Is there any value to the Indiana Jones trilogy beyond entertainment?
In 1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark set the tone for virtually every action blockbuster that has been produced since, and it is easily the most well-known fictional film with archaeological content. Its sequels Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) were also very popular and commercially successful. These films were so well-received that an untitled Indiana Jones 4 is supposedly in the works – presumably with Harrison Ford starring as a much older and wiser Indiana Jones. Despite the differences I’ve outlined (and there are many more), a large segment of the general public associates archaeology with the now legendary character of Indiana Jones. When people find out you’re an archaeologist, their first question is often “Is it really like Indiana Jones?” As a result, Indy gets a lot of criticism from professional archaeologists who may get tired of explaining that archaeology is rewarding, is often full of adventure and excitement, but it
