Subscribe now

Comment: Indiana Jones is no bad thing for science

By Cornelius Holtorf

14 May 2008

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

FEW scientific disciplines have a hero as charismatic as Indiana Jones. The whip-wielding character is the most widely recognised image of an archaeologist and largely due to this, the field enjoys huge and untainted popularity. Yet many archaeologists still seem desperate to distance themselves from the phenomenon. Since the height of the last Indy fever in the 1980s I have given up counting the number of exhibitions, educational events and publications that shout: “The real archaeologist practically never works like Indiana Jones.”

Now, Indy is back. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is released on…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop