Episode Summary
Executive Summary: Michael Shermer interviews anthropologist Elizabeth Weiss about her new book and the growing politicization of archaeology/anthropology. Weiss argues that cancel culture, identity politics, and “woke” ideology are censoring scientific debate, distorting museum/academic practices, and replacing evidence-based interpretation with ritual, activism, and identity performance.
Main Topics: Cancel culture in anthropology and archaeology: Weiss describes being deplatformed, denied access to collections, and targeted after publishing on repatriation and sex differences, arguing that academic disagreement has shifted into professional punishment. Ritual, taboos, and gender restrictions in museums: She criticizes menstrual/pregnancy taboos and restrictions on who may handle artifacts, seeing them as sexist concessions to superstition rather than respectful cultural practice. Sex binary and skeletal analysis: Weiss defends the view that biological sex is generally identifiable in bones and says current anthropological statements denying a binary are ideological rather than scientific. Identity politics and self-focused anthropology: The discussion contrasts older object-centered anthropology with newer conference culture centered on pronouns, self-description, and autobiographical ethnography. Repatriation, tribal claims, and ‘Pretendians’: Weiss argues that repatriation policy was meant as a compromise, but creation myths and contested tribal identity claims are now being used to override scientific study. Peopling of the Americas and archaeology evidence: They discuss how far back humans were in the Americas, with Weiss favoring secure evidence around 14,000–20,000 years and rejecting much older claims absent stronger proof.
Key Arguments: Science should not be governed by creation myths, identity claims, or ritual taboos; evidence and reproducibility should decide archaeological questions. Menstruation/pregnancy restrictions in museums and fieldwork are sexist holdovers or imported beliefs, not legitimate scientific norms. Biological sex is a real variable that can often be inferred from skeletal remains; uncertainty in some cases does not imply a sex spectrum. Anthropology has become more ideological and punitive since the 2010s, shifting from political correctness to active cancellation and professional exclusion. Repatriation law was intended as a compromise for clearly affiliated remains, but modern use often extends beyond scientific or historical justification. The best archaeology tells compelling stories from actual remains and artifacts; researchers do not need speculative lost-civilization narratives to make the field fascinating. Claims about very ancient human presence in the Americas require secure dating and clear material evidence; the burden of proof should remain high.
Data Points: Latest issue theme: Culture wars / cancel culture / wokeness - Introduction to the magazine issue and the episode’s framing. San Jose State skeletal collection size: More than 300 individuals - Weiss describes the collection she curated and studied. Human body bone count: 206 bones - She notes some skeletons were nearly complete. Time span of Ryan Mound collection: About 2,500 years - Collection in Alameda County discussed in repatriation context. Age of Paleo-Indian remains referenced: 7,000–8,500 years or older - Used to illustrate why Weiss objects to creation-myth-based repatriation decisions. Kennewick Man age: About 8,500–9,000 years - Mentioned as an example of ancient remains in repatriation debates. Conference session titles using 'decolonization': Nearly 80 sessions - Weiss cites the 2022 American Anthropological Association meeting. Conference session titles using 'white supremacy': Over 70 sessions - Used to argue that the field is ideologically saturated. Museum renovation cost: $19 million - Cost to overhaul the Northwest Coast Hall at the American Museum of Natural History. Retirement date from San Jose State: Late May (2024 implied by conversation) - Weiss says she retired and kept emeritus status. Earliest secure human presence in the Americas: About 14,000 years - Weiss’s estimate based on strongest evidence. Possible broader range for first peopling: 14,000–20,000 years, maybe up to 25,000 - Includes uncertain dates like the New Mexico footprints. Oldest skeleton in the Americas mentioned: About 12,900–13,000 years - Weiss says this is the oldest well-established skeletal evidence. New Mexico footprint date: 22,000 years - Mentioned as intriguing but methodologically disputed. Skeletal traits and sex identification: Binary classification in bones - Weiss argues sex estimation works across cultures because it is biological. Paleontological/anthropological category of collections repatriated: >90% of clearly affiliated collections - Weiss says most clearly attributable remains have already been returned/reburied.
Pivotal Quotes: "we shouldn't use creation myths to make repatriation and reburial decisions" — Elizabeth Weiss: Her core criticism of how archaeological repatriation is being handled. "if you look at the data, the data is the storyteller" — Elizabeth Weiss: She argues for evidence-first interpretation over ideology or narrative. "this kind of liberal sexism is anathema to feminism" — Elizabeth Weiss: Her response to menstrual/pregnancy restrictions in museums and fieldwork.
Implications: The conversation argues that anthropology is at risk of substituting activism for method. For listeners and institutions, the warning is that evidence access, academic freedom, and scientific standards may erode unless controversial questions remain open to debate.