Perhaps there are other reasons archaeologists fail to consider the  
magico-spiritual implications of concealments. First, archaeologists tend to  believe 
their work only deals with the"anthropology of a past" (not in  modern 
American cities). Second, some archaeologists may allow their personal  Christian 
beliefs overpower their rationale scientific observations (abject bias  against 
other religious beliefs). Third, some Judeo-Christian archaeologists may  fear 
anything tainted with what their religious belief associates with "the  devil" 
(the fear factor) or might prevent them from entering heaven (for simply  
thinking of such things) upon death. Fourth, some archaeologists are just plain  
ethnocentric and reject the beliefs of others as "superstitious" (implying the 
 only "true" religion is their own). I have seen all these problems interfere 
 with open-minded data recording and fair objective description of what 
people  see. Why, just the other day I had a conversation with a San Francisco  
archaeologist who blew-off a dried cat from inside a wall as "just a dead cat"  
(complete rejection of any cultural explanation) and belief in magic as  
superstition (a failure to accept that other people in the 20th century might  have 
believed in old family traditions). What a shame some archaeologists hang  up 
their "anthropology mantle" when they don their trowel and notepad.
 
Just for reference, I recommend reading the following source:
 
Greenwood, Susan
2000 Magic, Witchcraft and the Otherworld; An Anthropology.  Oxford: Berg 
Press. ISBN I 85973 450 2 (paper).
 
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.
_www.legacy106.com_ (http://www.legacy106.com)