Additional Information

Course Number

NMC471

Course Level

Course Description

This class confronts on a personal level the ethical choices that archaeologists frequently experience during their careers. Each week you will engage with a hypothetical scenario. You will be asked to take a critical look at your own instinctive responses to those scenarios. Moreover, since few ethical issues are black and white, even when there is consensus as to the "right” approach, you will be asked to take sometimes uncomfortable positions

Syllabus Available

Yes

Notes

This syllabus is available as a PDF through the University of Toronto. Please email instructor for further information.

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

CIfA Codes

• Principle 1: Adherence to ethical and responsible behaviour in archaeological affairs
• 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
• Armed Conflict and Violence
• Conflicts of Interest
• Conservation
• Consultation/Partnership with Affected Groups
• Funding, Employment, and/or Compensation for Work
• International Law
• Local, State, Federal, and Tribal Laws
• Looting, Collecting, and Illicit Trade of Cultural Property
• Management of Cultural Resources, Heritage, History
• Museum, Collection, Curation and Display Standards
• Ownership
• Professional Standards
• Public Interest, Collaboration, Education, and Outreach
• Respect for and Responsibility to Affected Groups

Topics & Issues

• Collaboration in Archaeology (i.e. Communities, Non-Archaeologists, etc.)
• Colonialism and Imperialism
• Cultural Resource Management (CRM)
• Destruction of Cultural Heritage
• Ethical Case Studies
• Ethical Dilemmas
• Ethical Responsibilities of Archaeologists
• Legal Issues
• Museum and Display Ethics
• Politics and Archaeology