Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
@cultarchaeo.bsky.social
11K followers 600 following 1.1K posts
🇨🇦 (BC)Archaeologist & PhD student: Brother XII & the Aquarian Foundation | archaeology of conspirituality | landscape archaeology | pseudoarchaeology | far-right pseudo/archaeology (she/her) https://bonesstonesandbooks.com/publication
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cultarchaeo.bsky.social
My author copy of the home of my recent chapter on far-right uses of pseudoarchaeology arrived today 🙌 Timely, given that a certain Netflix series with a season premiere date right around the corner makes an unfortunate appearance in here 👀
🏺
Cover for a book called Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times, edited by Christopher T. Conner, Matthew N. Hannah, and Nicholas J. MacMurray. First page of my chapter, titled "Manufacturing History: Atlantis, Aryans, and the Use of Pseudoarchaeology by the Far-Right"
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
uofa-ipia.bsky.social
"Heart-centered practice wants to take emotion from the margins, something you talk about in the hallways, to the center of scholarship."

Check out this excellent new interview with our IPIA Director, Dr. Kisha Supernant 🏺
The End of Archaeology as We Know It - World Records
worldrecordsjournal.org
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
I was super glad you came, and it waz really fun having you in the convo (we really need to do it again sometime)!!
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
Everyday the AI Bros find new ways to make things worse and demonstrate they really don't care about people
mattburgess1.bsky.social
Oh good, ChatGPT is getting "erotica for verified adults" later this year
We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right.

Now that we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues and have new tools, we are going to be able to safely relax the restrictions in most cases.

In a few weeks, we plan to put out a new version of ChatGPT that allows people to have a personality that behaves more like what people liked about 4o (we hope it will be better!). If you want your ChatGPT to respond in a very human-like way, or use a ton of emoji, or act like a friend, ChatGPT should do it (but only if you want it, not because we are usage-maxxing).

In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our “treat adult users like adults” principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults.
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
a-rfa.bsky.social
All those who signed up to attend today's seminar with @cultarchaeo.bsky.social should have now received a link to attend. If you haven't received the link, email us at [email protected]. Otherwise, look out for the recorded version in the next couple of weeks. See you soon!
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
a-rfa.bsky.social
Last chance to register for Steph Halmhofer’s talk this coming Tuesday! Essential for anyone interested in the relationship between pseudo-archaeology, conspiracy, and extreme political ideology. Link below to register, we hope to see you there!
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
Can confirm that it's really fun working with these teams (I'm working with 3!) on their challenges, so if you have some time to spare I definitely recommend signing up to help out! 🏺
sarahmackattack.bsky.social
What I'm asking archaeologist to do here is meet with a group of students who are 9 times out of 10 working on a robotics club project through First Lego League. These students will ask you a bunch of questions on a video chat, usually after school or during their lunch break. It's fun!
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
sarahmackattack.bsky.social
Here I am. Once again. I'm out of archaeologists.

We matched 576 groups w/archaeologists, leaving 13 groups unmatched. This brings me pain! We've never run out of scientists like this before. 598 requests for one category is A LOT. But still.

Archaeologists 🥺
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Sign Up
Skype a Scientist gives you the opportunity to connect with students and the public around the world. ​
www.skypeascientist.com
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
Yes I'm thinking in part about the looting at the historic sites in the east, but also thinking about harassment of archaeologists, pseudoarchaeological claims & related issues, etc. Workshop a report or document that would be of use to many 🤔🤔🤔
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
Maybe this is a time to have a roundtable or panel discussion about threats to archaeology/gists in Canada, drawing folks accross Canada from Parks, CRM, academia, etc. to talk about identifying different types of threats and suggestions on how best to document and address them 🤔
🏺
can-arch.bsky.social
It's TIME! Our call for session proposals is open!
We're preparing for the 58th Annual General Meeting of the CAA / ACA, in Canmore, Alberta, & we want you to join us!
We are accepting Session Proposals until January 15, 2026, so head to the link in our bio! 🏺 #CanArch #archaeology #conference
A graphic advertising the CAA 2p26 Canmore, Alberta. There is an image of a human figure holding a disc or circle, slightly abstract, in red and grey. Ti the figure's left, it says 'Call for Sessions is Open! Deadline: January 15, 2026'
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
rachelgrant.bsky.social
It feels weird doing book promo now, but also with the government shutdown & my husband being furloughed, we need my income.

Worth noting: False Flag goes after #pseudoarchaeology, disinformation & using AI to rewrite history to fuel a white supremacist takeover of government.
#archaeology
#booksky
Cover Reveal Evidence: Under Fire #4
contest.rachel-grant.net
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
uofa-ipia.bsky.social
In 2026 the IPIA, in collaboration with the Indigenous Heritage Circle (IHC) & the Indigenous Council of the Canadian Museums Association (CMA), will host a conference in Edmonton to discuss the development of a national framework for Indigenous cultural heritage rights w/in Canada. More info below:
2025 Recipient
www.ualberta.ca
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
a-rfa.bsky.social
🌟 Reminder! 🌟 we will be hosting the amazing Steph Halmhofer on Tuesday 14th of October, who will be presenting on the incredibly important topic of pseudoarchaeology, conspirary and the far right. The talk is free to attend so please sign up below!
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
can-arch.bsky.social
It's TIME! Our call for session proposals is open!
We're preparing for the 58th Annual General Meeting of the CAA / ACA, in Canmore, Alberta, & we want you to join us!
We are accepting Session Proposals until January 15, 2026, so head to the link in our bio! 🏺 #CanArch #archaeology #conference
A graphic advertising the CAA 2p26 Canmore, Alberta. There is an image of a human figure holding a disc or circle, slightly abstract, in red and grey. Ti the figure's left, it says 'Call for Sessions is Open! Deadline: January 15, 2026'
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
increase in general erosion of trust in archaeologists and historians driven by popular pseudoarchaeological content creators, pseudoarchaeological shows, residential school denialists, etc. that can also lead to increases in looting. Lots of potential reasons, none of them good 😬
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
Looting these days is definitely a multi-faceted issue. There is monetary-driven looting for sure, there is an issue with historic sites, especially large forts in eastern Canada, being connected to pseudoarch/hist claims about Tartaria that can drive looting, and there has also lately been an
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
theserfstv.bsky.social
"You are a transformative President" ~Mark Carney

-Frequently threatens to annex or invade Canada.
-Waging a war against his own people.
-Genocide of Palestinians.
-Killing Venezuelan citizens.
-Tariff wars and silencing free speech.
-Targeting LGBTQ+ people, minorities, and immigrants.
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
Was a beautiful Autumn day to hike part way up a mountain today to re-locate the Organ Maker's Cabin (a man in the early-mid 20th C lived here and made organ pipes with wood from the surrounding forest) 🏺
Three rows of thick wooden support beams, now covered by moss Looking at the remains of a cabin, covered in moss. You can see floor supports and in the distance a disintigrating metal stove. Up close look at one of the floor supports, which is a long wooden beam resting on top of a short stump at one end Looking down at a well with stacked stone circular walls
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
rajoyce.bsky.social
Also: this video illustrates the incompetence, lack of training, and dangerous approach that these mercenaries employ.
cristianfarias.com
This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
cultarchaeo.bsky.social
That would be excellent, thank you! My institution sadly doesn't have access to it. My email is:
halmhofe [at] ualberta [dot] ca

Thank you!
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
graveyardarch.bsky.social
I'm working on a paper with a colleague on people painting #gravestones with good intentions & bad results for conservation. Does anyone have any examples of this?? 🏺
Reposted by Steph Halmhofer, Big Archaeology
dinostalgia.bsky.social
The monster is a friend, or so we @contingent-mag.bsky.social suggest in our CFP... a fiend to historians especially, though not exclusively.

Pitch us an essay about your historical monster, whatever form that monster takes, by October 20!