ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES

SKULL 5

One of five skulls discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia, the unusual

dimensions of the skull have led to ongoing debate in the

archaeological community. The debate centres on whether or not

the Dmanisi humans were an early form of Homo erectus.

CYRUS CYLINDER

An ancient cylinder containing Akkadian cuneiform script was

discovered in 1879 in modern day Iraq. The script was written in

the name of Achaemenid king Cyrus the Great and controversy

has surrounded its significance. Some scholars see it as

corroborating the repatriation of the Jews while others see it

as the oldest known charter of human rights.

CALICO EARLY MAN SITE

Thousands of rocks resembling prehistoric tools have been found at

an archaeological site in southern California known as the Calico

early man site. The debate continues, however, concerning whether

or not these “tools” are artefacts (made by humans) or

geofacts (formed by nature).

ATLANTIS

Although the existence of an actual sunken city has been largely

dismissed, there is still controversy as to what served as

Plato’s inspiration for mentioning it in his writings.

STONEHENGE

Because Stonehenge was built by a culture that left no written records

there has been much speculation and back-and-forth concerning

the actual function and construction of the site.

MONTE VERDE, CHILE

Dating of the Monte Verde archaeological site in Chile led to many

archaeologists to believe that humans settled the America’s earlier

than they had previously thought. There has been much division

concerning these theories and their significance within the

archaeological community.

SANDIA CAVE

Possibly one of the most controversial archaeological findings

in the history of the United States, this cave in New Mexico was

excavated by Frank Hibben in the 1930s and 1940s. Many of his

techniques and findings have become a major source of

controversy in archaeological circles even today, especially

those concerning the idea that man had inhabited North America

 much earlier than previously thought (once again).

PILTDOWN MAN

The Piltdown hoax was possibly one of the most famous

anthropological hoaxes ever perpetrated. Basically, after bone

fragments found in England were presented as evidence for a

previously unknown early human, it took more than 40 years

to be exposed as a hoax. The identity of the forger

remains unknown.