A group of 80 high school students have just arrived at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The purpose of their visit is clearly educational.
‘Good morning and welcome to the University of Tennessee. My name is Susan Bourke. I am here to show you around the campus, fill you in with quality information and provide answers to any questions you might have. Please follow me,’ the senior asks from the group of teenagers as she directs them through the main entrance of the John C. Hodges Library.
The students are surprised to see the skeleton of a "Centaur" on display as they make their way through the first floor of the Library.
‘What is that?’ the students ask the senior as they surround an elegantly constructed showcase, complete with a faux marble base and simulated wood panels while they look down at the skeletal remains of a centaur burial.
‘This is a “Centaur”,’ the senior tells them.
‘What is a Centaur?’ a teenager inquires.
‘According to Greek Mythology, the Centaurs where a race of creatures composed of part human and part horse!’
‘What? No way,’ the teenagers simultaneously inquire with amazement and surprise.
 ‘The appearance of a centaur is unmistakable: they have the upper torso, arms and head of a human being and the lower body of a large, powerful horse. They were said to have inhabited the forest region of Magnesia and Mount Pelion in Thessaly of Ancient Greece. They lived in herds, just like horses.’
‘Were they evil creatures?’ a young boy wonders while he continues to stare at the bone structure.
‘The Centaurs were considered peaceful and sociable creatures. They spoke their own language and took great pleasure in the society of others and of their kind. Their overall organization is tribal, with a tribe divided into family groups living together in harmony. However, when threatened, they become very hostile. This is where the war-like rumors sprung from.’
‘Is this real?’ a teenager turns to ask the senior while he looks her in the eyes.
‘Of course not,’ she immediately replies.
‘You mean to say that this is a fake?’ a young girl asks with disappointment.
‘Of course it’s a fake. How can you expect this to be real? We all know centaurs did not exist. Do you believe in centaurs?
‘No, of course not,’ a student responds with a smile.
‘How about you?’ the senior turns to ask a teenage boy who seems to be perplexed with the whole display.
‘I'm not sure,’ he responds quite skeptical before he continues, ‘but it sure looks authentic’.
‘Look, listen up,’ the senior announces, ‘Lets clear up a couple of things before we move on. This piece of work is considered as archaeological fiction. This Centaur was originally constructed in 1980 from tea stained bones of a pony and a deteriorating Human skeleton by Dr. William Willers, a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. The purpose of this project was to create a work of fiction as authentic. Now shall we move on,’ the senior asks the teenagers.
‘Excuse me Miss,’ all of a sudden a young boy cries out.
‘What is it?’ the senior turns to inquire.
‘Hey everybody,’ his enthusiastic scream breaks the silence.
‘What are you doing back there George and why are you speaking so loud?’ his teacher complains.
‘There is something strange going on here?’ the young boy tells all.
‘What is it?’ the senior asks.
‘Didn’t you just say that this Centaur was originally constructed in 1980 by a Dr. William Willers and that it was actually made from the tea stained bones of a pony and a deteriorating human skeleton?’
‘That is correct.’
‘Are you absolutely certain of this?’ the boy asks.
‘This hoax is intended to draw attention to the mythological and poetic dimensions of science and history. And to remind students not to believe everything they hear, see or read,’ the senior confirms.
‘If that’s the case then why do I see on the back side of the showcase a screen printed text panel which reads: Donated by the Greek Government from one of the three centaur burials discovered in 1980 by the Archaeological Society of Argos eight kilometers northeast of Volos in Greece?’


References:
http://www.lib.utk.edu/news/archives/exhibits/001421.html
http://web.utk.edu/~blyons/centaur.htm





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