Archaeology : Modern Infrastructure Projects Threatening Archeological Sites

Archaeologists are now able to come together with natives and learn about the past as a team, getting more insight into ceremonials, traditions, sacred ritueals, everyday workings, and lifestyles of native peoples. Respecting the grounds and artifacts of these indigenous people is respecting their heritage- our universal heritage. The unfolding of information allows archaeologists to gain perspective on the people and land before the white

It is very unsafe to transport very valuable artifacts, and to travel to see them in run down areas. According to Ms. Maniscalco “I don’t think it’s up to me to create tourist itineraries, but I can complain about the closed roads. Why aren’t they fixed? These are political problems” (Donadio). This also supports the point that artifacts should not be returned because the artifacts may get broken and not be worth what they were before they were broken. Another example would be that, “These treasures await those who make the sometimes difficult journey”

Archaeology is the most common way to learn about the existence of humans. Many cultures have left written records behind providing information about life for them. The records left behind often tells about wealth, religion, hierarchy, important dates, property ownership and etc. Those records are often written from one person prospective and may not be all true. Understanding the life of past cultures that have no written records is what make archeology important. Archeology gives a voice to the voiceless with the hope of discovering their story.

The history of archaeology plays an important role in the controversial issues surrounding the science. Archaeology has only recently become a concrete science. Although mankind has always had an interest in the past, the root of archaeology is believed to have started in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. During this time period, artifacts were mainly sought after for collecting. The upper class of the Renaissance period collected artifacts from places such as Rome and Greece to display in their homes as art. As time went on, the lure of historical art and artifacts increased. “Classical archaeology” is the direct result of this curiosity. The “classical archaeologists” were mainly wealthy men that collected artifacts for their homes and studied where they

History and the preservation of cultural heritage are the foundation to influencing who and what our societies are today. A strong foundation is one derived from truth based on tangible and irrefutable knowledge and evidence. The discipline of archaeology is a science that probes the depths of the human past (Chazan 2014:8) and utilizes various concrete research methods and theories in determining past societies based on objects anchored in today. An unnerving threat however, are those rooted in the practice of pseudoarchaeology which frankly, is not a science but rather a fantastical imagery of history that romanticizes and exaggerates ideas and notions of the past. Pseudoarcheaology seeks to emphasize false truths on the bases of exaggerating

Participation by archaeologists in the indigenous construction of heritage remains a difficult and controversial issue (McGuire 1992:37, Nicholas and Andrews 1997a:12, 1997b:277; Trigger 2006:177-189). Following the critical theory of Habermas (1971:14-22, 1973:32-40) and its use in archaeology (Leone et al. 1987:283-292; Lyons 2005:1; Wylie 1985:138), archaeological practice is clearly a socio-political action in and for the present (Tilley 1989:105). Collaborative research with stakeholders may influence interpretation and results for social and political gain (McGhee 2008:580-581). This influence may

This theory was primarily a reaction to processual archaeology, criticizing its methods, and disagreeing with the idea of using the scientific method, and relies greatly on records and data. Post-processual theory has two approaches to archaeology, first there is Subjectivism, arguing that archaeology is more subjective than objective and that the truth from archaeological record has relations to the viewpoint of the archaeologist presenting the data. Second is Interpretation, informing that almost all archaeologists include their own views and bias in their interpretations their data. Many post-processualists opposed racism, colonialism, and elitism within the field, because it wasn’t right for rich elites to interpret the past of ordinary people. They also believe that past societies must be interpreted by idealistic and materialist ideas. (Johnson, M).

Unlike the fictional tactics that movies such as Indiana Jones and The Mummy portray, archaeologists utilize meticulous and methodical strategies when studying archaeological sites. Rather than simply stumbling upon a glorious treasure out of the blue, archaeologists tend to have a reason to explore a specific region for historical artifacts. Moreover, the process of digging up these sites is extensively regulated so that the integrity and value of these sites are kept intact. Over time, the methods that archaeologists implement has evolved greatly, as observed by comparing the techniques of Heinrich Schliemann, Howard Carter, and Kenneth Feder. It can be observed that as time has progressed, these archaeologists have become more tentative

Artifacts from all over the world should be kept in museums. As we know, sites with artifacts are being looted, and all of the important items are being stolen. These sites should be preserved until archaeologists can remove all of the artifacts and bring them to a museum to be kept save in the right conditions.

Archaeologists study our human history by examining artifacts that we used, or human or ancient bones they can determine how we used those artifacts and how we evolved they can also help finding new information about older generations of people.

From the perspective of a psychologist, the traditional cultural anthropological practice of excavating burial sites for research and how the practice should not continue is extremely relevant to their work. From a psychologist’s point of view, the conventional way of excavating burial sites would be deemed unethical for a number of reasons. Psychologists would agree that any physical remains, whether it is a physical body or an artifact, has great emotional meaning to the society/community it belongs to. When the physical remain(s) is/are taken from the society or community, it would evoke a strong negative reaction as the people would think of the remain(s) as part of who they are as a culture and as people, causing a public outcry, as well as the morality of the situation questioned.

(Sultan, Nancy, Illinois Wesleyan University. Should the ‘Elgin Marbles’ be Returned to Greece? Illinois, 2005.). Therefore, not only are the marbles further protected in the British museum but they also benefit many citizens. Many people living in Britain have been inspired by the marbles or other migrated artifacts, these individuals have grown to become well-recognized artists and writers from the influence of the Elgin marbles. (Hitchens, Christopher, Robert Browning, and Graham Binns. The Elgin marbles: should they be returned to Greece? London: Verso, 1998.)

presenting archaeological data to the public and interpreting that data to the public as well

There is no ambiguity that the Elgin Marbles are significantly valuable to the history of Greece and a commemorative to its people and the Greek government. Unfortunately, the Greeks no longer hold possession or the legal rights to this piece of fine art. In the mid-1800s the Elgin Marbles were purchased by the British Museum. The Greek government remains to contest that the Elgin Marbles were acquired illegally and demand they be returned to Greece. According to Jenkins (2001), the contentious matter is “over cultural property and questions of its moral ownership” (p. 1). He believes that the Greek’s argument is based completely on pretentious statistics “found to be inaccurate and unreliable” (Jenkins,

Famous museums possess pieces of art that come from all around the world. A good example is the Parthenon Marbles at the British Museum. Big pieces of marble became sculptures of different sizes and specifications depending on their location at the temple. Swindale et al. describe three different types of Marbles: metopes, in the lateral side of the building, pieces showing different battles; a frieze, a long scene surrounding the inner temple; and pediment statues, located at the triangular facades at the front and back of the building.