Notes

Ethics is the study of moral philosophy, which helps us to decide what is right and to act accordingly. One of the hallmarks of professional institutes is that they have developed codes of ethical behaviour that all members are required to abide by. These rules are created by professionals to deal with complex situations where right and wrong are not easily perceived and may not even be fixed.

We have a number of resources available which deal with professional ethics

Taxonomies

RPA Codes & Standards

• Archaeologist's Responsibility to Colleagues, Employees, and Students
• Archaeologist's Responsibility to Employers and Clients
• Archaeologist's Responsibility to the Public
• Integrity of Research Methodology

CIfA Codes

• Principle 1: Adherence to ethical and responsible behaviour in archaeological affairs
• Principle 4: Responsibility for the availability of archaeological results within reasonable dispatch
• Principle 5: Recognition of aspirations of employees, colleagues and helpers in all matters of employment

Keywords & Terms

• Accountability
• Adequate and Responsible Reporting, Publication, and Dissemination
• Integrity of Research Methodology and Field Procedures
• Professional Standards
• Standards of Data Collection, Recordation, Analysis

Topics & Issues

• Ethical Responsibilities of Archaeologists
• Professionalism and Professional Standards