Robert Leon Johnson has two questions:
>
>Is it ethical to excavate the archaeological heritage of indigenous
>peoples who are subject to campaigns of terrorism and murder by the
>governments who grant permission for archaeological investigation?
 
Ask the people involved.  If they and their cultural heritage are both
destroyed, there is nothing left.  If individuals are saved but their past
is destroyed, they may well feel they have lost somethng of importance,
which they would like to have had saved.  Or they may not.
 
>
>If the U.S. Govt. takes the land of the Arapaho would it be ethical to
>site survey or subsequently excavate either through government
>employment, private archaeological contract, or academic research?
 
Again, ask the Arapaho people.  If the government is taking the land,
presumably they are going to do something on it, and that something may
well be destructive to cultural resources.  Permitting that destruction to
proceed unimpeded with no attempt to recover information on the Arapaho
past may not be in the Arapaho people's interest.  They can certainly
determine that best.  They may also have considerable knowledge about what
resources may be on that land.
 
In any case where there are living people who are known to be associated
with a proposed target of archaeological research, they *really should be
consulted*, before you do fieldwork.  People often know a great deal, if
they are asked in a pleasant and respectful manner, and can be of enourmous
help.  Your interpretations will benefit, and you may make some new
friends.  During the project, invite people on site, give tours, try to get
local volunteers and students, give public talks if that's appropriate for
the area.  After you've finished, come back and tell the people what the
results were, in language they can understand.  Answer their questions.
 
Testing or excavating an archaeological site is not, in and of itself, an
opressive activity.  It is the context in which the work takes place that
can make it one.  It can also be helpful, as in cases where documentation
of archaeological sites supported land claims.
 
 
Anne M. Jensen                               |
Maritime Archaeological Project-Pingasagruk  |  "Truth burns up error."
Department of Anthropology                   |
Bryn Mawr College                            |            -Sojourner Truth
Bryn Mawr, PA  19010   USA                   |
 
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