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The Meaning Of Cryptoarchaeology
I recently had the misfortune to enter into a discussion with a "Pseudoarchaeologist" about the origin and meaning of Cryptoarchaeology.
The following is the "official" or "accepted" definition of Cryptoarchaeology and it's known origin:
Cryptoarchaeology (definition from Wikipedia)
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Cryptoarchaeology is a valid, though not fully accepted, form of archaeology, in that it does follow commonly accepted best practices, scientific method, though it focuses on anomalous discoveries. Cryptoarchaeology is the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains that do not adhere to orthodox theory and thought. However, it rigorously adheres to the fundamental principals of processual Archaeology.
Contrary to some, it is not the attempt to invent cultures from problematic remains through wild speculation, such as those underwater west of Cuba. It is typical of non-scientists to confuse cryptoarcharology, with their own fantastical pseudoarchaeology. While pseudoarchaologists may, in fact, make archaeological finds, they tend to automatically jump to erronious conclusions based upon their desire to "rewrite the history of human civilizations", rather than add to it empirically.
Examples of cryptoarchaeological studies have included the survey, excavation, and analysis of of contradictory sites such as: the Black Pyramids Of Tenerife on the Canary Islands; the study of the Nazca culture and their relationship to the famous "lines"; the study of the Diquis Balls (Spheres) of Southwestern Costa Rica; anomalous wheeled gold pieces from Panama; Petroglyphs from Nicaragua and Costa Rica; and even the formal analysis of the two possibly "genuine" crystal skulls (the BH & BM skulls). Even the legitimate study of Stonehenge falls under Cryptoarchaeology, though the fanciful speculation covering everything from UFO's to ancient super-cultures does not.
Origin of Cryptoarchaeology is believed to have first been coined and used by Professor of Archaeology, Dr. Luis Ferrero, of the Universidad de Costa Rica in a lecture in 1976. In a hand-out paper, he defined cryptoarchaeology as the scientific study of objects and cultures conflicting with contemporary othodoxy. Dr. Ferrero is best known for his exhaustive study of Central American archaeology, and specifically for his encyclopedic volume "Costa Rica Precolombina" published in 1979 by ECR (Editorial Costa Rica) as part of the Biblioteca Patria, considered the definitive text on the subject.
The following is the "official" or "accepted" definition of Cryptoarchaeology and it's known origin:
Cryptoarchaeology (definition from Wikipedia)
----------------------------------------
Cryptoarchaeology is a valid, though not fully accepted, form of archaeology, in that it does follow commonly accepted best practices, scientific method, though it focuses on anomalous discoveries. Cryptoarchaeology is the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains that do not adhere to orthodox theory and thought. However, it rigorously adheres to the fundamental principals of processual Archaeology.
Contrary to some, it is not the attempt to invent cultures from problematic remains through wild speculation, such as those underwater west of Cuba. It is typical of non-scientists to confuse cryptoarcharology, with their own fantastical pseudoarchaeology. While pseudoarchaologists may, in fact, make archaeological finds, they tend to automatically jump to erronious conclusions based upon their desire to "rewrite the history of human civilizations", rather than add to it empirically.
Examples of cryptoarchaeological studies have included the survey, excavation, and analysis of of contradictory sites such as: the Black Pyramids Of Tenerife on the Canary Islands; the study of the Nazca culture and their relationship to the famous "lines"; the study of the Diquis Balls (Spheres) of Southwestern Costa Rica; anomalous wheeled gold pieces from Panama; Petroglyphs from Nicaragua and Costa Rica; and even the formal analysis of the two possibly "genuine" crystal skulls (the BH & BM skulls). Even the legitimate study of Stonehenge falls under Cryptoarchaeology, though the fanciful speculation covering everything from UFO's to ancient super-cultures does not.
Origin of Cryptoarchaeology is believed to have first been coined and used by Professor of Archaeology, Dr. Luis Ferrero, of the Universidad de Costa Rica in a lecture in 1976. In a hand-out paper, he defined cryptoarchaeology as the scientific study of objects and cultures conflicting with contemporary othodoxy. Dr. Ferrero is best known for his exhaustive study of Central American archaeology, and specifically for his encyclopedic volume "Costa Rica Precolombina" published in 1979 by ECR (Editorial Costa Rica) as part of the Biblioteca Patria, considered the definitive text on the subject.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hubert Cumberdale on
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Wow, well you managed to just totally mime on an almost line for line basis the wikipedia w/u on this subject....
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Permalink Reply by Dr. Tim on
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There is a reason that the same definition is used in both places. The definition in question happens to be the accepted one, and is therefore used in both locations.
Maybe you should have noticed "Who" wrote the Wiki entry on the subject! Science is, after all, about observation!
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Permalink Reply by Mary Xochitl Mayahuel on -
Thank you for the information!
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Permalink Reply by marooc on -
What most interests me about cryptoarchaeology is once it is examined by philosophy and symbolism the answers are so solid and scientifically provable.
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Permalink Reply by tom donnelly mitchell on -
i believe cryptoarchaeology then is the most appropriate forum to study the imagrey that i have been viewing on stones here in oregon.the normal channels are not open to new discoveries if the 'professionals'have never seen the likes of it.the objects i have been studying are too subtle,complex and esoteric to be believed by those who consider a straight line of development of the human mind...our ice age ancestors were no alley oops or fred flintstones,rather knew more about image,metaphor..and the unseen spiritual forces of nature than todays socratic deductionists-after studying this imagrey on stones one can speculate about the role of imagrey,rather than words ,in history and spiritual knowledge...tom
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