Archaeology and Pseudo-Archaeology

Pre-requisites: For archaeology students; to have passes core subject Introduction to Studying Archaeology. It is also necessary to speak English.

Course objectives: The goal of this course is to develop a critical skepticism and a scientific point of view in students. This entails, reviewing facts and sources, forming and testing hypothesis as well as recognizing the difference between scientific and non-scientific explanations

Course description: The elective course Archaeology and Pseudo-Archaeology is intended for the 3rd year students of archaeology. Archaeology, as an attractive science, has always been a favorite ground for different kinds of “Mystery Buffs”, ranging from gifted amateurs, across skilful publicists to charlatans of varied profiles and motives. The course covers the basics of epistemology and the scientific method in general, as well as the specific relation between science and pseudo-science in archaeology and related disciplines. Basic topics in which archaeology comes into contact with pseudo science will be studied during this course. For example: the question of evolutionism verses creationism, the human evolution, great geographic discoveries, “lost” continents, “ancient astronauts”, dowsing and geomantics, deciphering writing, also the ever present and potentially dangerous myth of the “oldest people”. These topics will be covered using a variety of examples and critically analyzed using the basic scientific methodology.

Learning Outcomes: Essay and oral examination

Archaeology and Pseudo-Archaeology

Pre-requisites: For archaeology students; to have passes core subject Introduction to Studying Archaeology. It is also necessary to speak English.

Course objectives: The goal of this course is to develop a critical skepticism and a scientific point of view in students. This entails, reviewing facts and sources, forming and testing hypothesis as well as recognizing the difference between scientific and non-scientific explanations

Course description: The elective course Archaeology and Pseudo-Archaeology is intended for the 3rd year students of archaeology. Archaeology, as an attractive science, has always been a favorite ground for different kinds of “Mystery Buffs”, ranging from gifted amateurs, across skilful publicists to charlatans of varied profiles and motives. The course covers the basics of epistemology and the scientific method in general, as well as the specific relation between science and pseudo-science in archaeology and related disciplines. Basic topics in which archaeology comes into contact with pseudo science will be studied during this course. For example: the question of evolutionism verses creationism, the human evolution, great geographic discoveries, “lost” continents, “ancient astronauts”, dowsing and geomantics, deciphering writing, also the ever present and potentially dangerous myth of the “oldest people”. These topics will be covered using a variety of examples and critically analyzed using the basic scientific methodology.

Learning Outcomes: Essay and oral examination

Literature/Reading:

• Aleksandar Palavestra, Arheologija i pseudoarheologija (praktikum).
• Keneth Feder, Frauds, Myths and Mysteries, (Forurth edition), McGraw Hill, Mayfield, New York, 2002.
• Michael Shermer, Baloney Detection, Scientific American, November 16, 2001.
• John Rennie, 15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense, Scientific American July, 2002
• Aleksej Tarasjev, Biologija i kreacionizam, Signature, Beograd, 1999. (str.78-109.)
• Robert Todd Carroll, Critical Thinking mini-lessons, The Sceptic’s Dictionary.
• Milivoj Čatipović, Podvale obmane i zablude u svjetu nauke, Školska knjiga, Zagreb 1980. (Kalifornijska lobanja, čovek iz Piltdauna, fosilni Golijat, traganja za čudovištima, afera Glozel, kako je car Justinijan postao Sloven, potonuli kontinenti, str. 8-32; 84-91; 173-196.)
• Robert Todd Caroll, Ica stones, The Skeptic’s Dictionary.
• Massimo Polidoro, Ica Stones: Skeptical Inquirer magazine: September/October 2002.
• Radivoje Pešić, Vinčansko pismo i drugi gramatološki ogledi, Pešić i sinovi, Dugan, Beograd, Milano 1995.
• Colin Renfrew, Before Civilization: The Radiocarbon Revolution and Prehistoric Europe, Harmondsworth 1976. (str.192-210.)
• Vanja Stanišić, Tipološka problematika klasifikacije sistema pisma, Zbornik Matice srpske za filologiju i lingvistiku, XLV/1-2, 2002. (str.41-57.)
• Erich von Däniken, Povratak zvijezdama, Stvarnost, Zagreb 1972. (str. 86-113.)
• Roberto Salinas Prajs, Homerova slepa publika, IRO Rad, TANJUG, Beograd 1985.
• Troja i kako je steći (Darko Novaković i dr. ur.), Latina et Graeca, Zagreb 1985.
• Roberto Salinas Prajs, Homer nije bio Grk, (predavanje održano u Udruženju književnika, Beograd, 26. aprila 2004), NIN 29.04. 2004. (str. 36-37.)
• Lajl Votson, Iza Superprirode, Novi naučni pogled na natprirodno , Dosije, Beograd 1996. (str. 315-331.)
• J. T. Enright, Testing Dowsing, The Failure of the Munich Experiments.