Archaeological forgery

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 archaeological forgeries are made for reasons similar to art forgeries – for financial gain. The monetary value of an item that is thought to be thousands of years old is higher than if the item were sold as a souvenir.

However, archaeological or paleontological forgers may have other motives; they may try to manufacture proof for their point of view or favorite theory (or against a point of view/theory they dislike), or to gain increased fame and prestige for themselves. If the intention 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 radiocarbon 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

Alceo Dossena, 19th century creator of many Archaic and Medieval statues
Shinichi Fujimura, who planted specimens on false layers to gain more prestige
Brigido Lara, Mexican forger of pre-Columbian antiquities
Shaun Greenhalgh, a prolific and versatile British forger, who with the help of his family forged Ancient Egyptian statues, Roman Silverware and Celtic gold jewelry among more modern artworks. Arrested in 2006 attempting to sell three Assyrian reliefs to the British Museum.
Edward Simpson, Victorian forger of Prehistoric Flint tools. He sold forgeries to many British museums, including the Yorkshire Museum and the British Museum
Moses Shapira, purveyor of fake biblical artifacts
Tjerk Vermaning, Dutch amateur archaeologist whose Middle Paleolithic finds were declared forgeries

Known archaeological forgeries and hoaxes

Calaveras Skull
Cardiff Giant
Davenport Tablets
"Egyptian mummy" ca. 1898 at the Old Capitol Museum, Jackson, MS
Etruscan terracotta warriors in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Glozel tablets, bearing prehistoric writing
Grave Creek Stone
Japanese Paleolithic hoax
Michigan relics
Persian Princess, forged ancient mummy, possible murder victim
Piltdown Man
Tiara of Saitaferne in Louvre
The pieces "discovered" in 2006 in Iruña-Veleia

Cases generally believed by professional archaeologists to be forgeries or hoaxes

Newark Holy Stones: Keystone tablet and the Newark Decalogue Stone
Walam Olum
Shroud of Turin

See also Kensington Runestone controversy

Cases that several professional archaeologists believe to be forgeries or hoaxes

James Ossuary