Intriguingly, alternative history enthusiasts argue that these mines were not solely the result of early human advancements but were also influenced by the Anunnaki, ancient extraterrestrial beings. These aliens purportedly sought gold to support their dying world, drawing them to the gold-rich regions of Southern Africa. The existence of ancient mining sites, particularly in the Barberton Greenstone Belt, raises the notion that early human societies may have worked under these extraterrestrial overseers, blending myth and reality in a captivating narrative.