Opinion vs. Fact, Theory vs. Opinion, Idea vs. Theory
When archaeologists say “we don’t know,” it doesn’t mean that the pseudoarchaeological idea is validated.
Readings
Cornelius Holtorf, Beyond Crusades: How (Not) to Engage with Alternative Archaeologies, World Archaeology (2005) [read]
Garrett G. Fagan and Kenneth L. Feder, Crusading against Straw Men: An Alternative View of Alternative Archaeologies: Response to Holtorf, World Archaeology (2005) [read]
Kenneth L. Feder, Irrationality and Popular Archaeology, American Antiquity (1984) [read]
Michael G. Michlovic, Folk Archaeology in Anthropological Perspective, Current Anthropology (1990) [read]
John R. Cole, Kenneth L. Feder, Francis B. Harrold, Raymond A. Eve, Alice B. Kehoe, On Folk Archaeology in Anthropological Perspective, Current Anthropology (1990) [read]
Assignments
Blog Post #1 Due by 5pm on Friday (9/6)
Blog Response #1 Due by 5pm on Sunday (9/8)
Blog Post Prompt: What’s the harm in believing pseudoscientific or non-scientific claims about the world (in general) and the human past/archaeology (in particular)
WEEK 3 (9/10 & 9/12)
The Cardiff Giant: Anatomy of an Archaeological Hoax
The Piltdown Man Hoax (plus recent developments!)
Giants!
Readings
The Discovery of Ancient Man in Sussex, The British Medical Journal (1912) [read]
George Grant MacCurdy, The Man of Piltdown, American Anthropologist (1914) [read]
William L. Straus, The Great Piltdown Hoax, Science (1954) [read]
E. A. Hooton, Comments on the Piltdown Affair, American Anthropologist (1954) [read]
Chris Stringer, The 100-year mystery of Piltdown Man, Nature (2012) [read]
Assignments
Blog Post #2 Due by 5pm on Friday (9/13)
Blog Response #2 Due by 5pm on Sunday (9/15)
Blog Post Prompt: The Cardiff Giant and the Piltdown Man hoaxes were similar in that both related to archaeology and the study of human prehistory. However, they were quite different in temrs of motives, the reasons for their success, and their impacts. Compare the motives for these two hoaxes. What were the goals of the hoaxers? Compare the reasons each was successful. Why did people want to believe them? Compare the impacts of the Cardiff Giant and Piltdown hoaxes on the scientific understanding of the human past. In terms of both hoaxes, which of these two implications do you agree with, and why: (1) both hoaxes show that even “objective” scientists cannot be trusted to apply a skeptical eye to data when those data fulfill their expectations and desires; (2) both hoaxes exemplify the self-corrective nature of science.
WEEK 4 (9/17 & 9/19)
Pre-columbian Contact and Settlement of North America
The Case of Lanse-Aux-Medows
Television: America Unearthed (Stonehenge in America)
Blog Post Prompt: Using a deductive approach, how would you test the following hypothesis: The prehistoric record contains evidence of enormous and unexpected leaps forwars in science and technology (agriculture, pyramid building writing, and so on). These leaps are evidence of the introduction of such innovations by extra terrestrial aliens. In addition, deconstruct one of the cases outlined in either Ancient Astronautsor Chariots of the Gods. Are there archaeological, cultural, or historic explanations (Occams Razor) for them (as opposed to the extraterretrial explanations advanced by von Daniken et al.)
Email pseudoarchaeology wiki article topic choice to Ethan by Friday
WEEK 7 (10/8 & 10/10)
This week you’re going to have a workshop on the digital tools and techniques you will use to build the Pseudoarchaeology Wiki Article (fakearchaeology.wiki). These tutorials will take place in LEADR (Old Hort 112) – http://leadr.msu.edu/. The workshop will be during the regular class time.
WEEK 8 (10/15 & 10/17)
10/15 – Midterm Exam
Film: Chariots of the Gods
WEEK 9 (10/22 & 10/24)
Film: Chariots of the Gods (continued)
Lost Continents & Sunken Civilizations: The Origins of Atlantis
Ignatius Donnelly and the Modern Origins in the Atlantis Myth
October 31 – Open lab time in LEADR. These will take place during regular class times on 10/31. So, if you need help working on your project, you need to take advantage of this time. I will be there to help out with any problems. Even if you don’t have any significant issues, it would be really strategic to take advantage of this time to work on your portion of the project
WEEK 11 (11/5 & 11/7)
The Pyramidiots
Faber, Wilson, Taylor, and Smyth: The 19th Century Pyramidiots
The Atlantean Pyramidiots
The Age of the Sphinx: Geology and the Orion Correlation “Theory”
Pyramids in the Arctic, Pyramids on Mars, Pyramids in Bosnia
Blog Post Prompt: Test the following hypothesis: Pyramid building was introduced into Egypt either by aliens or citizens of Atlantis (or some other super advanced lost civilization). What should the archaeological record look like if this hypothesis is an accurate description of Egyptian history. What does the archaeological record actually show regarding the history of pyramid construction in Egypt. Apply the same hypothesis testing process to Atlantis: Atlantis was a super advanced civilization that existed ca. 10,000 years ago from which the Maya and ancient Egyptians defused. What should the archaeological record look like if this is indeed the case? What does the historical and archaeological record shout about the rise and development of these iconic state level civilizations?
WEEK 12 (11/12 & 11/14)
Pseudoarchaeology and Nationalism
11/14 – Open lab time in LEADR. This will take place during regular class times on 11/14, and is not optional. So, if you need help working on your project, you need to take advantage of this time. I will be there to help out with any problems. Even if you don’t have any significant issues, it would be really strategic to take advantage of this time to polish your project.
Readings
Mary Lefkowitz, Archaeology and the Politics of Origins: the search for pyramids in Greece [read]
Bettina Arnold, Pseudoarchaeology and Nationalism: Essentializing Difference [read]
Arnold, Bettina “The past as propaganda: How Hitler’s archaeologists distorted European prehistory to justify racist and territorial goals.” Archaeology July/Aug 1992: 30-37 [read]
Hale, Christopher. Himmler’s Crusade: The Nazi Expedition to Find the Origins of the Aryan Race, Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2003, p. 200 [read]
Assignments
Bonus: Upload a full rough draft of your fakearchaeology.wiki article by 5pm on Friday (11/15)for review and feedback, and receive a 5% bonus on your final class grade
Blog Prompt: Is it the professional responsibility of all archaeologists to confront and counteract pseudoarchaeology and pseudoarchaeologists (either generally or in their particular area)? If yes, why? If no, why not? If yes, how should the archaeological community (and individual archaeologists) go about confronting and counteracting pseudoarchaeology and pseudoarchaeoloigsts?
Pseudoarchaeology Wiki Article due (Friday by 5pm). To submit, send an email to Ethan with topic and link to article.
FINAL EXAM WEEK
Take-home Final Exam Due December 10th before 5pm.
Bonus Blog Due December 11th before 5pm (no reply required)
Blog Prompt: Select and discuss/deconstruct a pseudoarchaeological case or theme that we did not talk about in class. How does the case/theme fit into the pseudoarchaeological landscape that we discussed over the semester. Include at least 2 sources. Does not need a reply
Wikipedia Editing Bonus – Reflective post due Friday (the 13th) by 5pm.