Bibliographic Information
Title
The “Other” Meaning of Value in Archaeology: The Uncomfortable Topics of Money, Looting, and Artifacts of Questionable Origin
Book Title
Archaeology in Society: Its Relevance in the Modern World
Author(s)
Pettigrew, Richard M. and Balachandran, Sanchita
Editor(s)
Rockman, Marcy and Flatman, Joe
Year of Publication
2012
Chapter Pages
123-137
Publisher Name
Springer
Publisher Location
New York
Web Address (URL)
Additional Information
Language
English
Source Type
Book Chapter
Notes
Abstract: This chapter discusses situations in which the authors have had to deal with things that the field of archaeology and overall study of the past would really prefer not to exist – the “problematic” side of archaeology. For Pettigrew, this is the topic of treasure hunting and the video about Odyssey Marine Exploration’s (OME) finds that he posted on The Archaeology Channel and which caused an extraordinary amount of dispute about the rights and wrongs of the work of organizations such as OME. For Balachandran, this is the study of issues of treating the sword that she described in her article in Archaeology Magazine. The authors frame their discussions in terms of the topic of artifacts and money: in other words, in addition to their “priceless” value in representing the past, the place that archaeological artifacts also have in terms of monetary value, how the authors have encountered this aspect of archaeology/study of the past in their work (i.e., your given situations above), and what dilemmas – and solutions to these dilemmas – that this financial reality has presented.
Additional tags: treasure hunting; commercialization; ethical dilemmas
Taxonomies
RPA Codes & Standards
- Archaeologist's Responsibility to Colleagues, Employees, and Students
- Archaeologist's Responsibility to the Public
- Integrity of Research Methodology
- Procedures for Field Survey or Excavation
CIfA Codes
Keywords & Terms
- Anti-Commercialization
- Avoid, Discourage, and Report Unethical and Illegal Activity
- Employer/Client Relationships
- Integrity of Research Methodology and Field Procedures
- Looting, Collecting, and Illicit Trade of Cultural Property
- Management of Cultural Resources, Heritage, History
- Ownership
- Preservation of Archaeological Resources
- Professional Qualification
- Professional Standards
- Promotion of Archaeological Research/Archaeology as Scientific Discipline
- Protection and Non-Disclosure of Archaeological Sites
- Standards of Data Collection, Recordation, Analysis
- Transparency