ANTH 0502 - FANTASTIC ARCHAEOLOGY: FRAUDS, MYTHS, AND HOAXES

Minimum Credits: 3
Maximum Credits: 3
Long Description Why does Archaeology inspire so many fantastical theories about aliens, lost civilizations, advanced ancient technologies, and fraudsters? How were famous hoaxes perpetuated and ultimately debunked? Why are fantastic claims so captivating and why are they once again taking over popular culture? Archaeology is synonymous with adventure, and while archaeologists do sometimes crawl through caves and get chased through the jungle by killer bees, we are first and foremost social scientists who seek to understand the truth about the human past. Our history can be a powerful tool, and archaeology has always had to counter myths, frauds, and hoaxes that distort the past for personal or nationalist goals. This course examines the rise and persistence of "pseudoscience" - claims presented as "scientific" but lacking real scientific evidence-in our culture and media. We investigate the kinds of "evidence" used to create pseudo-archaeological claims, the reasons that lead people to invent, spread, and believe them. We compare major pseudoscience claims against real archaeological discoveries and research, focusing on the scientific methods, theoretical approaches, and emerging discoveries that archaeologists use to reconstruct the past. Most importantly, we examine the underlying social and political dynamics that make pseudoscience so alluring and so dangerous. From the lost continent of Atlantis to aliens building the pyramids, we explore the different forms pseudoarcheology takes and its impact on society and history.
Academic Career: Undergraduate
Course Component: Lecture
Grade Component: Letter Grade

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