Ethics and Archaeology: A Survey

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9310554 Wilk Around the world, the past is an increasingly contested terrain. Historic and prehistoric remains play prominent roles in peoples' attempts to define ethnic and national identities, at the same time that looting, illegal trade, and site destruction are accelerating. Archaeology is coming under closer public scrutiny and archaeologists today are more concerned about ethical practice and accountability. There has been little research on the archaeological enterprise, however. Although archaeology can promote cultural preservation and sustainable community development, it can also fuel site destruction and contribute to social conflict. The overall problem this project addresses is the ethical relationship between archaeologists and the communities where they work, particularly in foreign cultural settings, and the practical ramifications of this relationship in the forms of looting, support for preservation, and public perceptions of the past. This project will survey and interview a broad sample of archaeologists, finding out about their views about ethical standards and behavior, and asking about the ways they have conducted their own field research. The survey will have three sections: one about practice, how do archaeologists conduct themselves in the field in relation to host communities; the second is an opinion survey aimed at eliciting archaeologists' perceptions of minimal ethical behavior; and the third uses scenarios to investigate the relationships between professional ethics and broader social concerns for cultural integrity, autonomy, hierarchy, and equality. The survey is expected to sample 300 to 500 archaeologists; telephone interviews with 50 will provide further detailed information about cases involving ethical concerns and conflicts. Results will provide documentation of prevailing attitudes and practices among archaeologists, and ask if current ethical standards and safeguards are sufficient. ***