Has anyone tried contacting these folks?  Or what about the Society's 
chairman and CEO, John Fahey?  B. Fontana

National Geographic Channel US
Dara Klatt
(202) 912-6720
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National Geographic Channel US
Erin Griffin
(202) 912-6632
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 5:01 PM
Subject: Another opinion on "Diggers" Shows


>
> Another opinion on "diggers"  shows from Ann Early, Arkansas State
> Archaeologist.
> I also watched  both shows. Yuck.
> One item I  noticed was that the protagonists made significant note
> that some of  their loot was going to Museums; one associated with the
> Montana prison  and another set in downtown Charleston. There was film
> of a  representative of the latter identifying and buying some of the
> loot from the  plantation adventure.
> These  institutions may be museums in name only, but this act, like
> the 'disclaimer'  at the end of the program advising others to know
> about relevant  laws (not to respect them, mind, just to be aware of
> them) give  another whif of legitimacy to the silliness.
> I checked, and  the 'museum' behavior in both episodes violates the
> code of ethics of  the American Association of Museums respecting
> collections  activities. Two points seem relevant, promoting public
> good instead of  individual gain, and  "acquisition,  disposal, and
> loan activities  are conducted  in a manner that respects the
> protection and  preservation of natural and cultural resources and
> discourages  illicit trade in such materials".  The two museums shown
> in these episodes  might not give a flip, but maybe the AAM does.
> So, museums  potentially get a black eye here, and museum directors
> may find more  metal detector folks on their doorstep asking for cash.
> That would extend  to VIC in State Parks, and NPS facilities here in
> Arkansas too, if  past experience is any guide.
> If the AAM  doesn't know about this program, seems to me they ought to
> be informed. It  wouldn't hurt having the museum world involved in
> responses to this  and the other two (now) programs.
> And, just  briefly, my thought about 'Scavengers' is to have a talk
> with people at  the National Trust. Looting old buildings is not
> something the  Trust would encourage, and since there are two Trust
> advisors in each  state, usually associated with state level historic
> preservation  advocacy groups, that is another national level
> organization with  local affiliates that could speak about its
> concerns here  too.
> The broader any  alliance that archeologists might be able to muster
> outside our own  discipline, the more effective any of our activities 
> might
> be.
> Ann  Early
> Arkansas State  Archaeologist