Michael Cremo, also known as Drutakarma Dasa in his spiritual identity, is an American freelance researcher and author specializing in the history and philosophy of science. He is best known for his work in alternative archaeology, particularly his views on human origins and antiquity, which challenge mainstream scientific theories.
Cremo was born on July 15, 1948, and gained prominence with the publication of his book “Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race” in 1993, co-authored with Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa). In this work, Cremo argues that humans have existed for millions of years, contradicting the standard scientific understanding that modern humans evolved relatively recently. The book compiles a variety of archaeological and paleontological findings, which Cremo claims have been ignored or suppressed by mainstream science because they contradict the established narrative of human evolution.
His views are rooted in Vedic creationism, drawing from the teachings and texts of the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON), of which he is a member. Cremo’s approach blends his interpretations of Vedic texts with a critical examination of archaeological and paleontological evidence.
Cremo’s work has been popular in alternative archaeology and ancient astronaut circles, but it has been met with considerable criticism from the scientific community. Critics argue that his methodology is flawed, accusing him of selectively presenting evidence to support his conclusions while ignoring the broader context and consensus in archaeological and paleontological research.