Pseudoarchaeology

Pseudoarchaeology refers to archaeology outside of the mainstream academic archaeological community. Pseudoarchaeological theories may include the idea that extraterrestrial interfered in the development of humanity (such as in the book Chariots of the Gods?) or less fantastic but still not credible ideas (such as the belief that the hills of Bosnia are in fact pyramids). A notable example of pseudoarchaeology would be the Ahnenerbe, a Nazi institution meant to prove the roots of the "Aryan race." Evolutionists have also engaged in Pseudoarchaeology, for instance when they created the Piltdown Man hoax.

What defines Pseudoarchaelogy would be the lack of adherence to the scientific method as well as ideological goals interfering with any findings. As an example, the Ahnenerbe had for a goal to prove that the Aryans used to rule the world. This as well as their lack of scientific background resulted in their arbitrary interpretations of ancient markings to pretty much mean whatever they felt like. To this day, there has yet to be any evidence of an Aryan race ruling the world^[1]
An important characteristic of pseuodoarchaelogy is that the study of legitimate archaeological sites, but in an un-archaeological fashion. Sites such as Stonehenge, in England,^[2] and Teotihuacan^[3] in present-day Mexico are prone to ideologues, New Agers, and the like looking to justify their dubious theories.

See also[edit]

• Archaeology
• Pseudoscience

External links[edit]

• http://www.archaeology.org/0603/abstracts/nazis.html
• An example of pseudoarchaeology, claiming such things as direct Hebrew and Chinese influence over Meso-American civilizations

References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,747665,00.html
2. ↑ http://www.vortexmaps.com/htmla/hengetor.htm
3. ↑ Fagan, Garrett G. (2006). Archaeological Fantasies: How Pseudoarchaeology Misrepresents the Past and Misleads the Public. New York: Routledge. 978-0415305938