Science paper re: the Silurian Hypothesis (ancient civilizations / ancient aliens / lizard people)

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mbxk4y/a-new-study-suggests-there-could-have-been-intelligent-life-on-earth-before-humans

The paper above opens a tiny crack in mainstream science for the proposal of evidence supporting the silurian hypothesis (essentially that ancient civilizations being comprised of alien or indigenous biology may be able to be detected archaeologically and such evidence may show pre-human civilizations existed on earth).

Weigh in folks, yea or nay.