Fact versus fantasy: Critical approaches to pseudoarchaeology
About
In an era shaped by the internet, social media, and generative artificial intelligence, pseudoarchaeological narratives about humanity’s past have become increasingly widespread. These interpretations reject or ignore established research methods and can distort our understanding of history—sometimes with serious consequences.
This course introduces students to the phenomenon of pseudoarchaeology and provides them with tools to critically evaluate archaeological information in both academic and public contexts. Drawing on insights from the philosophy of science and archaeological theory, the course analyzes clear examples of pseudoarchaeology as well as more complex cases where the boundary between archaeology and pseudoarchaeology is less obvious.
During the course, you will learn to:
Distinguish between archaeology and pseudoarchaeology
Identify different forms of pseudoarchaeological discourse and their common features
Explore how pseudoarchaeology uses history to promote specific narratives—and why these often attract significant public interest
By the end of the course, you will be able to critically analyze and deconstruct pseudoarchaeological claims across various media platforms, gaining a deeper understanding of how knowledge about the past is constructed, communicated, and contested.
Prerequisites and selection
Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires at least 30 credits in archaeology or ancient culture and society.
Selection
Selection is based upon the number of credits from previous university studies, maximum 165 credits.
