Society for American Archaeology Principles of Archaeological Ethics

1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-182
Keyword(s):  
American Archaeology ◽  
Archaeological Ethics

Society for American Archaeology Principles of Archaeological Ethics

1996 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-452 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Meeting ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Special Report ◽  
Public Forum ◽  
American Archaeology ◽  
Archaeological Ethics

At its April 10, 1996, meeting the Society for American Archaeology Executive Board adopted the Principles of Archaeological Ethics, reproduced below, as proposed by the SAA Ethics in Archaeology Committee. The adoption of these principles represents the culmination of an effort begun in 1991 with the formation of the ad hoc Ethics in Archaeology Committee. The committee was charged with considering the need for revising the society's existing statements on ethics. A 1993 workshop on ethics, held in Reno, resulted in draft principles that were presented at a public forum at the 1994 annual meeting in Anaheim, California. SAA published the draft principles with position papers from the forum and historical commentaries in a special report distributed to all members, Ethics in American Archaeology: Challenges for the 1990s, edited by Mark J. Lynott and Alison Wylie (1995). Member comments were solicited in this special report, through a notice in SAA Bulletin, and at two sessions held at the SAA booth during the 1995 annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The final principles presented here are revised from the original draft based on comments from members and the Executive Board.

When data become people: archaeological ethics, reburial, and the past as public heritage

1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Native Americans ◽  
The United States ◽  
American Archaeology ◽  
Archaeological Ethics ◽  
The Past ◽  
Scientific Approach ◽  
Ethics Code

In the United States, consideration of archaeological ethics has been relatively recent and concerned primarily with defining professionalism. By declaring that the past is a public heritage, claiming that archaeologists should be its stewards, and moving toward a positivist scientific approach, American archaeology has alienated its public. Prompted by pressure from Native Americans on the reburial issue, the Society for American Archaeology has attempted to address the problems by proposing an ethics code, but outsiders are likely to see the contradictions between stated principles and practice. These issues are examined from the perspective of the reburial issues, offering the possibility that an ethnocritical archaeology might provide mechanisms that will allow archaeologists to be more truly accountable and, in the long term, better stewards of the past.

scholarly journals Views on the Nine Principles of Archaeological Ethics from the 2020 SAA Ethics Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaylee Pruski ◽  
Ben Marwick ◽  
Eloise Potter ◽  
Raelee Hampton ◽  
Li-Ying Wang
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
American Archaeology ◽  
Archaeological Ethics ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Career Practice

In the spring of 2018, the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) initiated the process of updating and revising the SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics. As part of this process, the SAA created the Task Force on Revising the SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics: Stage Two (TF-2), which would collect, organize, and analyze results from a survey (see Rakita and Gordon, this issue, for more details about the work of TF-2). This survey was available online between April and June of 2020 and was open to SAA members and non-members. Consisting of 31 questions, the survey received responses from 1,542 people (including 1,112 SAA members). A key objective was to gauge reactions and attitudes of respondents toward the current SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics. This article reports the survey results relevant to those principles, which can be found at https://www.saa.org/career-practice/ethics-in-professional-archaeology and which are reprinted in this issue of the Record. We first summarize the respondents’ demographics, and how they are using the principles. We then summarize reactions to each of the nine principles and responses to questions about how the principles address situations and concerns. These data provide an indication of the overall level of satisfaction with the current SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics. Finally, we conclude with some guidance for considering future revisions of the principles.

scholarly journals How Archaeologists Can Effectively and Ethically Cultivate Responsible and Responsive Stewards

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Dennis L. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Historic Preservation ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Stone Age ◽  
American Archaeology ◽  
Archaeological Ethics ◽  
Texas Panhandle ◽  
Gas Station ◽  
National Historic Preservation Act

Abstract The objective of this article is to share how professional archaeologists can leverage their knowledge and influence to develop collectors and amateur archaeologists into responsible and responsive stewards (RRS). This approach furthers the primary purposes of the National Historic Preservation Act as well as the ethics of the Society for American Archaeology. I share my own journey about finding artifacts in the Texas Panhandle, yearning to understand more about them, and how a poster in a gas station led me to visiting a local Stone Age Fair where I met a professional archaeologist. This archaeologist mentor was willing to answer my questions and guide me to greater understanding of archaeological ethics and practice, which prompted me to document everything I had found. In turn, I have shared my experience with many other nonprofessionals. Archaeologist mentors can have great influence if they are willing to meet collectors and amateur archaeologists on their level. Ultimately, collectors and archaeologists share a love of artifacts and a passion for the history behind them.

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