Topic 4: Archaeology and Ethics Flashcards
What is ethics?
-set of standards that we use to guide our actions in particular situations
-fills the gaps between legislation and intention!
what is consequential ethics?
-judges whether or not something is right by what its consequences are.
- moral theories where actions are judged as either right or wrong by the effects they have on the world at large, or the well-being of others
What is Deontological ethics?
-view that human actions have an intrinsic quality that makes them right or wrong, regardless of the consequence
-some things are always wrong, some things are always right.
what do ethics in archaeology focus on?
-focus on responsibility, accountability, protection, and stewardship
-responsibility to share information with cultures
-responsibilities to other archaeologists to uphold policies
why do we have so many ethics codes and policies? are any better than the other?
- there are many archaeological policies to focus on the differences between cultures and countries
-we need to have variations in ethical codes to recognize how archaeology formed differently throughout the world. - we need to understand archaeology did not start the same everywhere, so the use of different ethics policies is for the different contexts.
What is stewardship?
- refers to a preservation movement that focuses on protecting and maintaining archaeological sites for future generations
what is cultural heritage management?
- branch of CRM, concerned with the identification, interpretation, maintenance and preservation of significant cultural sites and physical heritage assets, and aspects of intangible heritage
what is tangible heritage? intangible?
Tangible: physical (archaeology)
Intangible: non-physical, (language, beliefs, song, dance, ect) (Anthropological)
why is conservation and the decision to conserve sites at risk from natural elements a tricky one?
- we can protect archaeological sites, but at what cost to the environment? (especially large outdoor sites)
- different indigenous groups may have different opinions about conservation. Some groups think these sites should be preserved for the future generations, others recognize that their ancestors who made these sites probably knew that the sites would not last forever, and to respect the fact that they will eventually be nothing.
what is curation? what are some of the issues that come with curation?
- the management, storage and conservation of artifacts and other data recovered in the course of archaeological investigation.
-There are many logistical issues with curation. It is expensive storing and preserving everything, especially since it takes space, knowledge and education.
What is the issue with ownership in terms of archaeological artifacts? Does everyone own the past, or do the direct descendants own the past?
- In the US, one may own any cultural resource found on their land. In contrast, In Canada it is owned by the government.
- Many famous museums own objects looted from other countries. Many refuse to give such objects back when requested by the government. This creates the issue of who owns it. because of the revenue generated by museums from these famous antiques, they are unlikely to ever give them back (ex. the Elgin marbles)
What is the most important rule to remember about archaeology in terms of ethics?
ARCHAEOLOGISTS SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD!
- this tells people that the archaeological record is a profitable resource when it should not be!
What is NAGPRA?
Native America Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (1990)
- act in the U.S. that attempts to protect Human skeletal remains and funerary/sacred objects.
What is Repatriation?
Repatriation is the return of persons, material heritage, and/or associated knowledge to its place of origins
