#CLST6 In this #CYO4 #Ethics thread, I chose to listen to Episode 23, “Unintentional Looting”, from the Archaeology Podcast Network. In this episode, Sara and Ken discuss the worries of removing artifacts from a site, even if you have good intentions.

I think Ken said it well regarding his approach: as an archaeologist like himself, he is trained how to excavate and recover materials in a way that allows us to maximize the information that’s at the site.

Furthermore, if you’re not trained in that way you may think you’re performing an archeology, but when in fact you’re probably destroying more information than you are recovering.

The key part is that It’s truly crucial to keep artifacts from sites in their same spots that they are found because the locations of these materials have spacial associations [1].

As we know, the most important aspect if archaeology is autopsy. In-person investigation is a necessity for researchers to properly engage with an artifact or monument, and there is nothing that can replace this practice [2].

Throughout their discussion, they provide plenty of examples of people mistreating artifacts when excavating sites, whether it be accidental or not. This unintentional looting happens very often and can be detrimental to researchers as they analyze data.

Towards the end of the podcast, Sara and Ken both offer suggestions for this problem. First, instead of picking up any materials, Sara says to just simply take a picture on a phone, for example, as long as one leaves the artifact where they found it.

Additionally, even emailing or reaching out to local/state archaeologists. Also, if you’re concerned with other people finding it and taking it, then cover it up and report it by telling local park officials.

In fact, Ken points out that if you elect to pick this artifact up and bring it home, you are actually committing a crime under the American Antiquities Act [1].

To finalize this important understanding to not loot: Ken points out that there are, for example, a finite number of Paleo-Indian sites, there are a finite number of Terminal-Archaic sites, there are a finite number of Basket-Maker sites, so when the last one of these ...

is looted, there are no more being made and gone forever [1].

This comment really stood out to me as it emphasizes how vital proper excavating practices must take place in order to protect such information, while also how we should think about Classical Archaeology in this way.

Sources:
[1] Podcast: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/pseudo/23 
[2] Dibble, "Archaeological Visualization, 3D, Mapping, and GIS" (Video Lecture)

Image 1: [2]
Image 2: [1]
Image 3: [ https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/learning/history-culture/?cid=fsbdev3_032615]