May2014

PRESENTATION ETHICS REPORTabstracts submitted for recent meetings, including:• Presentation of analyses of Native American human remainswithout the descendant community’s knowledge and contraryto the agreements verbally made by all parties involved.• Abstracts submitted by employees of an organization withknown ties to looting and salvaging terrestrial and underwaterarchaeological sites.• Abstracts of research based on commercially trafficked orlooted artifacts.• Abstracts from vendors seeking free advertising.• A presenter falsely claiming s/he had collected data used ina presentation without acknowledging the person(s) whoreally did collect the data.• Abstracts reporting non-scholarly archaeology (e.g., ancientalien intervention at archaeological sites).Clearly, identifying these types of issues from abstractsdemands knowledge about a project, site, or situation that maynot be within the expertise of any particular PC member. Thechallenges of identifying ethically sensitive issues fromabstracts were underscored by this discussion.The TF went on to evaluate current procedures in the submis-THE SAA PRINCIPLES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL ETHICSThe SAA Executive Board adopted the SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics (Principles) in 1996. In doing so, the Executive Boardstrongly endorsed the Principles and urged their use by all archaeologists “in negotiating the complex responsibilities they have toarchaeological resources, and to all who have an interest in these resources or are otherwise affected by archaeological practice”(Lynott and Wylie 1995:8). When an individual chooses to become a member of the SAA, s/he also endorses the Principles andagrees to uphold them. There is no enforcement of the Principles by the SAA or any other organization, and instead the Principlesoperate as a form of self-regulation where each member is asked to monitor her/his own adherence to these ethical standards.Principle No. 1: StewardshipThe archaeological record, that is, in situ archaeological material and sites, archaeological collections, records and reports, is irreplaceable.It is the responsibility of all archaeologists to work for the long-term conservation and protection of the archaeologicalrecord by practicing and promoting stewardship of the archaeological record. Stewards are both caretakers of and advocates for thearchaeological record for the benefit of all people; as they investigate and interpret the record, they should use the specialized knowledgethey gain to promote public understanding and support for its long-term preservation.Principle No. 2: AccountabilityResponsible archaeological research, including all levels of professional activity, requires an acknowledgment of public accountabilityand a commitment to make every reasonable effort, in good faith, to consult actively with affected group(s), with the goal of establishinga working relationship that can be beneficial to all parties involved.Principle No. 3: CommercializationThe Society for American Archaeology has long recognized that the buying and selling of objects out of archaeological context iscontributing to the destruction of the archaeological record on the American continents and around the world. The commercializationof archaeological objects— their use as commodities to be exploited for personal enjoyment or profit— results in the destructionof archaeological sites and of contextual information that is essential to understanding the archaeological record. Archaeologistsshould therefore carefully weigh the benefits to scholarship of a project against the costs of potentially enhancing the commercialvalue of archaeological objects. Whenever possible they should discourage, and should themselves avoid, activities that enhance thecommercial value of archaeological objects, especially objects that are not curated in public institutions, or readily available for scientificstudy, public interpretation, and display.Principle No. 4: Public Education and OutreachArchaeologists should reach out to, and participate in, cooperative efforts with others interested in the archaeological record with4 The SAA Archaeological Record • May 2014