Let me point out that NGs association with pot/treasure hunters is not new. They had a long association with Mel Fisher and his treasure hunting of the Atocha in the Florida Keys, as well as other underwater treasure hunting ventures.
In the mean time about a week ago American Diggers and the valuable goodies they had found was a featured news item on AOL.
The one time I happened to catch American Diggers I was not only appalled by their crass looting of a barn in Kentucky for old liquor still parts, rusty pistol, and currency in a jar, but by the incredible disregard for safety by using a frontend loader to lift up the corner of a roof of a collapsed barn while one of their guys slipped underneath to get some more still parts on a very wet rainy day. While he was under it the roof slipped on the loader bucket (but did not completely slip off) and could have easily crushed him. ....all for about 2-3 thousand dollars. I guess that makes it all the more exciting. Maybe future Darwin Award winners working here.
Harding Polk II
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: David W Babson <[log in to unmask]>
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, May 4, 2012 1:08 pm
Subject: Re: National geographic
Participation of National Geographic in these activities is a direct violation
f professional ethics. I am sure it violates the ethics statements of SHA and
AA (as well as the intention, if perhaps not the letter, of the UNESCO
onventions against illicit transfer of cultural property); I do not know if it
ould violate any ethics statements of the National Geographic Society. A quick
earch of their site ("ethics" and "cultural property") comes up with a link to
his blog:
http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2007/10/antiquities-and-native-soil.html
which discusses repatriation of human remains and associated artifacts from
achu Picchu, in that NG was a sponsor of Bingham's work there in 1912.
I would think that the way to proceed here might be to have a society-to-society
ontact, from SHA, SAA or both, to point out how National Geographic is edging
nto an ethical grey area (at the least) by their connection to these programs.
G, it appears, needs to be advised that, by sponsoring or otherwise maintaining
connection to these programs, they are demonstrating that their protection of
ultural property has not advanced in the past 100 years. Is this what one of
he oldest scientific societies in the United States really wants to do?
D. Babson.
-----Original Message-----
rom: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jones,
oseph B
ent: Friday, May 04, 2012 2:24 PM
o: [log in to unmask]
ubject: Re: National geographic
Unfreakingbelievable. The constant threat posed by uninformed, or in some cases
illfully ignorant/unethical relic collectors is bad enough...just remarkable
hat it's come to this; professional stewards having to keep tabs on what these
eople from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC are up to??? Yeah yeah, I realize there must be
ome distinction between the NG that supports legitimate archaeological research
nd the NG cable TV channel, but still, don't know about y'all, but never
ould've predicted we'd ever be watching our backs and trying to anticipate
hich archaeological site those people from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC are gonna be
ooting next for their TV show.
-----Original Message-----
rom: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Riordan,
imothy B
ent: Friday, May 04, 2012 1:07 PM
o: [log in to unmask]
ubject: Re: National geographic
They do seem to be focused on Southern Maryland. At an event a few weeks ago,
ne of the producers of the show approached an administrative staffer at
istoric St. Mary's City to see if there was anything they could "help" us with.
e informed him in no uncertain terms that their "help" was not needed.
Tim
-----Original Message-----
rom: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
[log in to unmask]
ent: Friday, May 04, 2012 12:47 PM
o: [log in to unmask]
ubject: National geographic
HEADS UP
National Geographic contacted a historic house here in Maryland today looking
or a location for their show on metal detecting. They stated a specific
nterest in southern Maryland.
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