Mu, he ascribes these flying shields, or paatuwvota, to Sotuknang, whom he calls a “sky god.” (David 2008:12) In one of the Hopi myths he bases his theories on, an immense flood destroyed Palatkwapi and all of the people fled. A brother and sister who were left behind set out to find their parents. This brother and sister heard a roaring noise from above. Looking up for the source of this loud noise they saw a being descend from the heavens, clothed in a costume of something that glittered like ice, and who shone like a star from his head and face. Speaking to them he told them not to be afraid and introduced himself as Sotuknang. Sotuknang told the brother and sister that he had come to help them and invited them to climb onto his flying shield. (David 2008)

Hopi Delta-winged flying machine identified by Gary David. Internet photograph, public domain.

David explained that the Hopi called this UFO a flying shield because its shape approximated that of a warrior’s shield, and because the Hopi had no saucers to name it after. Stating that these flying shields appear in more than one myth he also discussed evidence that he found in petroglyphs.  David refers to a petroglyph near Mishongnovi, on Second Mesa, which shows an arrow with a rounded shape on top of it and the head of a maiden representing purity. The arrow supposedly represents the craft traveling through space. David goes on to state that the Hopi believe that other planets are inhabited, and that this petroglyph represents one of these flying craft, a paatuwvota. Supposedly at the end of this world the sacred beings will arrive from Venus on UFOs. These flying saucers are piloted by kachinas and David states that many Hopi traditionalists have seen these flying saucers. (David 2008)

Hopi basket weaver making sooyungyapu. Photograph A. C. Vroman, 1901. Vroman was presumably unaware that these baskets are modeled upon flying saucer.

But not all of these UFOs resemble shields. There is another kind referred to as a tawiya, or gourd, subdivided into two halves. Its rider climbs into the lower half and then closes the upper half, connecting a tightly stretched sinew between the bottom of the gourd and the button of the stem. Then rubbing the sinew between the palms of his hands this contraption then takes to the air and emits a humming noise. David ascribes to the Hopi the belief that this gourd is a magic vehicle and that those who have the power can travel in it like a flying saucer. Another celestial transport mechanism is likened to a spinning tray called a sooyungyapu. This basketry tray has a star design woven into it which David believes is a clue to its origin as another copy of these aerial craft. (David 2008)

In his 2006 book “The Orion Zone” David illustrates another example.  A petroglyph representing a triangular flying craft at Homolovi State Park. This is also identified as a paatuwvota or flying shield. (David 2008:fig. 54)

Finally, David also records a number of UFO sightings by Hopi and others around Arizona to lend credence to his arguments. (David 2014)

For these remarkable discoveries adding not only to our knowledge of rock art but space travel as well, RockArtBlog is proud to announce Gary A. David as the 2021 recipient of our CRAP award.

NOTE 1: The images in this posting were retrieved from the internet with a search for public domain photographs. If any of these images are not intended to be public domain, I apologize, and will happily provide the picture credits if the owner will contact me with them. For further information on these reports you should read the original reports at the sites listed below.

Note 2: David is not the only one who has heard about these Hopi Flying Machines. In chapter one of his 2013 book Donald Yates (see references below) wrote “After the end of Tokpela, World Destroyed by Fire, the people emerged to the Second World called Dark Midnight, but they begin to become preoccupied with materialistic concerns as before. They ignore once again the commandments of the Creator. Sotuknang and Spider Woman seal a select few in the underground world of the Ant People and direct the celestial Twins to leave their posts at the north and south poles. The earth spins around off its axis, rolls over twice and freezes into soled ice. After it warms the earth and seas are revived, Sotuknang brings the remnants of mankind out of the Ant kiva to emerge into the third world, Kuskurza. True to its name, Kuskurza is full of big cities, jewels, copper, tobacco and speeding vessels called patuwvota.”  Yates, however, refers to it in the sense of a legend, not the gospel truth, so he does not get to share in the award.

REFERENCES:

David, Gary A., 2014, Hopi “Flying Shields” Over Arizona, https://www.academia.edu/, accessed 22 November 2021

David, Gary A., 2008, The Flying Shields of the Hopi Kachinas, https://www.academia.edu/, accessed 20 November 2021.

David, Gary A., 2006, The Orion Zone, Adventures Unlimited Press, Kempton, Illinois

Yates, Donald N., 2013, Old Souls in a New World: The Secret History of the Cherokee Indians, Panther’s Lodge Publishing, Phoenix.