The Looting of Archaeological Sites

Last week, Craig and I had the opportunity to record a couple of archaeological sites out where there has yet to be any survey. It was so nice to be recording sites when all we have done recently is survey in areas where we aren’t finding much in the way of sites or even artifacts. While the recording of the sites and the process of trying to find the sites were amazing, there was a bit of disappointment added to the mix.

While trying to locate the sites, we stumbled across three other unrecorded sites, each of which were wonderful examples of pueblo structures. The first we stumbled upon had the dirt road running right through the structure. This isn’t uncommon, from what I’ve seen, and the majority of the structure is still in fairly good condition. Unfortunately, I saw very few artifacts. In fact, we found what we believe to be an old screening pile, a pile of refuse from screening dirt for smaller artifacts. It is very disheartening to see things like that.

It seemed to be a trend through the entire day. We would come upon a site, be enthralled by the structure, but disappointed by the lack of artifacts, even on the sites we were recording that day. People have come to these sites and taken pieces of the history away with them.

Which makes me wonder why someone would do that. The obvious reason is for monetary gain. There are consumers out there who will pay great amounts of money for an unbroken projectile point, or a whole pot, or even a skull or skeleton. Again, this begs the question of why? Why would someone want to destroy a little bit of history so they can say they own it?

In the Southwest, I’m seeing a pattern. Instead of trying to educate the consumers about why such lovely artifacts should remain in the field, people here are trying to educate the pothunters and their children. Where I am working, pothunting is almost as much a time-honored tradition as Easter Egg hunts. Teaching these people about how much is lost when they take something from a site is difficult at best.

From another viewpoint, though, one must consider the consumer buying the artifacts. They are creating a market for these materials. Pothunters will continue to loot sites so long as there is a profit involved.

I don’t know if it would do anything to educate the consumers about the lost histories of the artifacts they so wish to possess, but I am wondering if it would be more effective to try to teach them than to try to teach those making a living off stealing artifacts. If the consumer realizes why it is wrong to buy artifacts, and why it is wrong to steal from sites, they will no longer buy artifacts. With no one to buy artifacts, the pothunters would have no incentive to loot sites.

This is only an idea. I doubt seriously it would work quickly; nothing ever does.

There is another aspect to this I would like to consider. Why is it that it is alright to loot ancient sites, such as the Virgin Anasazi and Kayenta sites I have seen, but not  historic sites? Historic sites, such as old homesteads, I have come across have far less looting than the ancient sites I have seen. What is the difference between these two types of sites that makes it acceptable to loot from one, but not the other? I am wondering if it has something to do with recognition. The historic sites have artifacts that are recognizable: spoons, white plates, shoes, nails, even structures that are much the same as what we use today. Ancient sites have an almost alien feeling. We can recognize ancient pots, bowls, ladles and the like, but they are of a design we are not used to. Could it be that the inability to recognize ancient artifacts as belonging to a physical person causes people to feel no qualms about purchasing these artifacts or stealing them from sites?

I apologize for the rant, but I do not understand why it is alright for people to take pieces of history away, destroying the archaeological record as they go.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at 9:32 pm and is filed under Archaeology, Arizona, Fieldwork, Kaibab National Forest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.