Having worked for years with nonprofit organizations and individuals who
are interested in archaeology, artifacts, and in participating in our
professionally led field research endeavors, I very much agree with the
views of everyone who has responded to Robin's query so far - that yes we
should get involved and try to educate the dig participants about why
archaeologists do what we do and about the ethics of conservation, and
about how we would like for recovered artifacts to be cared for and
accessible in perpetuity rather than to be dispersed to private
collections.

Noting that Robin is with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and as a
government archaeologist myself (in my fulltime job apart from my
volunteer involvement with Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and other
organizations), I would add, however, that any government employee who
decides to get involved in such a situation should make it clear that he
or she is doing so as an individual, and the views he or she expresses in
the endeavor do not necessarily represent the views of any government
agency or of the United States.

(The views I have expressed here do not represent the views of the
government agency for which I am employed, or of the United States.)


al

Allen Dart, RPA, Executive Director
Old Pueblo Archaeology Center
PO Box 40577
Tucson AZ  85717-0577   USA
    520-798-1201 office, 520-798-1966 fax
    Email: [log in to unmask]
    URL: www.oldpueblo.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject:   	Ethics Question
From:   	"Mills, Robin O" <[log in to unmask]>
Date:   	Mon, June 11, 2012 5:34 pm
To:   	[log in to unmask]
Priority:   	Normal
Options:   	View Full Header | View Printable Version  | Download this as
a file

Dear Histarch,

I have been approached by a local historic society that is interested in
conducting
an annual "dig". They want to do a real excavation, and want to save
appropriate
data from the site, and thus are looking for appropriate guidance on
methods and
what-not. Now, the site they propose digging is on private land, so the
artifacts
that are dug up will belong to the landowner. [Although Histarch members
may come
back with "Not necessarily so..." in their neck of the woods, that is the
case
here].  This sounds all well and good and potentially a win-win situation
for all
involved, except that the local society is advertising that they want to
divide up
the artifacts after the dig is over. The landowner keeps what he wants,
the local
museum would get some, and those people that excavate would get some, too.
 Mmm.....

Now, the dig WILL proceed whether I or anyone else from the archaeological
community
is involved or not. And, legally, the landowner CAN do what he wants with the
artifacts; keep, give away, put in museum, whatever.

I think you all see the dilemma: I could take the high horse and not want
to be
involved because of the ownership issue (i.e., as Dr. Jones so famously
said, "It
belongs in a museum!").  Or, I can see the potential to salvage
information from a
controlled dig (they want to put me in charge), and hopefully engage and
teach
archaeological conservation and morals to all those involved.

Part of me says "Run for the hills!".  However, I find the latter more
appealing,
and potentially more rewarding for the resource in the long run, but am
interested
in what the Histarch community has to say on the matter before making a final
decision.

Best,

Robin Mills
Archaeologist
Bureau of Land Management
Fairbanks District Office, Alaska