I don't feel as if my point was "a bit far afield" ... although it is quite
possible that it was. The question that Phil put to the group was not one
of legal issues ... but I think something a bit deeper. To say that laws
protecting archaeological resources are "for the public" really doesn't
look at the key issue ... and that is why should archaeological resources
be preserved "for the public"? It is easy for us to say that the "future
may learn from the past" and all the other trite phrases that we seem to
carry around in our back pockets ... but it is difficult to really ask what
is the "meaning" of the past.

Phil ... in his response ... brought up an important issue ... what
motivates individuals to break the law? So many people loot sites ... and I
agree with Phil that many of them are not doing this for monetary reward.
Why would someone risk fines and (highly unlikely) imprisonment for a piece
of worthless garbage such as a banged up piece of lead?

When we ... as archaeologists, historians, etc. ... say that we needto
preserve public heritage ... how often does that really mean that we need
to preserve our own necks? How often are the "Public" involved in projects
prior to their inception? How often do the interests of the "Public" come
before that of the researcher? We often speak in terms of being "stewards"
of heritage resources ... what does this truly mean? Why are we the
"stewards"? Why and how do our standards and interests of research become
the public standards and interests?

I think that there are many fascinating questions to think of ... and most
of them don't have to do with a simple "right and wrong," "legal or
illegal," but ... instead ... with what is the foundations upon which we
judge these types of values and what necessarily gives us the authority to
do so.

If this is "far afield" ... so be it ... I don't see that as an insult ...
I would be far more offended if I was deemed so narrow minded as not to see
beyond my little neck of the woods ... be it archaeology or anything else ...

Kevin.