In a startling statement that has rippled through both academic and enthusiast circles alike, Iraq’s Transport Minister, Kazem Finjan, claimed at a news conference in Dhi Qar, south Iraq, that the ancient Sumerians not only constructed the world’s first airport in this region but were also spacefarers who discovered Pluto thousands of years ago.

This assertion has rekindled discussions among those fascinated by the history of military aviation, the evolution of aerospace technology, and the ancient astronaut theory.

At the heart of the minister’s claim lies the ancient civilization of Sumer, known for settling in Mesopotamia – modern-day southern Iraq – between 5500 and 4000 BC. During this time, the Sumerians are credited with remarkable advances in agriculture, trade, and various artisan skills.

But according to Mr. Finjan, their achievements didn’t stop there. He stated, “The first airport that was established on planet Earth was in this place,” referring to the Sumerian cities of Eridu and Ur, which are replete with ancient ruins such as the Ziggurat of Ur, a historical temple excavated in the 1930s.

The minister evoked the work of Samuel Kramer, a Russian professor, and a Sumerian expert, who delved into the civilisation’s creation myths and their sophisticated understanding of the solar system.

He also harnessed the controversial works of Zecharia Sitchin, an author who speculated about ancient astronauts and Sumerian narratives regarding a distant planet called Nibiru, home to extraterrestrial beings.

Sitchin’s interpretation of Sumerian texts proposed that these beings came to Earth approximately 450,000 years ago, mingling with its inhabitants.

Finjan cited these ideas to support his bold claims, suggesting that “Sumerian spaceships used to launch from here towards the other planets.”

Moreover, he referred to the recent acknowledgement by NASA of a celestial body called Nibiru, which he associates with the ancient Sumerian knowledge of a ’12th planet’.

However, NASA has openly refuted the existence of Nibiru, dismissing the topic as an Internet hoax.

Despite this, such theories have long held sway over certain communities, including those who subscribe to the ancient astronaut theory – the belief that intelligent extraterrestrial beings visited Earth and significantly influenced the development of human civilization.

The minister’s remarks have sparked a blend of intrigue, skepticism, and outright ridicule on social media, with some critics lambasting the government for incompetence.

Yet, his statements have also found a receptive audience among those who contend that ancient astronauts once made contact with early human societies.

The idea of Sumerians engaging in space travel and constructing an ancient spaceport challenges conventional historical accounts but intriguingly aligns with a long-standing human curiosity regarding our origins and the possible intersection of our path with otherworldly entities.

While it remains a subject of heated debate rather than historical record, the minister’s claim certainly serves as a captivating footnote in the ongoing discourse about humanity’s technological ascendancy and its speculative extraterrestrial encounters.

Relevant articles:
– Iraqi transport minister claims first airport was built 7,000 years ago in Iraq by ancient Sumerians, The Independent
– First airport built in Iraq 5,000 years ago, for aliens: minister, The Times of Israel
– Iraqi Transport Minister Announces that Sumerians Launched Spaceships 7,000 Years Ago, Ancient Origins