Aliens, Atlantis and Archeology

What is science

the systematic study of the natural world through observation and experiment

What is pseudoscience?

A claim, belief or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not follow the scientific method

Which are characteristics of pseudoscientific claims?

All of these:

-Ignore alternative explanations or contrary evidence

- Relies on anecdotal or untestable evidence

- seeks to prove rather than test claims

According to Kida which IS NOT one of the six mistakes we make in our thought processes?

We are born liars

What is archaeology?

A method to study past human activity by studying things people made and used

What is a hypothesis?

A proposed explanation based on evidence

A theory is an hypothesis that has withstood repeated testing

A theory: True

Characteristics of pseudoscientific procedure include:

All of these:

-Search for evidence to prove belief

- Argument based on unfounded assumptions

-Superficial comparisons

Characteristics of scientific claims include a strong reliance on anecdotal evidence, preconceived notions of what to believe and a disregard of alternative explanations

Characteristics: False

All interpretations that are possible are equally plausible.

Plausible: False

What was the harm in the Piltdown hoax?

It sent scientists in the wrong direction in the investigation of human evolution

The Piltdown fossil was undetected for so long because

All choices are correct:

-Nationalistic pride that human evolution took place in England, not Africa

-The scientists involved believed in their friend, Charles Dawson

-It confirmed the early human traits that scientists expected to find

The Piltdown Hoax

was a deliberate fabrication of a fossil involving an ancient human cranium and modern ape jaw

Science progresses by

repeated testing and revising of hypotheses

The correctness of a belief is decided by the number of people who can be inducted to adopt it

correctness: False

Footprints and a fossilized human finger are good evidence to support the theory that humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time

DINO: False

Why wasn't radio-carbon dating used at the time to determine the age of the Piltdown finds?

All answers are correct:

- Carbon dating only works on organic material. A fossilized bone has no remaining organic material

- Radiocarbon dating was developed until 40 years after Piltdown was discovered

- They did use radiocarbon dating, once they suspected Piltdown was a hoax.

The theory of human evolution is flimsy as it is based on just a handful of tiny bone fragments that could mean just about anything.

Human evolution:False

The cultural context in which the Cardiff Giant was believable included

All choices are correct:

-Findings of fossils of extinct megafauna so that it was not out of the realm of possibility that there had once also existed giant humans

- It was presented as visual evidence; one could see and expereince for one's self

- It was presented as evidence that supported a literal interpretation of the Bible

A hoax is more easily accepted as truth when it support already accepted social beliefs

A hoax: True

A "goodness of fit" model suggests the researcher examine if the evidence "fits" within the for example, social, cultural, political, economic, subsistence and religious systems in the place where the evidence was found, as a means to deduce an indigenous or foreign origin

"goodness of fit" True

Because Indians were not building mounds when Europeans arrived, it is a logical conclusion that the ancestors of the Indians were not the builders of the mounds.

Because Indians: False

Bob Meistrell, Founder of Body Glove, states that he wants to found out what the stone anchors are before he dies, even after he is presented with the evidence that the stones are from 19th century Chinese fisherman, is an example of

A disregard for alternative explanations and expecting only that information that supports wheat we already believe

If the only evidence that is presented to support an extraordinary claim is without provenance, then one cannot draw any conclusions as to the veracity of the claim

Provenance: False

Migration theory suggests that a new people can be recognized in the archaeological record by the sudden, intrusive appearance of foreign (i.e.: non-local) material culture

Migration theory: True

Noting a similarity between Native American and Chinese hairstyles is good evidence for a Chinese discovery of America

Hairstyles: False

Rosenfeld, Canadian Archivist for the Royal Canadian Astronomical Society, says that there;s an 80% chance that the Vinland map is a fake and a 20% chance it's real. This is an appropriate use of statistics because these percentages are based on quantitive (things that you can count) data.

Rosenfeld: False

The founder of Body Glove and a professional diver, Bob Meistrell, together with Amateur Historian and Organic Chemist Lee propose a pre-Columbus Chinese discovery of America. Nautical Archaeologist Larry Pierson and Art historian Professor argue that it is not possible and that the most logical explanation for the stone anchors if 19th century chinese fishing. Both sides bring compelling evidence to the debate. Without knowing more, it is those impossible for you to know which argument is more probable

Discovery of America: False

The sacrificial alter at mystery hill can be better explained as a

cider or soap press

Unlike the Ekron and Tel Dan inscriptions, which were found in archaeological excavations, the Newark Holy Stones, the Las Lunas Stone, the Bat Creek Stone and the Walum Olum inscriptions were not found during the course of modern archaeological excavations and therefor we can never be sure that they are not fakes.

Ekron: True

An example of justifying an historical reconstruction based on diffusion is using cultural comparisons to demonstrate the Myans and Egyptians are similar in culture because they both build pyramids.

Means and Egyptians: True

The Ancient Alien theory in the media is harmful because

All choices are correct

Most ancient cultures were culturally static. That is to say, if left to their own devices without foreign interference, they would have changed very little through time.

Ancient Cultures; false

Erich Von Dankken's hypothesis concerning space aliens visiting earth involve

All choices are correct

Erich Von Daniken interprets the long, straight Nazca lines as

landing strips for alien aircraft

The original source for the story Atlantis was

Plato

The Mayan calendar, Sumerian references to gods in fiery chariots and Stonehenge of technology far beyond the abilities of our ancient ancestors and thus proof that intelligent aliens must have visited earth sometime in the past.

Mayan Calendar: False

The Dendera "lightbulb" is refuted by

All choices are correct:

- its interpretation as an egyptian creation myth involving a lotus flower and a snake

-No other evidence of electrical lighting anywhere in ancient Egypt

- The fact that there are many examples of oil lamps found in Egyptian buildings

Von Daniken interprets a carving on the cover of the sarcophagus of Mayan ruler, Lord Pacal, as

an astronaut in the cockpit of a spaceship

Von Daniken seeing representations of ancient astronauts in past artwork is what Kida might call "seeking to confirm" Feder calls it

The inkblot hypothesis