Let’s first forget about “ghost hunting” as art: its repetitive nature (as seen on TV and social media) is NOT creative. It’s not even entertaining!

Let’s also forget about “ghost hunting” (or paranormal investigation) as science: the scientific nature of “ghost tech” is a myth. It is not a rigorous, technical method capable of standardization and comparison!

“Ghost hunting” is time out of mind because it is mind out of time: The “today” in haunted space is NOT the present. It is layers of multiple percolating pasts, each with their own set of entangled genealogies.

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

As archaeologist Christopher Tilley has said:

“Why, given that there is an almost unlimited set of possible statements to be made about the past, are only a limited number of formulations and interpretations continuously made, disseminated, and repeated”.

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

“Scholarship can always profit from the spirit of art to venture into the unknown rather than apply and repeat what has already been done” (1963).

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

A sense of experience; and experience in

A making of place.

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

Christopher Tilley’s “Excavation as Theatre” (1989);

Mike Pearson and Michael Shanks, Theatre/Archaeology (2001); and

James Gibb, “The Archaeologist as Playwright” (2003).

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

Archaeological and historical research to establish context (particular strata of time and place; specific historical event);

Socially-entangled genealogies to establish the “stage” (setting); and

Ethno-history gives us a sense of scenes and “props” to work with.

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

Civil War Battlefield of Antietam

Event: Five Union assaults

Socially-entangled genealogies: K.O.C.O.A. – defense of bridge; assembly area for attacks

Ethno-history: the “culture of war” (thrice-behaved behaviors) and the “culture of death” (the “Good Death”).

Props: bugle calls; “rebel yell”; photos; historical letters; other soundmarks; searches by relatives.

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol

The Art and Science of Ghost Research “Excavating” Not

“Hunting” A Haunting -- John G. Sabol