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Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology
Ancient astronauts? Atlantis? Psychic archaeology? Pharaoh’s curses? Committed to the scientific investigation of human antiquity, this indispensable supplementary text uses interesting archaeological hoaxes, myths, and mysteries to show how we can truly know things about the past through science. The text presents examples of fantastic findings, and carefully, logically, and entertainingly describes the flaws in the purported evidence for each fantastic claim; readers can hone their own evaluative skills by example.
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1990
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May 9, 2023
Mūsdienu cilvēks dzīvo dīvainā pasaulē. Tā ir pilna ar dažādām neizskaidrojamām lietām – astroloģiju, ekstrasenso uztveri, citplanētieši regulāri nozog cilvēkus, zīmē apļus labības laukos, piramīdas maketos var asināt nažus un uzlabot nodzertās aknas, nākotni var paredzēt izmantojot speciālas kārtis, daži prot lasīt domas un pat liekt karotes. Tā ir tikai daļa no dīvainībām ar kurām nākas saskarties ikdienā – internetā, presē un grāmatās. Katrs, kas lasījis Dēnikena vai Muldašova darbus sapratīs, par ko te tiek runāts.
Tā kā šādus darbeļus savulaik lasīju diezgan aizrautīgi – garastāvokļa uzlabošanai. Tad nolēmu nedaudz papētīt šīs pseidozinātnes pretargumentāciju. Visvairāk trokšņa parasti rada pseidoarheoloģiski izteikumi un spriedumi. Latvijā arī ir iznākusi no angļu valodas tulkota grāmata „Aizliegtā arheoloģija” – totāls pseidozinātnisks rasols, kuru labākā gadījumā var izmantot par dārgu tualetes papīru. Tādēļ nolēmu sākt lasīt tieši par arheoloģiju.
Grāmatiņa sākas ar nodaļu, kas paskaidro jautājumus – kas ir zinātniskā pētniecības metode, kas ir zinātnes pamatprincipi. Tas lasītājam palīdz jau pašos pamatos izprast, kāda ir atšķirība zinātniski pierādītam faktam no ne uz ko nebalstītas hipotēzes.
Turpmākā grāmatas daļa tiek veltīta dažādiem pseidozinātniskiem mītiem, kas saistīti ar arheoloģiskām tēmām.
Pirmais apskatītais mīts veltīts stāstam par to, kā uz zemes reāli ir atrastas milžu atliekas jeb Kardifas giganta lieta. Stāstiņš no A-Z par uzņēmīgu blēdi, kas savā piemājas dārzā izracis pārakmeņojošos gigantu. Savulaik šī lieta tautas masās sacēla lielu furoru, beidzās viss ātri pēc pāris mēnešiem, kad viltojumu atklāja. Tomēr tas netraucē uz šo lietu kā faktu atsaukties vēl šodien.
Nākamais mīts veltīts Piltdaunas cilvēkam –kādam britu arheologam, nebija īsti paticis fakts, ka Britu salās nav atrasts neviens cilvēku sencis un viņš nolēma viltot savu. Ar laiku viltojumu tomēr atklāja, bet pa to laiku troksnis bija sacelts pamatīgs.
Tad neliela nodaļa veltīta jautājumam, kas tad bija pirmie amerikāņi? Diezgan sīki paskaidrots, ka Izraēlas pazudušās ciltis vai atlantu civilizācijas paliekas tomēr nav pie vainas. Viena nodaļa veltīta arī tam, kas atklāja Ameriku pirms Kolumba, ķīnieši, ēģiptieši, grieķi, Svētais Bernards, vikingi.
Moundbuilder kultūra, kas savulaik Amerikā nodarbojušies ar zemes pauguru uzbēršanu. ASV šī lieta radījusi visvisādas „hipotēzes” sākot no citplanētiešiem, beidzot ar atlantiem. Netiek aizmirsts arī pats Atlantu kontinents – Atlantīda. Diezgan sīki aprakstīta gaita kā no diviem Plato dialogiem Timaeus un Critias izaugusi mūsdienu atlantoloģija.
Ir apskatīts arī citplanētiešu jautājums, lielā tā daļa gan veltīta von Dēnikena darbu kritikai, tomēr standarta „idejas” tiek ieskicētas. Gan piramīdu būvniecība, antīkie kosmonauti, mūsu stulbie senči, kas bez citplanētiešu palīdzības pat pakaļu nemācētu noslaucīt utt.
Tad sadaļa veltīta rīkstniecībai arheoloģijā, izrakumu vietas atrašanai pēc fotogrāfijas vai kartes. Dažādi atgadījumi iz dzīves. Nedaudz par Noasa šķirsta lietu un grēku plūdiem, Turīnas līķauts.
Kopumā grāmatiņu vērtēju 10 no 10 ballēm. Autors ne tikai kritizē pseidozinātniskās idejas, bet arī dod materiālus padziļinātākai lietu izpētei, gan grāmatas, gan internetu. Tiešām vērtīga lasāmviela, palīdz izkopt cilvēkam kritisku domāšanu, akli neticēt visam, ko raksta. Silti iesaku izlasīt visiem gan atlantologiem, piramidologiem, šambaloīdiem, gan vienkāršam cilvēkam, kuram šīs lietas interesē. Te gan jāatceras, ka grāmatā ir mēģinājums izskaidrot kā ir patiesībā, tādēļ bieži vien labs stāsts tiek ar to samaitāts.
Tā kā šādus darbeļus savulaik lasīju diezgan aizrautīgi – garastāvokļa uzlabošanai. Tad nolēmu nedaudz papētīt šīs pseidozinātnes pretargumentāciju. Visvairāk trokšņa parasti rada pseidoarheoloģiski izteikumi un spriedumi. Latvijā arī ir iznākusi no angļu valodas tulkota grāmata „Aizliegtā arheoloģija” – totāls pseidozinātnisks rasols, kuru labākā gadījumā var izmantot par dārgu tualetes papīru. Tādēļ nolēmu sākt lasīt tieši par arheoloģiju.
Grāmatiņa sākas ar nodaļu, kas paskaidro jautājumus – kas ir zinātniskā pētniecības metode, kas ir zinātnes pamatprincipi. Tas lasītājam palīdz jau pašos pamatos izprast, kāda ir atšķirība zinātniski pierādītam faktam no ne uz ko nebalstītas hipotēzes.
Turpmākā grāmatas daļa tiek veltīta dažādiem pseidozinātniskiem mītiem, kas saistīti ar arheoloģiskām tēmām.
Pirmais apskatītais mīts veltīts stāstam par to, kā uz zemes reāli ir atrastas milžu atliekas jeb Kardifas giganta lieta. Stāstiņš no A-Z par uzņēmīgu blēdi, kas savā piemājas dārzā izracis pārakmeņojošos gigantu. Savulaik šī lieta tautas masās sacēla lielu furoru, beidzās viss ātri pēc pāris mēnešiem, kad viltojumu atklāja. Tomēr tas netraucē uz šo lietu kā faktu atsaukties vēl šodien.
Nākamais mīts veltīts Piltdaunas cilvēkam –kādam britu arheologam, nebija īsti paticis fakts, ka Britu salās nav atrasts neviens cilvēku sencis un viņš nolēma viltot savu. Ar laiku viltojumu tomēr atklāja, bet pa to laiku troksnis bija sacelts pamatīgs.
Tad neliela nodaļa veltīta jautājumam, kas tad bija pirmie amerikāņi? Diezgan sīki paskaidrots, ka Izraēlas pazudušās ciltis vai atlantu civilizācijas paliekas tomēr nav pie vainas. Viena nodaļa veltīta arī tam, kas atklāja Ameriku pirms Kolumba, ķīnieši, ēģiptieši, grieķi, Svētais Bernards, vikingi.
Moundbuilder kultūra, kas savulaik Amerikā nodarbojušies ar zemes pauguru uzbēršanu. ASV šī lieta radījusi visvisādas „hipotēzes” sākot no citplanētiešiem, beidzot ar atlantiem. Netiek aizmirsts arī pats Atlantu kontinents – Atlantīda. Diezgan sīki aprakstīta gaita kā no diviem Plato dialogiem Timaeus un Critias izaugusi mūsdienu atlantoloģija.
Ir apskatīts arī citplanētiešu jautājums, lielā tā daļa gan veltīta von Dēnikena darbu kritikai, tomēr standarta „idejas” tiek ieskicētas. Gan piramīdu būvniecība, antīkie kosmonauti, mūsu stulbie senči, kas bez citplanētiešu palīdzības pat pakaļu nemācētu noslaucīt utt.
Tad sadaļa veltīta rīkstniecībai arheoloģijā, izrakumu vietas atrašanai pēc fotogrāfijas vai kartes. Dažādi atgadījumi iz dzīves. Nedaudz par Noasa šķirsta lietu un grēku plūdiem, Turīnas līķauts.
Kopumā grāmatiņu vērtēju 10 no 10 ballēm. Autors ne tikai kritizē pseidozinātniskās idejas, bet arī dod materiālus padziļinātākai lietu izpētei, gan grāmatas, gan internetu. Tiešām vērtīga lasāmviela, palīdz izkopt cilvēkam kritisku domāšanu, akli neticēt visam, ko raksta. Silti iesaku izlasīt visiem gan atlantologiem, piramidologiem, šambaloīdiem, gan vienkāršam cilvēkam, kuram šīs lietas interesē. Te gan jāatceras, ka grāmatā ir mēģinājums izskaidrot kā ir patiesībā, tādēļ bieži vien labs stāsts tiek ar to samaitāts.
June 8, 2016
Essential book for any one interested in anomalies, anthropology, fringe claims, science communication and scientific skepticism. Excellent. A joy to read. No swearing, though, which makes it a bit odd if you are familiar with Dr. Feder...
February 10, 2023
Michael Shermer mentioned this book in his Why People Believe Weird Things, and I was curious enough to read it. One of the few reasons Shermer gave at the end of his book, the only one that made any sense to me, was “because they want to”. Feder says of the Piltdown hoax: “Many accepted the Piltdown evidence because they wished to—it supported a more comfortable view of human evolution.” A lot of hoaxes are successful because they have enough believers who want to believe them.
Of true archeological works, to which some ascribe nonsensical explanations, Feder says, “Let’s face it; I’m an archaeology nerd. Though I am a professional archaeologist with more than thirty years of experience excavating, analyzing, and writing about the human past, I continue to be awestruck when I am in the presence of the remnants of antiquity.” Which is why he dismantles the lunacies and brings to a general audience the frauds perpetrated by enterprising hoaxers. He also looks at the nonsense explanations of the like of Erich von Däniken’s, who can’t seem to understand simple ingenuity and would rather posit ancient aliens visiting and building pyramids and other constructions. Feder offers critical thinking exercises after each chapter, and answers frequently asked questions in a summary.
So why commit the frauds? Money is the biggest motivation; fame, of course; sometimes nationalism, and racism. And
To uncover frauds, science plays a big role. “The techniques used to get at knowledge we can feel confident in—knowledge that is reliable, truthful, and factual—are referred to as science. In large part, science is a series of techniques used to maximize the probability that what we think we know really reflects the way things are, were, or will be. Science makes no claim to have all the answers or even to be right all the time. On the contrary, during the process of the growth of knowledge and understanding, science is often wrong.”
Feder even tells prospective con artists the “Rules for a Successful Archeological Hoax” (not really...these are just some of the downfalls when a hoax is unveiled)
- Give the people what they want - A hoax works best when the public has a predisposition to accept it in the first place.
- Don’t be too successful - too many finds draw the wrong kind of attention
- Learn from your mistakes - debunking hoaxes tells future hoaxers what not to do
Pyramids, Atlantis, ancient aliens, crop circles, Turin shrouds, psychic archeology, an ark of Noah, Feder covers a lot of ground (accidental humor.) The past is open to interpretation, unfortunately.
Of true archeological works, to which some ascribe nonsensical explanations, Feder says, “Let’s face it; I’m an archaeology nerd. Though I am a professional archaeologist with more than thirty years of experience excavating, analyzing, and writing about the human past, I continue to be awestruck when I am in the presence of the remnants of antiquity.” Which is why he dismantles the lunacies and brings to a general audience the frauds perpetrated by enterprising hoaxers. He also looks at the nonsense explanations of the like of Erich von Däniken’s, who can’t seem to understand simple ingenuity and would rather posit ancient aliens visiting and building pyramids and other constructions. Feder offers critical thinking exercises after each chapter, and answers frequently asked questions in a summary.
So why commit the frauds? Money is the biggest motivation; fame, of course; sometimes nationalism, and racism. And
Unfortunately, religion has also played a significant role in archaeological fraud. Many religions have their roots in remote antiquity. Some of their adherents dabble in archaeology, trying to prove the validity of their religious beliefs or claims through the discovery of archaeological evidence. Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, asked, “What harm would it do if a man told a good strong lie for the sake of the good and for the Christian Church . . . a useful lie, a helpful lie, such lies would not be against God; he would accept them”Some just romanticize the past that never was, and then there are the plain old nut jobs.
To uncover frauds, science plays a big role. “The techniques used to get at knowledge we can feel confident in—knowledge that is reliable, truthful, and factual—are referred to as science. In large part, science is a series of techniques used to maximize the probability that what we think we know really reflects the way things are, were, or will be. Science makes no claim to have all the answers or even to be right all the time. On the contrary, during the process of the growth of knowledge and understanding, science is often wrong.”
Feder even tells prospective con artists the “Rules for a Successful Archeological Hoax” (not really...these are just some of the downfalls when a hoax is unveiled)
- Give the people what they want - A hoax works best when the public has a predisposition to accept it in the first place.
- Don’t be too successful - too many finds draw the wrong kind of attention
- Learn from your mistakes - debunking hoaxes tells future hoaxers what not to do
Pyramids, Atlantis, ancient aliens, crop circles, Turin shrouds, psychic archeology, an ark of Noah, Feder covers a lot of ground (accidental humor.) The past is open to interpretation, unfortunately.
Ultimately, then, we get the past we deserve. In every generation, thinkers, writers, scholars, charlatans, and kooks (these are not necessarily mutually exclusive categories) attempt to cast the past in an image either they or the public desire or find comforting. Biblical giants—some, apparently, walking their pet dinosaurs—large-brained, ape-jawed ancestors, lost tribes, lost continents, mysterious races, and ancient astronauts have all been a part of their concocted fantasies.
But I believe, and have tried to show in this book, that we deserve better—and we can do better. We deserve a veritable past, a real past constructed from the sturdy fabric of geology, paleontology, archaeology, and history, woven on the loom of science. We deserve better and can do better than weave a past from the whole cloth of fantasy and fiction. Finally, I hope I have shown in this book that the veritable past is every bit as interesting as those pasts constructed by the fantasy weavers of frauds, myths, and mysteries.
June 23, 2025
I've read a lot of fringe literature and, so, have been exposed to much of the material Professor Feder debunks. An archaeologist himself, Feder focuses on claims in that area of study. Beyond that, however, he addresses the scientific method in general.
What I liked most about this book were the case studies whereby Feder describes a hoax (e.g. the Cardiff Giant, the Piltdown Man), then shows how it was exposed. I also enjoyed the section about the Mound Builders of North America, a subject I'd not much studied. However, the attacks on believers in Atlantis, Von Daniken, Ignatius Donnelly, Edgar Cayce, Shirley MacClaine etc. seem hardly worth the effort--though the popularity of their writings may suggest otherwise.
Written in 1996, I would have expected something about Graham Hancock, but that was disappointed. Granted, Hancock's popularity has grown over the decades.
What I liked most about this book were the case studies whereby Feder describes a hoax (e.g. the Cardiff Giant, the Piltdown Man), then shows how it was exposed. I also enjoyed the section about the Mound Builders of North America, a subject I'd not much studied. However, the attacks on believers in Atlantis, Von Daniken, Ignatius Donnelly, Edgar Cayce, Shirley MacClaine etc. seem hardly worth the effort--though the popularity of their writings may suggest otherwise.
Written in 1996, I would have expected something about Graham Hancock, but that was disappointed. Granted, Hancock's popularity has grown over the decades.
June 5, 2024
Loved seeing the author tear into some popular archaeological myths. Saying aliens or Atlantis built the pyramids is to call ancient humans dumb so it’s okay to trash on the myths. Pretty funny too and I learned lots, like stonehenge could have functionally been built to serve as a calendar to track the seasons for the people’s farming civilization. How cool.
July 2, 2024
I think this is an essential read for any leftist. I think we often get caught up in bombarding our opposition with truth and poshing up revolutionary thought with new references when really the dialectically sound thing to do is bear witness through theory and transform the terrain through praxis. This book unpacks the major fallacious reality crises (hoaxes for those of us Dispossessed of the haunting) in anthropology through the scientific method and this offers to the revolutionary the key components to assess the material makeup of arrogance, ignorance, dogmatism, and intent.
4stars because I didn't find the snark funny. Old academics make for poor humorists but incredible pathologists
4stars because I didn't find the snark funny. Old academics make for poor humorists but incredible pathologists
January 27, 2014
I first started out on the 'Ancient Astronaut' theories of Von Daniken and figured I should read what the other half thinks and was I surprised. This totally blows von Danikens' theories away. Feder argues that most pseudo archaeology depends on common sense and although that makes sense to layman's, most academics are scientists who have used tried and tested methods to answer previously asked / answered questions which are the 'fringe' authors stable.
He does concede that Archaeology isn't what he calls a 'transparent science' and does admit that due to this people don't understand quite how scientists arrive at their conclusions so he understands why people believe in pseudo archaeology, but in this book he explains why things don't work the way some 'fringe' authors describe. He also explains how historical 'mis-leadings' initially worked and why they ultimately failed.
A good book to read if you are interested in the unknown and want more than one viewpoint. Ancient Aliens is a good show but I found it doesn't cover what the mainstream community thinks and this book does a good job of addressing those issues and describing the mindset of a scientist/academic.
I cant recommend this book enough. I would buy more Feder books but to be honest the price is slightly high and I fear that most of them are purely academic textbooks meant for students and not casual interests and laymans but a good book nonetheless
He does concede that Archaeology isn't what he calls a 'transparent science' and does admit that due to this people don't understand quite how scientists arrive at their conclusions so he understands why people believe in pseudo archaeology, but in this book he explains why things don't work the way some 'fringe' authors describe. He also explains how historical 'mis-leadings' initially worked and why they ultimately failed.
A good book to read if you are interested in the unknown and want more than one viewpoint. Ancient Aliens is a good show but I found it doesn't cover what the mainstream community thinks and this book does a good job of addressing those issues and describing the mindset of a scientist/academic.
I cant recommend this book enough. I would buy more Feder books but to be honest the price is slightly high and I fear that most of them are purely academic textbooks meant for students and not casual interests and laymans but a good book nonetheless
June 3, 2022
This is as thorough and systematic a rebuttal of persistent stupidity as could be constructed. Feder's relatable delivery makes it pleasant reading as well, and his snarky, pop-culture-laden presentation is funny and immediately understandable. While some reviews have taken exception to Feder's level of snark, I am struck by his restraint; as an archaeologist and anthropology professor, I have had to smile politely in the faces of folks holding forth these very fantasies too many times to count and the building rage is real. Simply not knowing something is very innocent ignorance, but fiercely defending baseless and timeworn illusions in the face of solid evidence to the contrary is willful stupidity and worse than tiresome. The step-by-step dismantling here is refreshingly....scientific.
To be sure, Feder's clear statement of why so many of these hoaxes and myths are not only wrong but insulting and worthy of spleen is a major takeaway and one I fully share. Racism, scriptural literalism, and assumptions that past humans were clueless are beneath contempt and deserve no academic recognition: not all ideas are of equal merit. To whit:
"But in the face of...assumptions that degrade and diminish the inherent human capacity to invent, create, build, cooperate, and rise to the occasion to solve great technological challenges, both in the present and in the past, I maintain that meanness and inflexibility are entirely appropriate responses." (p. 215)
To be sure, Feder's clear statement of why so many of these hoaxes and myths are not only wrong but insulting and worthy of spleen is a major takeaway and one I fully share. Racism, scriptural literalism, and assumptions that past humans were clueless are beneath contempt and deserve no academic recognition: not all ideas are of equal merit. To whit:
"But in the face of...assumptions that degrade and diminish the inherent human capacity to invent, create, build, cooperate, and rise to the occasion to solve great technological challenges, both in the present and in the past, I maintain that meanness and inflexibility are entirely appropriate responses." (p. 215)
May 27, 2023
This is one of my oldest child's textbooks for an archaeology course they took last semester, and I think it should be required reading in every course because fundamentally it's about exercising critical thinking skills. The whole book is about archaeological hoaxes and debunking them (but also about the larger issues of the scientific method and how to apply it and how to figure out if someone is tricking you--principles to recognize misinformation and conspiracy theories). Much of the book is about historical hoaxes concerning people long dead, but a good portion of the book is about the ancient astronaut theory, and Feder doesn't pull his punches. He is very upfront that the core of this idea is 100% racism, and he doesn't shy away from calling Erich Von Däniken, author of Chariot of the Gods (one of the foundational texts of this theory), racist and delusional. Feder points out that it's always the cultures of color who are assumed to be unable to have accomplished their architectural, scientific, and intellectual achievements without the intervention of alien assistance.
The book is written in a conversational style with lots of pictures and links to websites and other resources if you want to do a deeper dive into any of the hoaxes. Highly recommend.
The book is written in a conversational style with lots of pictures and links to websites and other resources if you want to do a deeper dive into any of the hoaxes. Highly recommend.
March 6, 2011
A fairly interesting read. Its style is somewhere in between that of a textbook and that of a "popular" book. I'm not sure it entirely succeeds at either. The topics it covers include the Piltdown Man hoax, the Cardiff Giant hoax, the mound building culture, Atlantis, and settlement/discovery of North America. It's my personal opinion that everyone who has an interest in science should be aware of the Piltdown Hoax. The Cardiff Giant hoax was new to me; it might be of interest to those of you who have connections to Syracuse NY, since the Cardiff Giant does. The discussion of mainstream (white) Americans' beliefs that the mound builders couldn't possibly have been Indians was interesting. The discussion of the physical evidence for a Viking presence in North America was also interesting to read about.
It was also interesting to learn that the idea of Atlantis the lost continent came from Plato's dialogues. (And it reminded me how ignorant I am when it comes to classical topics. Sigh. So much to learn, so little time.) It was mildly interesting to read about the research that's been done on the Shroud of Turin, but I skipped the section on scientific creationism, because frankly, I already believe that scientific creationism is BS. If this book has a single flaw, it's that the author really wants to debunk things like New Age-ism, having once been a believer and then realized that a lot of New Age claims were, er, poorly founded. In that context, an odd connection came up - an ethnologist named Stanislaw Poniatowski, who attempted experiments in psychic archaeology. I can't find conclusive evidence, but I would be very unsurprised if this Stanislaw Poniatovski turns out to be a descendant of this guy, who was the nephew of the Stanislaw Poniatowski that Catherine the Great put on the throne of Poland. (I read about this in Catherine the Great: Love, Sex, and Power.)
There are links here that the book recommends as a further exploration of the topics covered. And in case that page is moved elsewhere, the top page is http://mhhe.com/frauds5/.
Beginning students of archaeology will probably find this to be worth a read.
It was also interesting to learn that the idea of Atlantis the lost continent came from Plato's dialogues. (And it reminded me how ignorant I am when it comes to classical topics. Sigh. So much to learn, so little time.) It was mildly interesting to read about the research that's been done on the Shroud of Turin, but I skipped the section on scientific creationism, because frankly, I already believe that scientific creationism is BS. If this book has a single flaw, it's that the author really wants to debunk things like New Age-ism, having once been a believer and then realized that a lot of New Age claims were, er, poorly founded. In that context, an odd connection came up - an ethnologist named Stanislaw Poniatowski, who attempted experiments in psychic archaeology. I can't find conclusive evidence, but I would be very unsurprised if this Stanislaw Poniatovski turns out to be a descendant of this guy, who was the nephew of the Stanislaw Poniatowski that Catherine the Great put on the throne of Poland. (I read about this in Catherine the Great: Love, Sex, and Power.)
There are links here that the book recommends as a further exploration of the topics covered. And in case that page is moved elsewhere, the top page is http://mhhe.com/frauds5/.
Beginning students of archaeology will probably find this to be worth a read.
February 1, 2013
I don't think I've ever been so enthusiastic about reading a textbook before. I first learned about Professor Feder through his appearances on the podcast Monster Talk, where he is profane, irreverent, and hilarious. None of that is in the textbook, of course, but the snark surfaces occasionally and he seems to become more irritated with pseudoscientific hucksters the closer the book (which, though organized by subject, roughly follows a chronological track) gets to the present. More than once, he excuses an understandable scientific oversight by someone from centuries past, but is ruthless to the von Danikens of the present, and that is probably as it should be.
I've read a lot about these kinds of subjects, so I wasn't expecting to learn as much as I did from this book. You learn much because of the evidence-based approach. Ideally, everything should be evidence-based, but I mean something very specific here, beyond just debunking. In each case, Feder lays out the archaeological evidence for a pseudo-scientific theory or a known scientific fact and points out the kinds of evidence one would expect to find. And when you read this you will be amazed at for each of the pseudoscientific cases, there is a complete lack of anything remotely approaching scientific evidence. They all rest upon misinterpretations of evidence and plausible sounding suppositions, usually motivated by some nationalistic or monetary interest. Some of them may very well be true, but they don't mean anything without evidence. The Norse had tales of visiting America, but until we did solid scientific research and dug up those Norse settlements, it was just armchair speculation.
With von Daniken in particular, it's no revelation that he was a bullshit artist, but it was eye-opening to see the case laid out and the evidence presented in black and white. Feder examines the famous illustration of the Mayan astronaut from Chariots of the Gods? and presents what we know about it from an archaeological and scientific standpoint, which is pretty much everything. Likely von Daniken could have easily found this out by examining the scientific work himself, but doing your research doesn't make you rich, I guess.
I get the impression Feder does significant revisions between editions. I read the fourth, and there's some things absent from this edition that he mentioned on the podcast were in the book.
I've read a lot about these kinds of subjects, so I wasn't expecting to learn as much as I did from this book. You learn much because of the evidence-based approach. Ideally, everything should be evidence-based, but I mean something very specific here, beyond just debunking. In each case, Feder lays out the archaeological evidence for a pseudo-scientific theory or a known scientific fact and points out the kinds of evidence one would expect to find. And when you read this you will be amazed at for each of the pseudoscientific cases, there is a complete lack of anything remotely approaching scientific evidence. They all rest upon misinterpretations of evidence and plausible sounding suppositions, usually motivated by some nationalistic or monetary interest. Some of them may very well be true, but they don't mean anything without evidence. The Norse had tales of visiting America, but until we did solid scientific research and dug up those Norse settlements, it was just armchair speculation.
With von Daniken in particular, it's no revelation that he was a bullshit artist, but it was eye-opening to see the case laid out and the evidence presented in black and white. Feder examines the famous illustration of the Mayan astronaut from Chariots of the Gods? and presents what we know about it from an archaeological and scientific standpoint, which is pretty much everything. Likely von Daniken could have easily found this out by examining the scientific work himself, but doing your research doesn't make you rich, I guess.
I get the impression Feder does significant revisions between editions. I read the fourth, and there's some things absent from this edition that he mentioned on the podcast were in the book.
October 15, 2021
in a word: annoying.
had to read this for a class. though it was informative and there were some really interesting bits, overall I just couldnt get past the smug sarcasm of the author. also his arguments against giants were not compelling at all. that was probably one of the weakest chapters of the book and the one I looked forward to the most.
had to read this for a class. though it was informative and there were some really interesting bits, overall I just couldnt get past the smug sarcasm of the author. also his arguments against giants were not compelling at all. that was probably one of the weakest chapters of the book and the one I looked forward to the most.
June 12, 2008
Probably the favorite book I read in Archaeology. Great myth busters and questions answered. Debunks what you thought you knew about atlantis, ancient egypt, giants, evolutionary findings and more...
October 18, 2009
This book often reads more like an irritated man's soapbox than a scientific discussion.
August 1, 2015
Hilarious, thought-provoking, and educational. I highly recommend this for the gullible and the skeptical.
November 26, 2024
This was an interesting read, even though it was for my class. I was very intrigued by some of the myths and how they were debunked.
August 19, 2023
AN ARLCHAEOLOGIST LOOKS SKEPTICALLY AND SOME DUBIOUS CLAIMS
Archaeologist Kenneth L. Feder wrote in the Preface to the second edition (1996) of this 1990 book, “the purpose of this text is not primarily to ‘debunk’ a series of unsubstantiated claims about the human past. Instead, the utility of [this book] rests in its use of interesting and often hilarious archaeological hoaxes, myths, and mysteries to show how we can truly know things about the past through science… The second edition represent an extensive reworking of the book… The illustration list has increased by about 25% and includes a number of side-by-side comparisons of ‘pseudo’ mysteries with verifiable ones.” (Pg. v-vi)
After reading ‘The Morning of the Magicians,’ he muses, “How, could authors who seemed so well informed about physics, psychology, chemistry, biology, and history could be so confused when it came to my own field of archaeology? How could they … be so lacking in their knowledge of the human past? Then it struck me. Of all the disciplines discussed in ‘The Morning of the Magicians,’ archaeology was the only one with which I had more than just a passing familiarity… The [book’s] often bizarre claims … that were related to physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and history seemed reasonable to me primarily because I did not have the knowledge necessary to assess them intelligently… claims that may have sounded good to me could easily be discounted, disproven, and disposed of by people who knew more than just a little bit about them.” (Pg. 7-8)
Of Ivan Van Sertima’s book ‘They Came Before Columbus,’ he says, “the actual data presented fall far short of that needed for a convincing case. For instance, Columbus does not claim to have seemed black-skinned Indians; he merely passes along a story told him by a group of Indians he did contact… The report of the metal … is similarly unconvincing. We do not have the metal to examine, none has ever been found in archaeological excavations in the New World… Van Sertima’s assertion that there is ample evidence of the presence of black Africans in the New World in the form or artistic representations of individuals who look African is… the weakest link in an already weak chain of reasoning… Van Sertima points to the physiognomies of the so-called Olmec heads… Van Sertima asserts that they are clearly Negroid in appearance, and indeed they do possess full lips and broad noses. Van Sertima, however, ignores the fact that many of the Olmec heads also have flat faces like American Indians, not … jutting-out lower faces… like Africans.” (Pg. 97)
He notes, “The appearance of the name ‘Atlantis’ in Timaeus is the first historical reference to the place. The ninety-three hundred years or so between the supposed destruction of Atlantis and Plato’s Timaeus are completely silent concerning the supposed lost continent.” (Pg. 145) Later, he adds, “[Ignatius] Donnell’s argument is a confusing morass of disconnected claims and ostensible proofs… For example, he cites numerous flood legends in various world cultures… which he presumes are part of some universal memory of the destruction of Atlantis… Several of his supposed corroborating myths sound quite similar, not because they relate to an actual historical event.” (Pg, 153)
He points out, “Von Däniken cannot conceive how the ancient Egyptians were able to build pyramids and move the enormous stone blocks and statues that are a part of the archaeological record of the civilization. But the ancient Egyptians themselves left records like this image copied from a wall panel of how they did it. Here, a crew of 168 men pull ropes attached to a sledge on which sits a statue more than 20 feet tall. A worker on the sledge pours a lubricant---perhaps an oil---onto the ground in front of the sledge.” (Pg. 180)
He explains, “How was Stonehenge built? The stone likely was quarried by taking advantage of natural breaks in the bedrock and using fire, cold water, and persistent hammering to split the stones into the desired shapes. The stones could have been moved on wooded sledges pulled by rope, perhaps using rollers to quicken the pace. The upright stones were likely erected using levers and the lintels raised by a combination of levering and the construction of wooden staging around the uprights.” (Pg. 243)
Of Crop Circles in England, he states, “The biggest blow to those who hypothesized that the entire phenomenon was related to UFOs or mysterious earth energies occurred when Chorley and Bower, in cahoots with a television producer, secretly made a flattened crop pattern in front of television cameras. A number of crop circle experts unaware of the conspiracy, were invited to examine the circle. They declared it genuine, beyond the capabilities of any mere human hoaxster. Needless to say, their credibility … suffered tremendously.” (Pg. 246)
This book will be of great interest to those investigating such ‘ancient mysteries.'
Archaeologist Kenneth L. Feder wrote in the Preface to the second edition (1996) of this 1990 book, “the purpose of this text is not primarily to ‘debunk’ a series of unsubstantiated claims about the human past. Instead, the utility of [this book] rests in its use of interesting and often hilarious archaeological hoaxes, myths, and mysteries to show how we can truly know things about the past through science… The second edition represent an extensive reworking of the book… The illustration list has increased by about 25% and includes a number of side-by-side comparisons of ‘pseudo’ mysteries with verifiable ones.” (Pg. v-vi)
After reading ‘The Morning of the Magicians,’ he muses, “How, could authors who seemed so well informed about physics, psychology, chemistry, biology, and history could be so confused when it came to my own field of archaeology? How could they … be so lacking in their knowledge of the human past? Then it struck me. Of all the disciplines discussed in ‘The Morning of the Magicians,’ archaeology was the only one with which I had more than just a passing familiarity… The [book’s] often bizarre claims … that were related to physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and history seemed reasonable to me primarily because I did not have the knowledge necessary to assess them intelligently… claims that may have sounded good to me could easily be discounted, disproven, and disposed of by people who knew more than just a little bit about them.” (Pg. 7-8)
Of Ivan Van Sertima’s book ‘They Came Before Columbus,’ he says, “the actual data presented fall far short of that needed for a convincing case. For instance, Columbus does not claim to have seemed black-skinned Indians; he merely passes along a story told him by a group of Indians he did contact… The report of the metal … is similarly unconvincing. We do not have the metal to examine, none has ever been found in archaeological excavations in the New World… Van Sertima’s assertion that there is ample evidence of the presence of black Africans in the New World in the form or artistic representations of individuals who look African is… the weakest link in an already weak chain of reasoning… Van Sertima points to the physiognomies of the so-called Olmec heads… Van Sertima asserts that they are clearly Negroid in appearance, and indeed they do possess full lips and broad noses. Van Sertima, however, ignores the fact that many of the Olmec heads also have flat faces like American Indians, not … jutting-out lower faces… like Africans.” (Pg. 97)
He notes, “The appearance of the name ‘Atlantis’ in Timaeus is the first historical reference to the place. The ninety-three hundred years or so between the supposed destruction of Atlantis and Plato’s Timaeus are completely silent concerning the supposed lost continent.” (Pg. 145) Later, he adds, “[Ignatius] Donnell’s argument is a confusing morass of disconnected claims and ostensible proofs… For example, he cites numerous flood legends in various world cultures… which he presumes are part of some universal memory of the destruction of Atlantis… Several of his supposed corroborating myths sound quite similar, not because they relate to an actual historical event.” (Pg, 153)
He points out, “Von Däniken cannot conceive how the ancient Egyptians were able to build pyramids and move the enormous stone blocks and statues that are a part of the archaeological record of the civilization. But the ancient Egyptians themselves left records like this image copied from a wall panel of how they did it. Here, a crew of 168 men pull ropes attached to a sledge on which sits a statue more than 20 feet tall. A worker on the sledge pours a lubricant---perhaps an oil---onto the ground in front of the sledge.” (Pg. 180)
He explains, “How was Stonehenge built? The stone likely was quarried by taking advantage of natural breaks in the bedrock and using fire, cold water, and persistent hammering to split the stones into the desired shapes. The stones could have been moved on wooded sledges pulled by rope, perhaps using rollers to quicken the pace. The upright stones were likely erected using levers and the lintels raised by a combination of levering and the construction of wooden staging around the uprights.” (Pg. 243)
Of Crop Circles in England, he states, “The biggest blow to those who hypothesized that the entire phenomenon was related to UFOs or mysterious earth energies occurred when Chorley and Bower, in cahoots with a television producer, secretly made a flattened crop pattern in front of television cameras. A number of crop circle experts unaware of the conspiracy, were invited to examine the circle. They declared it genuine, beyond the capabilities of any mere human hoaxster. Needless to say, their credibility … suffered tremendously.” (Pg. 246)
This book will be of great interest to those investigating such ‘ancient mysteries.'
December 2, 2024
I came into the book as an extremely obnoxious middle-of-the-roader: I have a passion for archaeology and anthropology that runs alongside a deep interest in the supernatural and the occult. For someone in my shoes, you often find yourself reading things that are incredibly frustrating. Whether it is dismissing the innovative potential of our ancestors, latent racism, or a focus on bolstering beliefs instead of allowing them to develop and change with factual data, there is a tendency for those exploring the mysterious side of things to develop a sort of tunnel vision.
I would encourage anyone with a love for the mysterious and unknown to give this book a read. While the scholarship may be a bit dated by the time you read it (the field of archaeology is amazingly dynamic -- there is always new information becoming available that adds nuance to what we know!), the most important aspect of this book is a consistent, almost clinical insistence on critical thinking. The author lays out foundational information to encourage structured critical thinking, explores a well-known theory, and then ends each chapter with prompts for the reader to ask themself: what proof would I need to have to accept this theory as the truth? Do I have that proof? It's just a really nice focus for a book like this; while people like me probably will have heard of most of the theories in this book --and the information debunking them-- having them laid out in a way that lets you develop your critical thinking skills made this a lot of fun for me. It's one thing to have a nebulous belief or disbelief in a thing. It's another thing entirely to realize you're developing a structured understanding of why you believe the thing.
For those concerned, this is a pretty easy read; Mr. Feder does not bog the reader down with more complexities than he needs to, and he doesn't speak down to his audience, either. His tone is often pretty tongue-in-cheek, but I can't believe anyone that comes into this sincerely believing in any of the topics discussed would feel attacked by the way he lays out facts. He frequently quotes and references colleagues from the fields being discussed, and has provided an extensive bibliography. The text sometimes even gets poetic when it examines the extremely human moments that the things verified by archaeological fact have revealed to us. While I believe this book was sold as a textbook, it sure doesn't read like one.
Overall, I would highly encourage everyone to read this book, whether you sincerely believe the theories that it explores or not. You will walk away with a greater appreciation for the ones that came before us and the amazing things humankind is capable of (even if some of those things involve deception!), if nothing else!
I would encourage anyone with a love for the mysterious and unknown to give this book a read. While the scholarship may be a bit dated by the time you read it (the field of archaeology is amazingly dynamic -- there is always new information becoming available that adds nuance to what we know!), the most important aspect of this book is a consistent, almost clinical insistence on critical thinking. The author lays out foundational information to encourage structured critical thinking, explores a well-known theory, and then ends each chapter with prompts for the reader to ask themself: what proof would I need to have to accept this theory as the truth? Do I have that proof? It's just a really nice focus for a book like this; while people like me probably will have heard of most of the theories in this book --and the information debunking them-- having them laid out in a way that lets you develop your critical thinking skills made this a lot of fun for me. It's one thing to have a nebulous belief or disbelief in a thing. It's another thing entirely to realize you're developing a structured understanding of why you believe the thing.
For those concerned, this is a pretty easy read; Mr. Feder does not bog the reader down with more complexities than he needs to, and he doesn't speak down to his audience, either. His tone is often pretty tongue-in-cheek, but I can't believe anyone that comes into this sincerely believing in any of the topics discussed would feel attacked by the way he lays out facts. He frequently quotes and references colleagues from the fields being discussed, and has provided an extensive bibliography. The text sometimes even gets poetic when it examines the extremely human moments that the things verified by archaeological fact have revealed to us. While I believe this book was sold as a textbook, it sure doesn't read like one.
Overall, I would highly encourage everyone to read this book, whether you sincerely believe the theories that it explores or not. You will walk away with a greater appreciation for the ones that came before us and the amazing things humankind is capable of (even if some of those things involve deception!), if nothing else!
June 3, 2025
Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries was an absolute joy to read. Kenneth Feder masterfully unpacks some of archaeology’s most notorious hoaxes, misunderstandings, and outright fabrications—with wit, clarity, and a deep commitment to scientific thinking.
We especially loved the quirky and often outrageous stories of past archaeological frauds. From the Piltdown Man to claims of ancient astronauts, Feder walks readers through these tales with a mix of skepticism and humor. But what really elevates the book is his ability to show that these stories aren’t just amusing or bizarre—they often have real, lasting consequences.
Feder doesn’t shy away from the darker side of pseudoscience. He makes it clear that many of these so-called “harmless” myths are rooted in colonialism, racism, and the erasure of Indigenous knowledge and accomplishments. It’s a powerful reminder that pseudoscientific claims can reinforce harmful ideologies and distort public understanding of the past.
We found the book both entertaining and thought-provoking, and it provided plenty of rich material for our podcast conversations. Whether you're an archaeology enthusiast, a student, or someone interested in how to separate fact from fiction in historical narratives, Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries is an engaging and essential read.
We discussed this book in "Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Parts 1-3" of our podcast—Archaeology Books for Fun ! Check it out here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof...
We especially loved the quirky and often outrageous stories of past archaeological frauds. From the Piltdown Man to claims of ancient astronauts, Feder walks readers through these tales with a mix of skepticism and humor. But what really elevates the book is his ability to show that these stories aren’t just amusing or bizarre—they often have real, lasting consequences.
Feder doesn’t shy away from the darker side of pseudoscience. He makes it clear that many of these so-called “harmless” myths are rooted in colonialism, racism, and the erasure of Indigenous knowledge and accomplishments. It’s a powerful reminder that pseudoscientific claims can reinforce harmful ideologies and distort public understanding of the past.
We found the book both entertaining and thought-provoking, and it provided plenty of rich material for our podcast conversations. Whether you're an archaeology enthusiast, a student, or someone interested in how to separate fact from fiction in historical narratives, Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries is an engaging and essential read.
We discussed this book in "Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Parts 1-3" of our podcast—Archaeology Books for Fun ! Check it out here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof...
December 12, 2025
𝘔𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺! 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵[$2𝘮] 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘚 𝘤𝘺𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝘻𝘪𝘲𝘤.𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰@𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮” 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥’ 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘺𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 , 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴!
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 " 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮" 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘺𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 " 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮" 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘺𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.
January 5, 2019
This is a really excellent textbook (as well as a great book to read for pleasure for those interested in pseudoarchaeology). The book begins with an introduction to the study of pseudoarchaeology. It continues by a variety of case studies of incorrect beliefs about the past, why they were popular, and how we came to know that they were false. A large factor appears to be that these false ideas about the past fit together with things we already believe or wish to believe, which makes false ideas powerful (even in the face of evidence to the contrary).
One thing that bothers me about this book is the glee that Feder seems to take in poking fun of people he thinks are wrong. I'm all for incisive criticism, especially when humorous. However, Feder seems to report evidence that contradicts the theories he refutes and then gloat over that evidence (or the point it made) by saying something snarky rather than using humor/snarkiness/other rhetorical tactics to make his point all the clearer and more obvious. It reminds me how I argued as a teenager. It also feels like he might be alienating the very audience he would like to convince most. Surely, as a textbook on pseudoarchaeology, you want to draw in any undergraduates who have strayed into conspiracy theories and convince them to change their path and their attitude toward these theories. Indeed, psychological studies have shown that people who experience self-uncertainty and lack of belonging are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories; thus, it seems like making fun of their beliefs might feel more threatening.
One thing that bothers me about this book is the glee that Feder seems to take in poking fun of people he thinks are wrong. I'm all for incisive criticism, especially when humorous. However, Feder seems to report evidence that contradicts the theories he refutes and then gloat over that evidence (or the point it made) by saying something snarky rather than using humor/snarkiness/other rhetorical tactics to make his point all the clearer and more obvious. It reminds me how I argued as a teenager. It also feels like he might be alienating the very audience he would like to convince most. Surely, as a textbook on pseudoarchaeology, you want to draw in any undergraduates who have strayed into conspiracy theories and convince them to change their path and their attitude toward these theories. Indeed, psychological studies have shown that people who experience self-uncertainty and lack of belonging are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories; thus, it seems like making fun of their beliefs might feel more threatening.
November 8, 2021
I thought this book was great. Ken guides you through a variety of (as the title accurately indicates) frauds, myths, and mysteries in an easy to follow style. There is a wealth of information about the history and current perspectives of these categories and the end of each chapter comes with good critical thinking questions. I recommend this book for people who are newer to the field of "pseudoscholarship/pseudoscience/pseudohistory" because it covers a lot of popular cases. Due to it covering mostly popular cases, it might not be as well suited for people already familiar with the "best hits" of pseudoscience in archeology. Overall, I enjoyed revisiting these cases and learning about some new ones.
January 16, 2024
This was an extremely interesting book, and Dr. Feder's sense of humour was much appreciated, especially when you consider how serious some people are about these obvious hoaxes. He gave me a lot of background information that I wasn't aware of before.
I had been previous exposed to a couple of the frauds that Dr. Feder examines in this book such as Piltdown Man, and can easily remember the Ancient Astronauts silliness but he gave a lot more information that I hadn't considered. In addition coverage of the Cardiff Giant, Mound Builders, Atlantis, and more was very informative.
Highly recommended.
I had been previous exposed to a couple of the frauds that Dr. Feder examines in this book such as Piltdown Man, and can easily remember the Ancient Astronauts silliness but he gave a lot more information that I hadn't considered. In addition coverage of the Cardiff Giant, Mound Builders, Atlantis, and more was very informative.
Highly recommended.
November 15, 2021
I learned a lot from this book, which is great considering it was for a class with the same title as the book. The only section I disagreed with is when he discredits tarot cards and Ouija boards. Believe what you want, but I've gotten the Ouija board to work twice for me and I use tarot almost everyday so to each their own, I suppose.
Highly recommend this book as it's informative and entertaining to read :)
Highly recommend this book as it's informative and entertaining to read :)
July 24, 2025
A must read for every archaeologist or person even remotely interested in history and archaeology. Tackles a number of topics that are often the victim of pseudoscience. Lays out the pseudoscientific ideas and then provides evidence to refute them. Provides a lot of sources, and is very accessible. Chapters are divided into easily readable subjects. Cannot stress enough how important this book and it’s overall topic is in fighting misinformation.
June 25, 2023
Clearly intended to be read in an academic context, and still entirely readable. If you've been around the skeptical block, there won't be much terribly new to you here. It's how in depth that Feder goes on each subject that really makes the book. There are newer editions than the one I got from my library, and I might revisit one of those newer editions later.
July 3, 2023
Especially interesting when it’s detailing lesser-known hoaxes, like the Piltdown Man or Cardiff Giant. But feels especially stiff and textbook-y when dealing with broader misunderstandings like the discovery of America or origins of Atlantis.
Didn’t help that I read the 5th edition from nearly 20 years ago! Oops
Didn’t help that I read the 5th edition from nearly 20 years ago! Oops
October 6, 2023
part of working in an e-preferred library is that a lot of the stuff i find fascinating is quite dated. this book from the 90s is no exception. while interesting discussing a lot of the rise of pseudoarchaeology, the repeated references to Eurocentric thinking by those putting forward the ideas, whilst simultaneously having a smug writing style grated me a bit. also so so american
January 15, 2025
This is literally a textbook about an exasperated archeology nerd explaining why aliens didn't build the pyramids and why Atlantis isn't in like...Ireland. I'm literally having so much fun reading this and it feels illegal to have this much fun reading a textbook. This dude's sense of humor is so sarcastic I love it 💀.
December 5, 2020
I dont rate textbooks or books I read for class, but I was actually looking forward to assigned readings ?? this was incredibly fun (if you consider archaeology fun) and I was honestly excited to read more, it didnt feel like the chore that normally comes with textbooks
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