Agreed, but I'm relying on most people here having a healthy skepticism about the information in the book, which is after all in the public domain, and often, I think, relevant.

Besides, that time was marked by a surge of popular interest in the possibility of space visitors which made a strong impression on a lot of people. I also understand that Dan Browne's recent phenomenally successful "The Da Vinci Code" is now being legally challenged for over-zealously borrowing from a book written back then, mentioned here:

"The term 'ancient astronauts' designates the speculative notion that aliens are responsible for the most ancient civilizations on earth. The most notorious proponent of this idea is Erich von Däniken, author of several popular books on the subject. His "Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past" [mid-'70's?], for example, is a sweeping attack on the memories and abilities of ancient peoples. Von Däniken claims that the myths, arts, social organizations, etc., of ancient cultures were introduced by astronauts from another world. He questions not just the capacity for memory, but the capacity for culture and civilization itself, in ancient peoples. Prehistoric humans did not develop their own arts and technologies, but rather were taught art and science by visitors from outer space.

Where is the proof for von Däniken's claims? Some of it was fraudulent. For example, he produced photographs of pottery that he claimed had been found in an archaeological dig. The pottery depicts flying saucers and was said to have been dated from Biblical times. However, investigators from Nova (the fine public-television science program) found the potter who had made the allegedly ancient pots. They confronted von Däniken with evidence of his fraud. His reply was that his deception was justified because some people would only believe if they saw proof ("The Case of the Ancient Astronauts," first aired 3/8/78, done in conjunction with BBC's Horizon and Peter Spry-Leverton)! "