Ethics in archaeology involve theory and practice. They help guide the principles of study and research on material culture, and they help lay the foundation for guidelines on how to interact with those whose lives and ancestors are the focus of study with respect, honesty, and professionalism.
Where can I find information about ethics in archaeology?
Archaeological ethics (The Society for Georgia Archaeology) Archaeological Institute of America Code of Ethics (Archaeological Institute of America) Archaeological Society of Alberta: Mandate and Bylaws (Archaeological Society of Alberta) Archaeology Laws and Ethics Statements (Tennessee Archaeology Network)
Are the principles of archaeological ethics a living document?
With the goal of establishing principles of archaeological ethics that are a living document, the SAA Board of Directors established a first task force who authored process recommendations by which the Principles of Archaeological Ethics will be updated.
What is the SAA principles of archaeological ethics?
Download the SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics [PDF 183 KB] to print or use for classrooms or training. SAA is dedicated to promoting ethical education and standards for the archaeological community.
What do archaeologists need to know?
Given the destructive nature of most archaeological investigations, archaeologists must ensure that they have adequate training, experience, facilities, and other support necessary to conduct any program of research they initiate in a manner consistent with the foregoing principles and contemporary standards of professional practice.
How can archaeologists help the public?
Why should archaeologists work?
What is the commercialization of archaeological objects?
What is the principle of the archaeological record?
What is SAA ethics?
Why is the archaeological record destroyed?
When was the SAA Ethics in Archaeology Committee formed?
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About this website
What are the ethical considerations archaeologists must make?
Archaeologists must employ a conservation ethic in their work. That is, they should excavate only what is needed for their research. They should leave parts of sites intact for future archaeologists to investigate.
What are three problems we may encounter with archeology?
Professional archaeologists often encounter problems while conducting research, surveying, and interpreting data. These problems can come in the form of broken gear, faults in methodology, poorly collected data, and processing errors.
What are some ethical questions archaeologists face in their work?
Ethics and MoralsHuman Remains. One of the most common ethical issues arising on an archaeological site is the treatment of human remains discovered as a result of excavations. ... The Power of Governments. ... Ownership of Artefacts. ... Preservation of Sites.
Why is archaeology important and relevant to today's society?
Archaeology provides us with the opportunity to learn about past cultures through the study of artifacts, animal bones and sometimes human bones. Studying these artifacts helps to provide us with some insight about what life was like for people who left behind no written record.
What are some of the biggest challenges that archaeologists face today?
We organize these challenges into five topics: (1) emergence, communities, and complexity; (2) resilience, persistence, transformation, and collapse; (3) movement, mobility, and migration; (4) cognition, behavior, and identity; and (5)human-environment interactions.
What makes archaeologists job so difficult?
In addition to mud, bugs, and weather conditions, there are also the unpredictable challenges that technical difficulties pose as well as navigation. When people think of fieldwork, they imagine archaeologists digging for some sort of lost treasure or buried civilization. Pompeii is a good example of this.
Is it ethical to excavate human remains?
“It's not okay to excavate human remains simply because we're archaeologists and that's what we do,” Sayer recently told Discover Magazine. He suggests that rescue excavations — where burial sites are about to be destroyed by natural disasters — are definitely permissible.
Is it ethical for archaeologist to dig up and disturb graves?
Sometimes, yes definitely. And sometimes it's the right thing to do, not to excavate,” says Duncan Sayer, an archaeologist who has written a book on the ethics of burial excavations. To appreciate his point, consider some hypotheticals.
What is the current international ethic or law regarding archaeology?
The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 is a federal law that protects archaeological resources in the United States.
Why is the work of archaeologists considered very important?
The study of archaeology satisfies the basic human need to know where we came from, and possibly understand our own human nature. Some people even believe the study of archaeology allows for cultural self-refection that will provide for a better foundation for our collective future.
Why is archaeology important to people of the 21st century?
Both in reality and in the public imagination, archaeology has the ability to inspire people to investigate human diversity, history, and cultural heritage. The fundamental nature of archaeology as exploration and adventure is undeniable.
How is archaeology important to the modern economy?
Not only is it important for historical research, it also has a great deal of community and economic value. Archaeology has the potential to provide new information on the human past, solidify one's ties to their social or national heritage, and provide economic means to locations all across the world.
What are the challenges faced by Archaeology in the present scenario?
The challenges addressed questions of emergence, complexity, demography, mobility, identity, resilience, and human–environment interactions. There is a notable lack of concern with the earliest, the largest, and the otherwise unique. They show an increasing concern with relevance to the contemporary world.
What are some of the challenges archaeologists face in piecing together the past?
When archaeologists find pieces of pottery, they're faced with some big challenges: they have no idea what the original object looked like, the pieces may be mixed in with pieces of other artifacts, and several pieces might be missing.
What challenges do archaeologists face in regards to preservation of the archaeological record?
Nevertheless, despite recent advances in practice, archaeological sites face increasing challenges from development, climate change, tourism, insufficient management, looting, conflict, and inadequate governmental resources.
What are the big questions of Archaeology?
Framing big questions in archaeologyWhat processes led to, and resulted from, the global dispersal of modern humans?What are the relationships among environment, population dynamics, settlement structure, and human mobility?More items...•
SAA Core Values Statement and Code of Ethics
Overview. The Core Values of Archivists and the Code of Ethics for Archivists are intended to be used together to guide individuals who perform archival labor or who work in archival environments. These aspirational values and ethical principles help shape SAA’s expectations for professional actions and engagement. In summary, archivists should strive to:
Eight ethical principles of the Society for American ... - Quizlet
Start studying Eight ethical principles of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA). Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Principles of Archaeological Ethics (Society for American Archaeology)
Notes. The SAA provides nine principles of archaeological ethics: Stewardship; Accountability; Commercialization; Public Education and Outreach; Intellectual Property; Public Reporting and Publication; Records and Preservation; Training and Resources; and Safe Educational and Workplace Environments.
Archaeological Ethics Database – A project by the Register of ...
Welcome to the Archaeological Ethics Database. This database is an ongoing project by the Register of Professional Archaeologists (the Register) and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA).
Archaeology Law & Ethics
CONTACT US. Society for American Archaeology 1990 K St NW, Suite 401 Washington, DC 20006. Tel: +1 202-789-8200. [email protected]
Why are archaeological sites important?
Archaeological sites contain important and irreplaceable information about the past. Unfortunately, climatic changes, development, vandalism, and looting destroy sites at an alarming rate. Site protection is not only the responsibility of law enforcement officials or archaeologists.
When did the SAA adopt the principles of ethics?
In 1996, the SAA Executive Board adopted the Principles of Archaeological Ethics, as proposed by the SAA Ethics in Archaeology Committee. These principles guide archaeologists "in negotiating the complex responsibilities they have to archaeological resources, and to all who have an interest in these resources or are otherwise affected by archaeological practice" (Lynott and Wylie 1995:8).
Can you collect artifacts from private property?
In the United States, it is legal to collect artifacts from private property if you have written permission from the landowner. Other requirements are dependent on the state. If you are interested in collecting or metal detecting on private property, contact your State Historic Preservation Office for more information.
What is the most important aspect of the archaeological record?
Every aspect of the archaeological record is involved in the other and all are crucial to the archaeologist in their process; utilizing material culture to learn and share knowledge over human history. Artifacts are perhaps the most essential and common aspect of the archaeological record.
How has archaeology changed over the years?
Archaeology in the last 25 years has had a diverse change in the way the processes of archaeology have to take place. In the last two decades there has been new rules and legislations brought forward leading to new archaeology jobs such as stewardship. This is one of the paying jobs that were introduced with many other jobs as well. As ethical issues have to be addressed more in recent years there has been a need for these jobs to efficiently get the information out that is needed. The archaeological record now has to produce and preserve all of the artefacts that are found and make the information accessible to the public. The jobs that were produced where not just in the private sector of archaeology but also in federal, legal and local levels.
Why is respect important in the story of Axel and Hans?
Respecting each other is very important because without the respect to each other then they won’t be able to communicate very well at each other. I can relate to the message of the story because without the respect of each member of a team then your task will be a complete fail. Also, if there is no collaboration like if each member is selfish then the task will not be good as planned.
Is anthropology a science?
However this debate is more centralized around methodology rather the context of the debate which is to what extent is anthropology a science. Exploiting the methodological side of anthropology as to how anthropologists reach their findings does not mean that anthropology should not be acknowledged as a science, rather it should be used to give much credit to this exceptional form of
Is archaeology worth it?
People ask the question; “Is archaeology worth it?” Some people think that archaeology is not worth. This is because it could be disrespectful to them when we dig up their ancestors and examine them.
What are the codes of conduct for archaeologists?
Codes of conduct guide the practices of fieldwork, excavation, preservation, curation, cataloguing, display, and the ownership and/or repatriation of artifacts and remains.
What organizations maintain their own ethical codes?
Professional and academic archaeological organizations and societies maintain their own ethical codes. You can visit the pages below learn more about these:
Is there looting in the archaeological record?
There are unfortunately countless cases of looting and irreparable damage to artifacts and sites in the archaeological record. You can learn more about how widespread the issue of looting is and the devastating impact this has on archaeology at various sites around the world by searching in eHRAF Archaeology.
Why is ethics important in archaeology?from encyclopedia.com
Not only is there a healthy and lively discussion within the community regarding ethics, modern students of archaeology are likely to take a course on ethics as part of their preparation to become professional archaeologists.
What is archaeological ethics?from en.wikipedia.org
Archaeological ethics. Archaeological ethics refers to the moral issues raised through the study of the material past. It is a branch of the philosophy of archaeology. This article will touch on human remains, the preservation and laws protecting remains and cultural items, issues around the globe, as well as preservation and ethnoarchaeology.
What is ethical criticism of commercial archaeology?from en.wikipedia.org
A primary ethical criticism levied against commercial archaeological practices is the prevalence of non-disclosure agreements associated with development projects involving a cultural resource management component. Critics claim that NDA’s are a barrier to public access to the archaeological record and create an unethical working condition for archaeologists to practice and that archaeology applied to the industry of development is itself a threat to the archaeological record. This practice prohibits information gathered from the archaeological record during such projects from being disseminated to the public or academic institutions for further study and peer review. Scarre writes that “collecting items that are surplus to requirements…is academically pointless and morally irresponsible" and it has been interpreted that data collected as a result of cultural resource management fieldwork unavailable to the public through NDA access restrictions creates such a surplus and therefore is ethically problematic.
What was the first law to protect archaeological sites?from encyclopedia.com
The first national law in the modern era to address concerns about preserving archaeological sites was the Antiquities Act of 1906 , which protected sites on government lands (Messenger 1999). The National Historical Preservation Act of 1966 established various institutions for dealing with historical preservation. Although those laws provided needed protection to valuable archaeological sites, they did not address the concerns of the Native Americans whose ancestors and their gravesites were the focus of research and excavation. In 1990 Congress passed the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). That law clearly delegates ownership of artifacts to the Native American tribes that descend from the ancient people who are the subject of archaeological studies (Messenger 1999). Some archaeologists were surprised by passage of NAGPRA and "viewed the new law as antiscience and a threat to their access to the archaeological record" (Lynott 2003, p. 23).
What is the European Association of Archaeologists?from en.wikipedia.org
The European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), like the Society for American Archaeology in the United States, is an organization which regulates the ethical practice of archaeology across Europe. The EAA requires its members to follow a published code of ethics.
What is the purpose of UNESCO?from en.wikipedia.org
A UNESCO ratification to protect world culture in 1970 was one of the earliest actions to implement ethical standards. Archaeologists conducting ethnoarchaeological research, which involves the study living people, are required to follow guidelines set by the Nuremberg Code (1947) and the Declaration of Helsinki (1964).
What is the EAA code of ethics?from en.wikipedia.org
The EAA requires its members to follow a published code of ethics . The code of ethics requires archaeologists to inform the public of their work, preserve archaeological sites, and evaluate the social and ecological impacts of their work before beginning.
When should respect for the scientific value of skeletal, mummified and other human remains be accorded?
Respect for the scientific research value of skeletal, mummified and other human remains (including fossil hominids) shall be accorded when such value is demonstrated to exist.
What is the purpose of Article 9 of the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the?
Considering Article 9 of the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, WAC calls on all States and non-state actors, as well as its membership, to refrain from archaeological excavation in occupied territory, save where this is strictly required to safeguard, record or preserve cultural heritage, and to refrain from any change to or use of cultural heritage which is intended to conceal or destroy cultural, historical or scientific evidence.
What is the importance of indigenous culture?
1. To acknowledge the importance of indigenous cultural heritage, including sites, places, objects, artefacts, human remains, to the survival of indigenous cultures. 2. To acknowledge the importance of protecting indigenous cultural heritage to the well-being of indigenous peoples.
What is the destruction of cultural heritage?
The destruction of cultural heritage therefore presents humanitarian, preservation, social, and economic concerns, elevating the need to address the protection of the world’s cultural fabric.
How does cultural heritage impact the world?
Whereas: Cultural heritage informs our many identities, reflects our distinct histories and experiences and creates shared bonds to a common past, standing as a tangible reminder of the millennia of human experience. Cultural heritage can play an integral role in post-conflict reconciliation and its preservation may promote such reconciliation. The destruction of cultural heritage therefore presents humanitarian, preservation, social, and economic concerns, elevating the need to address the protection of the world’s cultural fabric.
When is respect for the wishes of the dead required?
Respect for the wishes of the dead concerning disposition shall be accorded whenever possible, reasonable and lawful, when they are known or can be reasonably inferred.
Is cultural heritage damaged?
Whereas: In numerous conflicts, cultural heritage has been damaged and destroyed, WAC expresses its serious concern at the ongoing disregard by States and other parties involved in armed conflicts for the preservation of cultural heritage, the instruments of international humanitarian law, and accompanying principles, which have the goal of protecting the human rights to culture and cultural heritage.
What is the code of conduct for archaeology?
Archaeology is a profession and the privilege of professional practice requires creating a safe work environment and a commitment to professional morality, professional responsibility, and professional competence on the part of each practitioner. An archaeologist’s responsibility is to create a safe work environment free ...
What is the responsibility of an archaeologist?
An archaeologist’s responsibility is to create a safe work environment free of harassment of all types, including sexual. Sexual harassment in this Code is defined as a pattern of unwanted advances, references, or remarks of a physical or sexual nature when an individual has expressed that such advances, references, or remarks are unwelcome.
What is required to be maintained when specimens are collected?
If specimens are collected, a system for identifying and recording their provenience must be maintained.
What is the role of archaeologists in conducting research?
In conducting research, the archaeologist must follow her/his scientific plan of research, except to the extent that unforeseen circumstances warrant its modification.
When was the UNESCO Convention adopted?
Support and comply with the terms of the UNESCO Convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property, as adopted by the General Conference, 14 November 1970 , Paris.
Who has responsibility for appropriate dissemination of the results of her/his research to the appropriate constituencies with reasonable dispatch?
The archaeologist has responsibility for appropriate dissemination of the results of her/his research to the appropriate constituencies with reasonable dispatch.
Should research results be honored?
Requests from qualified colleagues for information on research results directly should be honored, if consistent with the researcher’s prior rights to publication and with her/his other professional responsibilities.
How can archaeologists help the public?
Archaeologists should reach out to, and participate in cooperative efforts with others interested in the archaeological record with the aim of improving the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the record. In particular, archaeologists should undertake to: 1) enlist public support for the stewardship of the archaeological record; 2) explain and promote the use of archaeological methods and techniques in understanding human behavior and culture; and 3) communicate archaeological interpretations of the past. Many publics exist for archaeology including students and teachers; Native Americans and other ethnic, religious, and cultural groups who find in the archaeological record important aspects of their cultural heritage; lawmakers and government officials; reporters, journalists, and others involved in the media; and the general public. Archaeologists who are unable to undertake public education and outreach directly should encourage and support the efforts of others in these activities.
Why should archaeologists work?
Archaeologists should work actively for the preservation of, and long term access to, archaeological collections, records, and reports. To this end, they should encourage colleagues, students, and others to make responsible use of collections, records, and reports in their research as one means of preserving the in situ archaeological record, and of increasing the care and attention given to that portion of the archaeological record which has been removed and incorporated into archaeological collections, records, and reports.
What is the commercialization of archaeological objects?
The commercialization of archaeological objects - their use as commodities to be exploited for personal enjoyment or profit - results in the destruction of archaeological sites and of contextual information that is essential to understanding the archaeological record.
What is the principle of the archaeological record?
Principle No. 1: Stewardship. The 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 archaeological record by practicing and promoting stewardship ...
What is SAA ethics?
Ethics in Professional Archaeology. SAA is dedicated to promoting ethical education and standards for the archaeological community. Through its Committee on Ethics, annual Ethics Bowl, and Principles of Archaeological Ethics, SAA is a leader in defining and practicing ethical conduct. With the goal of establishing principles ...
Why is the archaeological record destroyed?
The Society for American Archaeology has long recognized that the buying and selling of objects out of archaeological context is contributing to the destruction of the archaeological record on the American continents and around the world. The commercialization of archaeological objects - their use as commodities to be exploited for personal enjoyment or profit - results in the destruction of archaeological sites and of contextual information that is essential to understanding the archaeological record. Archaeologists should therefore carefully weigh the benefits to scholarship of a project against the costs of potentially enhancing the commercial value of archaeological objects. Whenever possible they should discourage, and should themselves avoid, activities that enhance the commercial value of archaeological objects, especially objects that are not curated in public institutions, or readily available for scientific study, public interpretation, and display.
When was the SAA Ethics in Archaeology Committee formed?
At its April 10, 1996 meeting, the SAA Executive Board adopted the Principles of Archaeological Ethics, reproduced below, as proposed by the SAA Ethics in Archaeology Committee. The adoption of these principles represents the culmination of an effort begun in 1991 with the formation of the ad-hoc Ethics in Archaeology Committee.
