I usually hate to admit this but Raiders is what lead me to archaeology too.
I was 12 at the time. The Christmas after its release, I asked my parents
for books on archaeology. Fortunately, they found several good ones for
children. I haven't looked back since. And then in college I found out that
Indy was a grave robber :<

On 9/21/07, Vergil E. Noble <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> The important point to be made here, though, is that the movie inspired
> you
> and others to look further into the subject of archaeology. That's a good
> thing, no matter what one may think about it's portrayal of archaeologist
> Indiana Jones.
>
>
>
>
>
>                       "Caryn M. Berg"
>                       <archaeology@LCOAS        To:       [log in to unmask]
>                       TPRESS.COM>               cc:       (bcc: Vergil
> Noble/MWAC/NPS)
>                       Sent by:                  Subject:  Better than
> Hollywood's stories.
>                       HISTORICAL
>                       ARCHAEOLOGY
>                       <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>                       09/20/2007 08:40
>                       PM CST
>                       Please respond to
>                       HISTORICAL
>                       ARCHAEOLOGY
>
>
>
>
>
> My decision to become an archaeologist was coincidentally made around the
> same time Raiders of the Lost Ark released.  I wonder how many other
> people
> made the same decision at the same time only to discover that archaeology
> lacks the whip cracking, bullet dodging excitement experienced by Indiana
> Jones?  Perhaps they discovered, as I did, that the real story is more
> interesting than the movie.
>
>
>
> New From Left Coast Press, Inc. A 15% discount on web orders at
> www.LCoastPress.com.
>
>
>
> Box Office Archaeology: Refining Hollywood's Portrayals of the Past
>
> Julie M. Schablitsky, editor
>
> Published April 2007, 256 pages, $24.95 paperback
>
>
>
> This book is about the stories behind the Hollywood creations.  We are
> drawn
> in by fictional stories about such topics as the demise of the Titanic,
> the
> pillaging of pirates, and the mummies of Egypt.  Hollywood brings these
> stories to life in a myriad of ways.  Archaeologists and historians know a
> lot about many of these subjects, digging up stories often more
> fascinating
> than the ones projected on screen.  In this book, archaeologists provide
> the
> historical and archaeological depth that a movie cannot--what really
> happened in history.
>
>
>
>
>
> To order, visit our website at
>
> http://www.lcoastpress.com/book.php?id=83
>
> ISBN:  978-1-59874-055-4 (c), 978-1-59874-056-1 (p)
>
>
>
> PRICE:
>
> $24.95 (U.S.), $29.95 (Canadian), £15.99 (Paperback)
>
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>
> For more information, contact Caryn Berg at [log in to unmask]
>