Rhode Island Council for the Humanities

Fantastic Archaeology: Stories of Frauds, Fakes and Facts in New England

Have UFO’s, Celts, and Vikings all left their marks upon New England? How should we interpret claims that crop circles, mysterious letters on stones, and strange rock arrangements are evidence of such visitations? Hear about how the suspicions and speculations of some New Englanders have entered into local folklore and learn about the tools archaeology and anthropology provide for sorting out fact from fiction.

Alan Leveillee is an anthropologist and archaeologist dedicated to sharing archaeological research with non- specialist audiences. Having worked in cultural resource management for over twenty years, he currently serves as a principal investigator and Director of Educational Programs at the Public Archaeology Lab, a non-profit consulting firm, and as the Rhode Island statewide network coordinator for the Education Committee of the Society of American Archaeology. He presents papers and publishes regularly and serves on advisory boards of four area museums: the Sydney Wright Museum, the Robbins Museum, the Museum of Primitive Art and Culture, and the Nathum Fisher House.