Normally I’d say that we are moving backwards but honestly, archaeology has always been funded or driven by entities or institutions with certain agendas (proving Biblical or Classical events, filling the vaults of museums, etc.). It is a shame but in history, Mussolini used it to prove the travels of Aeneas throughout the Italian mainland (according to Virgil). Hitler used it to rewrite history. Archaeology continues to be a vehicle for political purpose.
Indeed! As Xekalaki admits, propaganda is to be expected from a nation-state (especially one at war), and thanks to the vast reach of the internet, the ability to spread and promote such propaganda has increased exponentially. It only takes a moment to make an impression. As I pointed out in a post on a news story about the DNA analysis of a Saite mummy (link below), people scroll through a ton of headlines on their phones everyday, and these headlines influence their opinions and understanding of the world whether they actually click on a link and read the articles or not. The vast majority of readers will never get further than a headline, and many who do click and read an article may not consciously pick up on any underlying ideological agenda, but an impression will be made and their perspectives influenced. https://ancientnow.substack.com/p/an-egyptian-woman-traces-her-dna
Normally I’d say that we are moving backwards but honestly, archaeology has always been funded or driven by entities or institutions with certain agendas (proving Biblical or Classical events, filling the vaults of museums, etc.). It is a shame but in history, Mussolini used it to prove the travels of Aeneas throughout the Italian mainland (according to Virgil). Hitler used it to rewrite history. Archaeology continues to be a vehicle for political purpose.
Indeed! As Xekalaki admits, propaganda is to be expected from a nation-state (especially one at war), and thanks to the vast reach of the internet, the ability to spread and promote such propaganda has increased exponentially. It only takes a moment to make an impression. As I pointed out in a post on a news story about the DNA analysis of a Saite mummy (link below), people scroll through a ton of headlines on their phones everyday, and these headlines influence their opinions and understanding of the world whether they actually click on a link and read the articles or not. The vast majority of readers will never get further than a headline, and many who do click and read an article may not consciously pick up on any underlying ideological agenda, but an impression will be made and their perspectives influenced. https://ancientnow.substack.com/p/an-egyptian-woman-traces-her-dna
I one million percent agree. Thank you social media! Yes, I understand the irony by saying what I said in yet another form of social media. 😀