Michael Cremo, alternative archaeologist, dies at 78

Michael Cremo, an author and self-described “alternative archaeologist” and “Vedic creationist,” has died at the age of 78 in Los Angeles.

Cremo dedicated his career to challenging the Darwinian theory of evolution. He argued that humans did not evolve from other species but have instead existed on Earth for millions of years. His claims were often based on what critics described as highly questionable evidence, such as a mortar and pestle allegedly found in a 30-million-year-old fossilized riverbed.

Known in the Hare Krishna movement as Drutakarma Dasa, Cremo sought to ground his beliefs—which were influenced by ancient Sanskrit texts—in scientific debate. While some viewed him as an independent truth-seeker, others dismissed his work as pseudoscience, comparing his ideas to those of conspiracy theorists. He is best known for his 1993 book, “Forbidden Archaeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race,” co-authored with Richard Thompson.