directly under the post title it says "by ZZZZZZ" and then "on DATE"
how do i delete/remove the author/date from this area?

Check the settings in the post/page settings options

Hi,
I am also facing the same problem. What I find is that in Settings/General there are only options to set up the time (no options of turning it off). Or am I looking at the wrong place?

In the Atahualpa Theme Options (ATO) go to the 'Edit POST/PAGE INFO ITEMS' and look at the options