Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology, 5/e
Kenneth L Feder,
Central Connecticut State University
ISBN: 0072869488 Copyright year: 2006
Feature Summary
As one user said, "One of the greatest challenges a teacher faces is getting students to critically evaluate information. This text provides readable and critical discussion of some of the more bizarre, nonsensical, and entertaining interpretations of archaeological work." A checklist on the inside cover offers prompts for thinking critically when evaluating claims.
Well-chosen examples of cases popularized by the media (ancient astronauts, the power of pyramids and crystals, the Atlantis legend, King Tut's curse, etc.) invite student interest.
"Frequently Asked Questions" sections in each chapter reflect questions asked by students over the years in relation to the issues and controversies addressed in the chapter.
"Current Perspectives" sections provide current scientific looks at the chapter topics, reinforcing how real science works.
The final chapter (12) presents genuine archaeological mysteries. Having debunked some of the more spectacular claims about the past in the previous chapters, the author leaves readers with some genuine unsolved mysteries to ponder: e.g., the cave painters of the Upper Paleolithic, Stonehenge and crop circles, and the collapse of Maya civilization.
Numerous photographs and illustrations support the text examples. Especially useful are the side-by-side comparisons of "mysterious" phenomena with similar looking elements that are scientifically documented.
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2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education