Archaeology on the Big Screen: A Closer Look at the Accuracy of 5 Iconic Films

Movie-goers have long been captivated by anthropologically driven stories, drawing audiences into archaeological expeditions deep within the exoticized and, more often than not, overdramatized realms of Amazonian jungles, African deserts, and European catacombs. For anthropology nerds like myself, these films are captivating. With a Masters in Visual Anthropology, I am no stranger to the likes of an archaeological dig. If years of anthropology taught me anything, it is that the archaeological process is incredibly complex, and demands sharp consideration. The layers and considerations that go into archaeological work require a deep understanding of historic context and contemporary methodology, and an incredible passion for cultural preservation. Anthropologists are extremely dedicated practitioners, frequently holding PhDs in specialized cultural niches.

The film industry, meanwhile, loves archaeologists. However, its anthropological accuracy is not always stellar. Films series from Indiana Jones to National Treasure deliver seemingly historical and archaeologically rich narratives that, although extremely entertaining, must be considered somewhat fantastical, from both narrative and ethical perspectives. Here are five archaeology films and how accurately they reflect the discipline.

1. The Dig (2021)

Director: Simon Stone

Set in 1939, The Dig follows the true story of Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes), an archaeologist hired by wealthy widow Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) to excavate her property in the English countryside. The initially overlooked land is revealed to be the site of an Anglo-Saxon ship burial and the royal burial grounds of Sutton Hoo. The Dig earns high marks on our anthropological accuracy scale due to its strong historical fidelity and realistic portrayal of archaeology and anthropology. Most archaeological digs are contracted projects with archaeologists hired to excavate sites suspected of anthropological significance in order to ensure proper care and preservation of artifacts and records. Today, this is typically a requirement mandated by law, especially surrounding sites of potential anthropological or historical significance. Brown’s discoveries at Sutton Hoo are some of the most significant in British history, and the film delivers a pretty accurate depiction of the excavation process. Most importantly, the film depicts Brown’s incredible attention to detail—aspects of his character that make him one of the most realistic archaeologists portrayed in film. The 27-meter ship buried in Pretty’s land did indeed contain the wealth of grave goods, helmets, armor, and jewelry that Brown meticulously removes and preserves in the film. The narrative provides a well-developed context of Anglo-Saxon history and the way the Sutton Hoo discovery shaped contemporary understanding of Anglo-Saxon society. Brown himself is portrayed fairly accurately in the film, as a self-taught archaeologist, initially overlooked by the anthropological community until the significance of his findings garners the attention of the British government. Of course, this high-scoring anthropological film is not entirely without its inaccuracies. Elements of the excavation process, political tension between Brown and the British government, and the timeline and intensity of the dig are certainly heightened to develop a well-dramatized narrative. Real archaeological digs are meticulously slow. Filmmakers utilized the impending onset of World War II to height the film’s stakes, portraying a much faster excavation process. Political tensions and control over the excavation between Brown and members of the British government were also heightened for the film’s dramatic effect. We’ll let these slide … for the sake of cinema.

2. The Lost City of Z (2016)

Director: James Gray

The Lost City of Z is a biographical drama chronicling the life and true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) and his search for lost civilization in the Amazon rainforest. The film is entertaining and provides a relatively accurate portrayal of Fawcett’s Amazonian expeditions. From an anthropological standpoint, the film does a good job of establishing the legitimate and evidence-based theories surrounding Amazonian civilizations thriving deep in the jungle. Fawcett believed that the Amazon was not a barren and inhospitable landscape, as did many European scholars of his time. The film accurately portrays Fawcett’s scientific approach, grounded in his observations and analysis of archaeological finds. Fawcett’s theories have gained widespread acceptance in recent years as archaeologists continue to uncover complex pre-Columbian earth systems, settlements, and geoglyphs. The film also accurately portrays Fawcett’s interactions with indigenous Amazonian tribes. As a true anthropologist, Fawcett recognized the incredible importance of indigenous knowledge sharing. He developed respectful and collaborative relationships with communities he encountered during his time in the Amazon, behavior that contrasted the exploitative attitudes of many of his colleagues. While painting anthropology in a relatively positive light, The Lost City of Z is also not without fault. The Amazonian jungle is certainly unfamiliar terrain for the average European, however, the film goes to great lengths to dramatize and even exoticize the dangers of the landscape for dramatic effect. The hostile conditions that Fawcett faces in the film were likely more nuanced than the cinematic tropes presented. The film also presents the City of Z as a real, but lost, civilization. In reality, the existence of the city is largely based on legend and, while Fawcett did have anthropological evidence to support the existence of a large city deep in the Amazon, “Z” is likely no more than myth.

3. National Treasure (2004)

Director: Jon Turteltaub

The iconic and beloved early 2000’s camp classic National Treasure follows historian and treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) as he uncovers a centuries old treasure through clues passed down through generations of American revolutionaries. Although its plot is purely fictitious, the film does incorporate many interesting aspects of archaeology and history. The treasure narrative is largely centered around the role of the American Freemasons, a very real and functioning organization that was highly active during the 18th century and the height of the American revolution. The Freemasons had many ties to American Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson—all figures involved in Gates’ treasure hunt. National Treasure incorporates clues in the form of symbols and puzzles based on real historical and Masonic elements, including the Liberty Bell and the “Silversmith Puzzles.” However, the notion that these symbols are clues that lead to a multi-million-dollar treasure hidden beneath Trinity Church in New York City is purely fictitious, if that’s something you really needed to hear. There is absolutely no historical evidence that any such treasure ever existed, although it makes for a great movie plot. National Treasure is fun. It’s exciting. It constructs a fascinating fantasy around the American Revolution and the secret network of people that worked behind the scenes to create our nation and protect its hidden treasures and mysteries. However, the chances that those secrets hold the treasure Gates discovers are pitifully slim.

4. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Director: Ron Howard

Based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, The Da Vinci code follows Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a Harvard symbologist, who is summoned to the Louvre Museum in Paris after its curator is murdered. Langdon teams up with cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), and the two uncover a network of codes and puzzles surrounding a conspiracy to conceal the identity of the Holy Grail. The Da Vinci Code is well-grounded in the real fields of symbology and history. Langdon’s academic background is well-established. There are several substantiated theories suggesting that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus, as the film proposes. However, they are theories at best. The Catholic Church certainly has a long, well-documented history of suppressing information and controlling narratives in order to maintain power. However, much of what is depicted as hidden in this film are products of Dan Brown’s active imagination. The film’s portrayal of Opus Dei, a legitimate Catholic organization, is hugely sensationalized to create the film’s compelling antagonist—a devotee who engages in brutal self-flagellation, resolved to stop Langdon and Neveu from uncovering secrets that could undermine the very foundation of the Catholic Church. The film does do justice to art history. Multiple long sequences honor famous works of art, including Leonardo Da Vinci ‘s “The Last Supper,” a painting laden with hidden messages and symbology. The idea that his work contains clues to secrets regarding the bloodline of Jesus and, thus, the order of the entire contemporary religious world is riveting, but there exists no actual evidence to support these theories. Well, at least not outside the basement vaults of the Vatican …

5. Indiana Jones Series (1981, 1984, 1989, 2008, 2023)

Director: Steven Spielberg

The beloved Indiana Jones movies follow the adventures of Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones (Harrison Ford), a charismatic archaeologist and adventurer as he searches for exotic treasure. We love these movies, but when it comes to accurately depicting archaeology, they provide more of a chaotic mess than a realistic portrayal of the discipline. Indy journeys through South America, the Middle East, and Egypt visiting temples that often appear consistent with real archaeological sites. Elements of these sites, like the extensive puzzles and traps that Indy encounters, are sometimes based on real archaeological discoveries. However, they are incredibly dramatized for entertainment value. The indigenous people that Indy contacts are almost always exoticized to problematic extents, and his relationship building habits with these communities fall far outside ethical anthropological standards. The film portrays real communities like the “Thuggee” in Temple of Doom, but wildly exaggerates their connections to intense practices like human sacrifice, creating concerning cinematic tropes about indigenous traditions. In his pursuit of discovery, Indy loots archaeological sites, frequently mishandling artifacts and leaving paths of destruction in his wake. This behavior could not be farther from the realities of archaeological practice, designed meticulously to preserve all aspects of historic sites—treasure or not. Indy’s lack of regard for preservation is a character flaw that should be inconsistent with his mission and academic background. But considering that the character was designed as an ode to adventure serials of the 1930s, this is hardly surprising.

A.J. Weiler writes about culture and entertainment. You can find her on Medium and Muck Rack.