The Truth is Out There: The Masking and Lure of Fringe Archaeology

Author(s): Kyle Somerville; Christopher P. Barton

Year: 2016

Summary

Fringe archaeology is one of the most controversial and inflammatory aspects of archaeology, occupying an uncomfortable position between academic rigor, public perceptions of the field, and interpretive value. Historical archaeology in general has also encountered these issues in a number of different ways. This paper briefly outlines fringe archaeology, and we examine case studies from Rhode Island, Masssachussetts, and the Northeast to better understand the appeal of fringe archaeology to its practitioners and the public, who its practitioners are, and the challenges it presents to the field in terms of public perceptions of "mainstream" archaeology.

Cite this Record

The Truth is Out There: The Masking and Lure of Fringe Archaeology. Kyle Somerville, Christopher P. Barton. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Washington, D.C. 2016 ( tDAR id: 434481)

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Spatial Coverage

min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 641