Thanks Geoff for your posting and bringing these serious crimes to light,
Looting (not casual collecting) is a serious crime that is occurring on Federal Lands (aka National Parks, Forests, etc.), particularly in the SW, but also occurring in eastern Battlefield parks, etc. And it is a trend that is growing exponentially BECAUSE it is relatively easy money. And it is not usually one individual; it is a group of folks whose common interest is profit to fund OTHER illegal activities (usually drug money). For those list serve participants who undervalue the PR of this recent arrest I suggest that they take a BLM-sponsored ARPA prosecution class and it will better inform them of the seriousness of these crimes on Federal lands that cross many state lines. These cases are tough to prosecute because the Looters have obtained some pretty savvy lawyers, but the Feds are starting to get a good handle on how to build these cases so that the looters do not get off on misdemeanor charges, pay the fine, and continue to Loot for profit. The bottom line here is preservation of cultural property and information for everybody's interest, and I believe that is one of the things I signed up for when I decided on a career in Archaeology.

Andy Higgs
  
-----Original Message-----
>From: geoff carver <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Jun 21, 2009 12:23 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Indian Artifact Looting Case Unsettles a Utah Town
>
>Now I'm sorry I posted this.
>I guess it wouldn't even be worth considering that maybe the native
>Americans whose graves were desecrated might not see this issue quite the
>same way (even "historical archaeology" is still a subfield of anthropology
>in the US, isn't it?)? Among other things, there seemed to be a suggestion
>that middle class white folk expressed surprise at being handcuffed, etc.,
>in ways natives apparently take for granted. After years of ignoring a
>problem that apparently makes some people feel like second-class citizens,
>somebody finally gets around to doing something (possibly to counter
>accusations of playing favouritism?), and you complain?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>There are plenty of crimes underway in Utah far worse than collecting and or
>
>owning artifacts.  It is ludicrous to suggest that this should even show up 
>on the radar of a responsible Justice Department that understands its 
>priorities and is doing its job.  Surely you would agree that there are more
>
>urgent criminal matters on their plate that they're pushing aside?