The Joe Rogan Experience #2449 – Raul Bilecky

Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Joe Rogan
Guest: Raul Bilecky (Archaeology Explorer, Pillars of the Past)

Episode Overview

In this deeply engaging episode, Joe Rogan sits down with Raul Bilecky, an independent archaeologist and the creator of the “Pillars of the Past” YouTube channel. Their conversation centers on Raul’s groundbreaking expeditions into the mysteries of ancient Peru, the rampant looting and destruction of archaeological sites, debates over odd relics such as elongated skulls and enigmatic mummies, the skepticism facing independent researchers, and the broader implications of lost civilizations and potential cataclysmic resets in human history. The discussion delves into the failures and limitations of mainstream academia, details Raul’s incredible fieldwork fueled almost entirely by his own passion, and explores mind-bending implications for humanity’s past.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery and Looting of Undocumented Sites in Peru

Rampant Looting

• Joe kicks off praising Raul’s online investigations, especially his documentation of newly discovered megalithic sites in Peru ([00:15]–[04:34]).
• Raul describes witnessing vast swathes of ruins turned into “landfills of human remains” by looters.

  “It’s eight full kilometers of just... it looks like the moon. Every single location has been looted.” — Raul ([02:01])

Government Inaction & Private Black Market

• Systematic looting is enabled by government apathy and corruption; most recovered artifacts end up in private collections, not museums.

  “Nobody from the government’s going out there. These things end up in private collections.” — Raul ([04:46])

• Grave robbers (“guaqueros”) operate openly, sometimes selling directly to wealthy foreigners ([42:00]).

2. Peru’s Archaeological Richness & Mystery

Unstudied Civilizations

• Peru is so dense with ruins that construction projects often accidentally reveal archaeological sites ([05:54]–[07:19]).
• Limited research funding means only a handful of sites, like Machu Picchu, are thoroughly studied.

“You throw a stone and you’re finding an ancient archaeological site... there is no lack.” — Raul ([05:54])

Personal Origin Story

• Raul traces his own fascination back to finding sea shells as a child at Machu Picchu, sparking questions about ancient cataclysms ([07:24]).

3. Mainstream vs. Alternative Archaeological Narratives

Debates over Ancient Builders

• The standard Peruvian timeline credits the Inca and Wari. Raul, however, highlights evidence of extremely old, precise megalithic construction, possibly made by lost or unknown peoples ([09:33]–[12:08]).
• Joe draws a global parallel with the Aztec and Roman practices of building atop mysterious older structures ([12:15]).

Academic Resistance & Gatekeeping

• Both criticize mainstream academia for intellectual arrogance and resistance to paradigm-shifting evidence ([15:35], [17:08]).

  “If you’re a 41-year-old person, you’re not the gatekeeper of ancient history... It doesn’t make sense. None of it makes sense.” — Joe ([16:08])

Paradigm-Breaking Discoveries

• The discovery of sites like Göbekli Tepe forced reevaluations of early civilization. Joe and Raul urge more humility and open-mindedness in light of new technology like ground-penetrating radar ([14:54], [21:44]).
• The academic cycle of dismissing and then eventually accepting inconvenient evidence is a recurring theme.

4. The Nazca Mummies, Elongated Skulls & Archaeological Hoaxes

Tridactyl Mummies Controversy

• A candid discussion of so-called “alien” mummies and elongated skulls, with Raul expressing healthy skepticism and explaining how some are manufactured from ancient human or animal bones ([28:20]–[40:43]).
• Financial motives are at play—money is often made not from the artifacts themselves, but “in the shows that come from it... subscriptions for the next season” ([39:40]).

Elongated Skulls

• Raul personally found several elongated skulls, many likely the result of ancient cranial deformation practices, but raises the possibility that some could represent unknown hominids.

  “Either you had whole cultures just doing this, or there’s too many of them for it to have just been some elitist practice.” — Raul ([44:22])

• Genetic studies have provided conflicting hints, with some skulls showing traces from the Black Sea/Caspian regions ([63:33]).

Preservation & Loss

• Raul describes the tragic loss of sites—looting destroys invaluable context, and many discoveries have simply disappeared ([48:01]).

5. Unsolved Mysteries: Pyramids, Sunken Plazas, Cataclysms, and Ancient Seafaring

Ancient Pyramids Pre-dating Giza

• Raul documents Peru’s monumental “pre-ceramic” pyramids, possibly older than Egypt’s ([66:04]–[67:18]). He speculates about their function (pilgrimage sites?) and the absence of weapons or evidence of warfare ([68:32]–[69:54]).
• The “Norte Chico” culture and sites like Caral demonstrate a complex, peaceful society vastly understudied ([70:28]).

Unwritten Record — The Khipus

• The destruction of Peru’s only known writing system by the Spanish is lamented. Few khipus (knotted cords) survive today, though they may encode rich histories ([71:54]–[72:48]).

Climate, Cataclysm, and Erasure

• Frequent El Niño, mega-floods, and possible tsunamis periodically obliterate costal settlements, erasing untold cultural layers ([88:07]–[90:35]).
• Raul speculates some monumental constructions could be over 12,000 years old and ties in broader discussion of cyclical, civilization-resetting events (e.g., Younger Dryas Impact) ([90:02]–[92:13]).

6. Raul’s Methods & The Power of Technology

Exploration Techniques

• Raul leverages Google Earth, drones, and local knowledge to track down and document sites—often venturing where no academic surveyors have gone ([75:24], [100:17]).
• Many newly “discovered” sites are literally hiding in plain sight, visible only from the air ([101:03], [117:40]).
• People on the ground may know of “ruins” but have no sense of their significance ([122:21]).

Agriculture, Urbanization, and Cultural Destruction

• Agro-industry is now a bigger threat than looters—entire sites are being plowed under for crops as farmers (often out of necessity) get no guidance or support from authorities ([79:04]–[81:04]).

7. Tunnels, Rituals, and Hallucinogenic Traditions

Ritual Spaces and Psychedelics

• Chavín de Huantar features vast underground chambers linked to ancient psychoactive rituals using San Pedro cactus ([130:05]–[133:26]).

  “As soon as I walked in underground, something hits you... Lighter and a little messed up in the head, man.” — Raul ([132:25])

Tunnels & Subterranean Sites

• The Andes are honeycombed with manmade tunnels; many are unexplored, dangerous, or steeped in local myth ([139:31]–[140:50]).

8. Debunking Stone Softening Legends & Megalithic Technology

Sacsayhuaman & Stone Construction Mysteries

• The titanic, marshmallow-like, interlocking stones of Sacsayhuaman defy current understanding; legends speak of plant-derived acids softening stone, possibly mixed with pyrite ([137:31]–[138:41]).

  “They talked about a bird that would take a red leaf and peck it into the rock, and it would help melt the stone.” — Raul ([137:02])

• Raul and Joe debate the plausibility of legends vs. scientific studies on "stone softening" ([138:41]–[139:01]).

9. Independent Research, Internet-Driven Discovery, and the Future

The Role of YouTube & Community

• Raul’s project is crowdfunded and fueled by an engaged online community ([99:12]).
• Social media and YouTube are transforming who controls and disseminates archaeological knowledge ([98:51], [116:38]), bypassing slow and often hostile academic gatekeepers.

Mental Toll and Motivation

• Raul gets visibly emotional about the weight of being, in some cases, the sole documentarian of a vanishing civilization ([87:09]).
• Joe underscores the importance and impact of Raul’s work; without him, these mysteries would remain invisible ([106:16]).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Looting:
  “It’s eight full kilometers... looks like the moon. Every single location has been looted.” — Raul ([02:01])

• On Official Apathy:
  “Nobody from the government’s going out there. These things end up in private collections.” — Raul ([04:46])

• On Academic Gatekeeping:
  “If you’re a 41-year-old person, you’re not the gatekeeper of ancient history... It doesn’t make sense.” — Joe ([16:08])

• On Paradigm-Busting Evidence:
  “If he’s right... you guys are fucked. You’re gonna eventually have to say, ‘We’re wrong.’” — Joe ([16:25]) re: sub-pyramid scans

• On the Power of Mystery:
  “You’re never going to get the full answer. It’s just— the mystery will never be satisfied... always hungry, you know?” — Joe ([74:20])

• On Being a Lone Explorer:
  “It’s a lot of work, you know, and... something in me that I—” visibly chokes up — Raul ([87:11])

• On the Duty to Document:
  “My goal is to document as much as possible before it’s not there to document.” — Raul ([98:31])

• On the Potential for Lost Civilizations:
  “There’s evidence on Huaca Prieta... that dates back to 12,500 BCE.” — Raul ([90:02])

• On Social Media Toxicity:
  “Social media is this weird loop of confirmation bias, bitchiness, and anger... It’s altering the collective psychological foundation of our society.” — Joe ([114:05])

Important Segments (Sample Timestamps)

• Peruvian Archaeological Looting Exposed: [00:15]–[04:34]
• Personal Origin Story at Machu Picchu: [07:24]
• Alternative Timeline and Vinyake Megaliths: [09:33]–[12:08]
• Elongated Skulls and Black Sea DNA Connection: [63:33]
• Sunken Plazas, Pyramids, & Norte Chico: [66:04]–[71:54]
• Founding of Pillars of the Past: [105:22]–[106:09]
• Stone Softening, Sacsayhuaman/Myth: [137:31]–[139:01]
• Chavín Ritual Chambers and Hallucinogens: [130:05]–[133:30]
• Agriculture Threatens Ancient Sites: [79:04]–[81:04]
• Raul’s Discovery Process via Google Earth: [75:35], [122:04]
• Emotional Weight of the Work: [87:06], [99:12]

Episode Flow & Tone

The conversation is raw, digressive, and passionate—equal parts wonder, outrage, and dark humor. Joe and Raul’s skepticism is matched by genuine awe about the ancient world and frustration with dismissive academic bureaucracy. Listeners will feel both the thrill of discovery and the melancholy of irreplaceable loss. Raul’s understated humility and palpable emotion convey the gravity of solo exploration; he’s neither showman nor conspiracy theorist, but a determined truth-seeker on the front lines of knowledge.

For Further Exploration

• Raul Bilecky’s Channel: Pillars of the Past—YouTube
• Follow on X/Twitter: @PillarsofthePast
• Upcoming Conferences: Quest for Ancient Civilizations (Sedona/Austin)
• Relevant Books/Authors: Graham Hancock (“Fingerprints of the Gods”), Ben van Kerkwyk (UnchartedX), Dr. Ed Barnhart

Summary

If you’re fascinated by the mysteries of deep antiquity, the frontiers of independent archaeology, and the struggle to rescue humanity’s forgotten story, this episode is essential listening. It’s both a call to action and a testament to how much remains undiscovered—and how little time is left to save it.