Why it matters
The Dogon were reported to know of Sirius B, a companion star no eye can see — read by some as a memory of contact. The truth is murkier than either side admits.
What mainstream says
Likely 20th-C contamination from visiting Europeans (Griaule), not independent ancient knowledge. Grade: speculation.
The memory of it
The Dogon of Mali were reported in the 1930s and 40s to know that Sirius has an invisible companion, Sirius B — read by some as a memory of ancient contact. We grade this firmly as speculation. The most credible explanation is contamination: the visiting anthropologists likely fed modern astronomy back into what they recorded, so it is probably not independent ancient knowledge at all. We include it because the forbidden shelf must be read honestly, including the cases that dissolve on inspection. It is a cautionary tale about how one charismatic claim becomes 'evidence' through repetition. Shown here, labelled S, it teaches the method more than it supports the thesis.
Sources & further reading
The authoritative reference for this site/finding — and its own primary citations — so you can check us.