David Hatcher Childress

{{pseudosciencenav}}'''David Hatcher Childress''' {{lived|1957|}} is an [[United States|American]] self-described "[[Pseudoarchaeology|rogue archaeologist]]" and "real-life Indiana Jones" who has written on more [[crank]] topics than most people can name. He appeared on a number of [[pseudoscience]] documentaries such as ''[[Ancient Aliens]]'', ''Sightings and Encounters'', and ''[[The Mysterious Origins of Man]]''.

==Works and claims==
The full list of [[crank]] ideas he has supported over the years is vast and is quite well illustrated by the categories Childress' publishing company, Adventures Unlimited Press, proudly proclaims that it stocks: "[[Atlantis|Atlantic Studies]], [[Alternative medicine|Alternative Health]], [[Pseudoscience|Alternative Science]], [[Ancient astronauts|Ancient Aliens The Series]], [[Appeal to ancient wisdom|Ancient Science]], [[Science_woo#Anti-gravity|Anti-Gravity]], [[Conspiracy theory|Conspiracy]] & [[Pseudohistory|History]], [[Cryptozoology]], [[Egypt]] & the [[Pyramid]]s, [[Free energy|Free Energy Systems]], [[Sacred geometry|Geometry]] & [[Pseudomathematics|Math]], [[Holy Grail]] & [[Knights Templar|Templar Studies]], [[Lemuria|Lost Cities Series]], [[Paranormal|Mysterious Phenomena]], [[Time travel|Mystic Travelers Series]], [[Native American woo|Native American Studies]], Philosophy & Religion, [[Pseudoscience|Strange Science]], [[Nikola Tesla|Tesla Technology]], [[UFO]]'s & [[Extraterrestrial]] [[Crank magnetism|and more]]."<ref>[http://www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com/index.php On its front page] &mdash; at least he's not beating around the bush.</ref> Among those topics not explicitly on this list have been the [[Bermuda Triangle]], [[pole shift]]s, [[hollow Earth]], and [[Secret society|secret societies]].

[[Jason Colavito]], in a sort of retrospective review of Childress' work in 2012, pointed out that Childress will pursue whatever bit of [[pseudohistory]] and related [[woo]] is currently in vogue, tracking Childress' switch from pseudohistorical claims about mysterious ancient civilizations tens of thousands of years old<ref group=note>Akin to [[Michael Cremo]]'s nonsense or the [[bullshit]] claims about the [[Sphinx of Giza]] being 10,000 years old.</ref> to [[aliensdidit]] as the latter branch became more popular around 2010. Colavito concluded that Childress is simply an [[Shyster|opportunist]] who will latch onto any trendy pseudohistorical [[crank]]ery, illustrating this approach by contrasting Childress' dismissive statements about ancient astronaut claims between 1988 and 2005 with his enthusiastic support of such claims in 2011-2012.<ref>[http://www.jasoncolavito.com/david-childress--the-aliens.html Jason Colavito, 2012, ''David Childress and the Aliens'']</ref>

His 2000 book ''Technology of the Gods'' was an exercise in self-plagiarism.<ref>[http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/reviewing-david-childresss-technology-of-the-gods-pt-1-plagiarism-of-the-gods part1] [http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/reviewing-david-childresss-technology-of-the-gods-pt-2-and-the-plagiarism-continues part2] [http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/reviewing-david-childresss-technology-of-the-gods-pt-3-plagiarism-and-manipulated-quotes part3] [http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/reviewing-david-childresss-technology-of-the-gods-pt-4-he-didnt-even-pretend-to-write-chapter-7 part4]</ref>

==Conflict of interest==
Childress takes a hyper-permissive view of a publisher's duty to the public interest. On 16 June 2015 he posted a five-star Amazon review of one of his own books.<ref group=note>''More good stuff from Bara'' - review of Ancient Aliens and Secret Societies (link dead because Amazon gave it what it deserved, the boot)</ref> The author was the error-prone [[Mike Bara]].

==Education==
He doesn't hold any credentials on any subject and he refers to himself as a ''rogue archaeologist'', though given his (lack of) credentials he's more of a rogue than an archaeologist—just like his fellow "experts" on ''[[Ancient Aliens]]''.
==See also==
*[[Aliensdidit]]
*''[[Ancient Aliens]]''
*[[Erich von Däniken]]
*[[History Channel]]
*[[Giorgio Tsoukalos]]
==External links==
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347489/ David Childress on IMDb]
*[http://davidhatcherchildress.com/ His official site]
==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Ufology]]
[[Category:Pseudoarchaeology]]
[[Category:Silly "Earth" theories]]

Categories: Living people, Conspiracy theorists, Pseudoscience promoters, Authors, Ufology, Pseudoarchaeology, Silly "Earth" theories