When I critique #AncientAliens or #Atlantis, people often tell me that archaeologists don’t really know what happened in the past, it’s all just interpretations, and I shouldn’t “gatekeep” interesting ideas that aren’t supported by the establishment.

Let’s explore that idea! 1/

The claim ‘no one can really say what happened’ is an old idea in “alternative” literature critiquing science.

Notably, it was embraced by paranormal author Charles Fort who said ‘there is no truth, there is no fiction, there is only the hyphenated state of truth-fiction.’ 2/

For Fort, this was a deeply significant claim. He was concerned that the objective measurement systems science is based upon were, in of themselves, abstract entities. As a result, he concluded all science was bunk.

Fort has a point, but IMO he took it too far. 3/

Fort’s idea was transformed over the years as its adopted by authors who were more interested in alleged coverups then critiquing science’s claim to objectivity.

Thus, we move from an interesting philosophical discussion on the nature of objectivity to claims of conspiracy. 4/

For example, John Keel tried to emulate Fort in his book Disney Land of the Gods, but instead of questioning the nature of science and systems of measurement, he instead simply insists that #AncientAliens, #UFO, #MIB, etc must be true, BECAUSE experts say they’re not. 5/

Conspiracy narratives thrive off the notion that experts can’t be trusted. This rhetorical technique is used to cultivate readers & suggest they can only trust the authors who are letting them in on the secret.

This creates a powerful sense of active participation in readers. 6/

Claims made by archaeologists are based on years of research, thousands of data points, & serious peer scrutiny.

No archaeologist will ever tell you they know everything that happened in the past, but material evidence supports certain conclusions and not others. 7/

For example, we know that the pyramids of Giza were built as tombs for pharaohs (and not as power plants, grain silos, or UFO landing pads) because of the extant data. 8/

There is a long history of tombs built for the early rulers of Egypt that predates the pyramids at Giza.

Structures called mastabas (flat platforms) were built for the first pharaohs until Djoser decided to stack several mastabas on top of one another to build a step pyramid. 9/

At Giza itself, excavations have found not only quarries for some of the stones used in the pyramids, but also a large scale village for the workers who built the pyramids to live in and a cemetery filled with bureaucrats who had various jobs overseeing construction. 10/

Yet #AncientAliens comes and claims that the boat pits found along side of the Great Pyramid was actually used for a giant circular saw, because #reasons.

Do you know what archaeologists found in the boat pit? A boat! 11/

Ancient Alien contact would be mind bogglingly amazing if it were true. As would a lost civilization like Atlantis.

But, the data simply do not support such claims. As such, we need to push back against these distortions of basic facts. We owe it to our ancestors!

Fin!