Archaeological Forgery

Archaeological Forgeries
Archaeological, anthropological and palaeontological forgeries and hoaxes ... There's really no big secret to Archæological Forgeries. ...
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Archaeological forgery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Archaeological forgery is the manufacture of supposedly ancient items that are ... favours the archaeological forgery. ... Categories: Archaeological forgery ...
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Category:Archaeological forgery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Category:Archaeological forgery. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ... The main article for this category is Archaeological forgery. ...
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The Missing Link:
Archaeological forgery is a tangible form of historical fiction. ... The third archaeological forgery of the 1860s presents us with a picturesque sideshow. ...
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forgery: Definition, Synonyms from Answers.com
forgery n. , pl. -ies . The act of forging, especially the illegal production ... Wide-ranging bibliographies of archaeological forgeries, art forgeries etc. ...
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Forgery - Open Encyclopedia
Wide-ranging bibliographies of archaeological forgeries, art forgeries etc. Museum security Network: sources of information on art forgery; gives encyclopedic links. ...
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Conversations: Forgery Fallout
Why the recent rash of biblical fakery is about so much more than money ... A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America. Email this article ...
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Books: Scourge of the Forgery Culture
The author of this reasoned polemic comes down hard on scholars and museums. ... A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America. Email this article ...
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Category:Forgery - Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological forgery (2 C) C [+] Counterfeit money (1 P, 11 F) F [+] Fakes (5 C, 12 F) ... Media in category "Forgery" The following 36 files are in this ...
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Archaeology - Wikimedia Commons
Category:Archaeological sites. Category:Archaeology by region. Category:Archaeology by country ... Category:Archaeological forgery. Category:Archaeological maps ...
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Archaeological forgery is the manufacture of supposedly ancient items that are sold to the antiquities market and may even end up in the collections of museums. It is related to art forgery.

A string of archeological forgeries have usually followed news of prominent archaeological excavations. Historically, famous excavations like those in Crete, Valley of the Kings in Egypt and Pompeii have caused the appearance of a number of forgeries supposedly spirited away from the dig. Those have been usually presented in the open market but some have also ended up in museum collections and as objects of serious historical study.

In recent times, forgeries of pre-Columbian pottery from the South America have been very common. Other popular examples include Ancient Egyptian earthenware and supposed ancient Greek gold. There have also been paleontological forgeries like archaeoraptor.

Motivations Most of the archaeological forgery is made for reasons similar to art forgery - for money. The monetary value of an item that is thought to be thousands of years old is higher than the similar one sold as a souvenir.

However, archaeological or paleontological forgers may have other motives; they may try to manufacture proof for their point of view, favorite theory or to gain increased fame and prestige for themselves. If that is to create "proof" for religious history, it is pious fraud.

Detection Investigators of archaeological forgery rely on the tools of archaeology in general. Since the age of the object is usually the most significant detail, they try to use carbon dating or neutron activation analysis to find out the real age of the object.

Criticisms of antiquities trade Some historians and archaeologists have strongly criticized the antiquities trade for putting profit and art collecting before the scientific accuracy and veracity. This, in effect, favours the archaeological forgery. Allegedly some of the items in prominent museum collections are of dubious or at least of unknown origin. Looters who rob archaeologically important places and supply the antiquities market are rarely concerned with exact dating and placement of the items. Antiquities dealer may also embellish a genuine item to make it more saleable. Sometimes traders may even sell items that are attributed to nonexistent cultures.

As is the case with art forgery, scholars and experts don't always agree on the authenticity of particular finds. Sometimes an entire research topic of a scholar may be based on finds that are later suspected as forgeries.

Known archaeological forgers

Shinichi Fujimura, who planted specimens on false layers to gain more prestige
Brigido Lara, Mexican forger of pre-Columbian antiquities
Moses Shapira, purveyor of fake biblical artifacts

Known archaeological forgeries

Calaveras Skull
Etruscan terracotta warriors in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Forged Persian princess, forged ancient mummy, possible murder victim
James Ossuary
Michigan relics
Piltdown Man
Tiara of Saitaphernes in Louvre
Glozel tablets, bearing prehistoric writing
"Egyptian mummy" ca.1898 at the Old Capitol Museum, Jackson, MS
Shepton Mallet Chi-Ro amulet

See also Kensington Runestone controversy