INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY Nancy White - Touro Institute

engine if you are simply asking about archaeological topics, and provide you with places to buy
ancient artifacts! Remember this when you are finishing your assignments this week for a paper
comparing some archaeological websites; this does NOT include websites selling artifacts. The
Slack Farm example from the very opening page of the book shows how systematic, widespread
destruction is done by people looking either to acquire items for sale and profit or have items for
their personal collections.
What are the antidotes to looting and other destruction of the past? Archaeology education in the
schools, in the chamber of commerce meeting rooms, in the law-enforcement agencies and really
all public agencies, and in the public communications media.
What is the meaning of stewardship? This is an important concept we try to encourage:
understanding the archaeological record as the fragile remains of the past of all people and how
we are all responsible for preserving it as much as possible. There are many ways to do this,
including lobbying for better preservation laws, engaging the local community in monitoring
sites and protecting them against looting, and joining or donating to several preservation
associations.
How can a non-professional participate in archaeology besides just visiting sites and museums as
a tourist? There are many societies for amateur or avocational archaeologists who work side-byside
with professionals because they love it. Hester Davis, who just retired as the state
archaeologist of Arkansas and taught in a program that certified volunteer field archaeologists in
that state, once said that avocational archaeologists are the professional’s secret weapon to help
preserve sites (Davis 1991). They love it as a hobby and are often able to accomplish things
professionals cannot.
What kinds of private agencies and foundations help protect archaeological sites? The Nature
Conservancy was founded to gather private donations to purchase and protect ecologically
important and endangered lands, sometimes with archaeological sites on them. Modeled after it
is the more specific Archaeological Conservancy, which targets significant cultural resources to
buy and protect, often then donating the land to a public agency such as the Park Service to
manage and conserve. In Florida there is the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy based in
Miami, and many other such foundations are out there, usually with informative websites.
What international agencies work to preserve archaeological resources? The United Nations
Educational, Social, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) drafts statements to help prevent
illegal international trade in antiquities and cultural properties. The U.S. and many other
countries have made agreements through UNESCO to return illegally imported artifacts. Even
though U.S. Customs is more worried about what drugs you are bringing into the country,
occasionally and with good work from legal professionals, they catch smugglers of looted
materials. But, I take calls nearly every week from people who have artifacts brought into the
country from Peru or Mexico or Costa Rica and want them identified. I have to explain that if
they were obtained recently, they are illegal! There are also lots of fakes out there made for the
tourist trade and authenticating antiquities often takes special skills. As already mentioned,
authenticating them for sale or profit, or even evaluating them in market terms, is unethical. It is
often hard for people to understand why this should be so. Usually the medical model works. We