Archaeolog

The 1970 UNESCO ‘Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property’ addressed the issue of “the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property”. This was followed by the 1973 Archaeological Institute of America declaration

“The Archaeological Institute of America believes that Museums can henceforth best implement such cooperation by refusing to acquire through purchase, gift, or bequest cultural property exported subsequent to December 30, 1973, in violation of the laws obtaining in the countries of origin.”

Yet distinguished North American Museums kept acquiring.

And then came the raid on the Geneva Freeport and the seizure of Polaroids showing antiquities that had passed through the hands of the tombaroli.

So what are some of the lessons?

Continue reading "Returning Antiquities: Some Lessons" »

Posted by David Gill at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Society for American Archaeology’s Committee on Ethics is pleased to announce the Fifth Annual Ethics Bowl. Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to organize a team of 3 to 5 participants with a faculty advisor to take part in the event at the SAA 73rd Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 27, 2008.

The SAA Ethics Bowl is a debate-style competition based on several hypothetical case studies representing a range of ethical dilemmas encountered in archaeological practice. Case studies from previous years are wonderful teaching tools and study materials for teams preparing for the Ethics Bowl. These resources are available online:click here.

If your university is interested in participating in this year's event, please contact us at the e-mails below. The final date for registering teams in February 14th, 2008 (also the date the 2008 cases will be revealed).

Continue reading "Call for Participating Teams! The 2008 SAA Ethics Bowl" »

Posted by Julie Hollowell at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By: Lisa Anderson, Cassandra Mesick, Christine Reiser, Krysta Ryzewski & Bradley Sekedat

In April 2007, Brown University fielded a team composed of graduate students from the Department of Anthropology and the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World in the 4th annual Ethics Bowl at the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) general meeting held in Austin, Texas. This year’s competition also included student teams from Indiana University, Michigan State University, Northwestern State University, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and the University of New Mexico.

The SAA Ethics Bowl is a debate-style intercollegiate competition, the content of which is based on a series of ten case studies pertaining to relevant issues in archaeology today. These hypothetical scenarios are designed both to stimulate discussion during the Bowl and to provide teaching resources across the wider discipline. The scenarios incorporate a broad range of archaeological issues. The cases we addressed, for example, concerned themes of Open Access, ARPA, cultural representation and diversity, archaeology in times of war, museum stewardship, and multiple publics.

More detailed information about the Ethics Bowl in general can be found HERE. The case studies for 2007 can be viewed HERE.

We were of course delighted to be adjudged the winners of this year's Ethics Bowl, but for us it was the lessons and benefits from the collaborative experience of preparing for it and participating in it that provided the richest rewards. We share part of our experience in this short commentary.

Continue reading "Lessons from the Ethics Bowl | Lessons from a Collaborative Experience" »

Posted by Krysta Ryzewski at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)