This course examines the use and misuse of the past bycharlatans, fanatics, and politicians. We examine thescientific method in archaeology and then devle into the useof pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology. Important themesexplored include extraterrestrial contact in the past, thearchaeology of giants and other hoaxes, the mysteries of theearly Americas, the great pyramids, and the misuse ofarchaeology and the past for political purposes.