African-Americans excavating African-American sites will probably have
different perspectives on the sites.  This does not mean that other
people are not qualified to excavate those sites.  If we limit excavation
to people identified as belonging to whatever ethnicity we identify a
site as belonging to, that leaves most of us out of excavating anything.
(please excuse the awkward phrasing).  Next thing you know, we will have
to get magdalenians and Neanderthals to excavate in Europe....
 
Granted, interpretation of sites IS an issue of concern.
 
Mary Ellin D'Agostino
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On Wed, 1 Jun 1994, Tom Wheaton wrote:
 
> I would like to introduce myself and solicit your help.  I am Tom Wheaton,
> editor of the African-American Archaeology Newsletter, which as its name
> implies deals with African-American Archeology.  I am trying to get three
> issues out a year, and the next issue will hopefully come out in mid June.
>
> The last issue began to deal with whether non-African Americans can
> adequately conduct archeology on African-American sites.  Any thoughts would
> be appreciated. They do not have to be long or long winded.
>
> If you or anyone you know is currently doing work with African-American
> sites, artifacts or documents, please have them send me a short announcement
> for inclusion.    Any contributions via e-mail should incorporate the article
> in the body of your message, up to 32k.  At the present time I am unable to
> produce an electronic version for the Internet because of limitations with my
> access.  AOL does not yet allow attaching files to e-mail, although  we can
> gopher all over the place.  As soon as they allow FTP I will try to get the
> newsletter on line.
>
> Until then, anyone interested in subscribing can drop me a line for details
> (along with your written contribution, of course 8-)>>>>).
>
> I hope to hear from you soon.
>
> Tom Wheaton
>