It is the professional responsibility of all archaeologists to confront and counteract pseudoarchaeology and pseudoarchaeologists both generally and in their particular area. Archaeologists develop, document, and maintain the breadth of the archaeological record, and are thus responsible for the body of knowledge that comes from it. Community-engaged research, ethnography, and other research methods require a thorough understanding of the ethics involved in contributing to modern archaeology. With these ethical standards in mind, those who willingly spread misinformation or encourage distrust of scientifically-founded archaeology are actively undermining the work of all archaeologists. When people engage in pseudoarchaeological pursuits and spread pseudoarchaeological beliefs, they are validating problematic perspectives that aren’t rooted in science but in personal experience and opinion. When people believe that their opinion is more important than proven fact, then they lose their ability to critically analyze media and work from other people, all while encouraging others to do the same. Pseudoarchaeological thought dismantles critical analysis, which encourages people to trust their biases instead of deconstructing the information they’re being given by outside sources, like propaganda. Pseudoarchaeology, while sometimes appearing harmless or silly, is a distortion of viable, tested knowledge. Archaeologists should confront and counteract pseudoarchaeology because it is part of their professional responsibility to develop, document, and maintain archaeological knowledge.

Archaeologists can confront pseudoarchaeologists in many ways. One of the biggest ways they can dismantle pseudoarchaeological beliefs is by making research and results accessible to the public. While this seems like a reasonable and common standard, a large amount of the anthropological knowledge that disproves pseudoarchaeological belief stands behind paywalls. These paywalls can be literal and simple, as in papers published in journals that are expensive to access, or more complex, like the systems that create barriers to education for poor or marginalized people. By working to make their research more accessible, archaeologists can educate and inform people who could be targeted by pseudoarchaeologists. Another way archaeologists can dismantle pseudoarchaeology is by working against media that endorses false science, like Ancient Aliens and others. These works of media present fiction as truth and are detrimental to the broader public understanding of history and the archaeological record. This doesn’t mean archaeologists should simply protest these works of media; it means archaeologists should address their source. Many of these pseudoarchaeological shows, movies, books, etc. exist to fulfill the high public interest in archaeology. They are the most accessible form of archaeology and archaeological knowledge for many. Archaeologists can combat this not just by making their research more accessible, as discussed previously, but also by identifying what parts of pseudoarchaeological narratives garner attention and then examining them through archaeological evidence and knowledge. Elements of such narratives mirror topics we’ve covered in our own class, like lost civilizations, aliens, and more. Examining why the public has an interest in aliens, for example, can help archaeologists more thoroughly deconstruct pseudoarchaeology and pivot the public’s attention to real evidence and research findings. The narrative that humans are descended from aliens can be connected to the capitalistic creation of a human vs. nature binary, which divorces humans from global ecosystems and furthers environmental degradation. Examining this connection can redirect the interest in aliens to the deeper meaning behind those beliefs, effectively taking the power of public attention away from pseudoarchaeologists. Archaeologists have the ability and responsibility to fight pseudoarchaeological beliefs; understanding that they can and should fight it is the first step archaeologists can take.