This class explores the fundamental tension between archaeology as an academic discipline and archaeology held captive in the public eye. Archaeology is an accepted science, but in the public mind it smacks of gold tablets, hidden temples, Indiana Jones, Atlantis, and alien encounters in the past.
Every society labels the past to authenticate the present.
Our own culture sees in archaeology a venue for discovering our history, but we also use archaeology to authenticate a range of popular beliefs, folklore, and myths. This course explores how archaeology has been used and continues to be used in the construction of our own beliefs. Our class will emphasize student interaction and is particularly appropriate for undergraduate majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and education. James, Peter and Nick Thorpe 1999 Ancient mysteries . The wild side of North American prehistory .