April Lecture

Stephanie Halmhofer – University of Alberta

April 9, 2026 @ 7:30pm via zoom – Register Here

Title: “The archies (archeologists) seem to be in denial” – Pseudoarchaeology in North
America, from the Past to the Present.

Abstract: A significant challenge faced by North American archaeologists today is the
proliferation of pseudoarchaeological conspiracist content across all sorts of media
spaces, from television, to books, to digital and social media. Conspiracism creates
challenges for archaeologists and communities whose knowledge and histories are
rewritten into mis- and disinformative narratives that can shape interpretations of the
past and present. It can also lead to harm to both people and sites through harassment,
vandalism, and illegal excavations. Conspiracism is fast-paced and constantly shifting,
and it is a challenge for archaeologists to keep ahead of it, but that does not mean all
hope is lost. Engagement is necessary and there are a variety of effective and practical
methods for responsible engagement with pseudoarchaeology when we encounter it.
Sharing Canadian and other North American examples from history to today, in this
presentation we will talk about what pseudoarchaeology is and why we should be
concerned. We will also go over some resources that can help us more responsibly and
effectively engage with pseudoarchaeology. Because, as Bettina Arnold (2006:179)
wrote, “Pseudoarchaeology may always be traveling with us, but we do not have to let it
drive the train.”

Bio: Steph Halmhofer (Bluesky: @cultarchaeo.bsky.social) is a Canadian archaeologist and PhD student.
Based on the south coast of British Columbia, Steph has worked on CRM and academic
projects in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Her current PhD
research is primarily focused on a conspiritual organization called the Aquarian
Foundation, who built three communes on three BC islands between 1927 and 1932.
Steph combines archaeology and archival research to examine how the Foundation
built their conspiritual beliefs into their landscapes. Steph also examines the use of
pseudoarchaeology by the North American far-right in both historic and contemporary
settings.