Zecharia Sitchin (1920-2010) was a Russian-born author known for his works proposing an alternative history involving ancient astronauts and extraterrestrial influences on early human civilization. His ideas are often cited in discussions of ancient astronaut theories and have been influential in certain circles, though they are not supported by mainstream historians or archaeologists.
Sitchin’s most famous work is “The Earth Chronicles” series, starting with “The 12th Planet,” published in 1976. In these books, he posited that ancient texts, particularly Sumerian mythology and the biblical Old Testament, contain evidence of human contact with extraterrestrial beings. According to Sitchin, these beings, whom he called the Anunnaki, came from a hypothetical planet in our solar system, named Nibiru.
He suggested that the Anunnaki genetically engineered primitive humans, using their own DNA, to create modern Homo sapiens, initially intended to serve as laborers. Sitchin interpreted ancient artifacts, mythological stories, and archaeological records as supporting this theory.
Sitchin’s qualifications in the field of ancient Near Eastern languages and history have been a subject of discussion. While he claimed expertise in reading and interpreting Sumerian and Akkadian clay tablets, critics, including scholars of ancient languages and cultures, have challenged his translations and interpretations, often pointing out inaccuracies and stating that his conclusions are not supported by the textual and archaeological evidence.