Archaeology captures the popular imagination through far-fetched portrayals of lost civilizations, aliens, and spectacular treasures. While these depictions of the past may not be accurate, the story being told is nonetheless significant and reflects something about the culture that produced it. This course explores how films, television shows, books, and games tell stories about the past, what stories are being told, and what these representations imply about the relationship between archaeology and society. The course critically analyzes popular representations of archaeology, comparing how competing visions of science and popular science, fact and fiction, operate in the public sphere.General Education: Oral and Written Communication