Introduction to Introduction to Archaeology and Archaeology and

EthicsEthicsByBy

Ms. HessonMs. Hesson

What is What is Archaeology?Archaeology?

The study of historic The study of historic and prehistoric and prehistoric peoples and their peoples and their cultures by looking at cultures by looking at artifactsartifacts

What is an What is an ArtifactArtifact??

Any object made by Any object made by humans such as a humans such as a tool or the remains of tool or the remains of one such as a pottery one such as a pottery sherdsherd

Artifact EthicsArtifact Ethics Our nations archaeological sites are being Our nations archaeological sites are being

destroyed and plundereddestroyed and plundered Scientific information is being destroyedScientific information is being destroyed Native Americans lose an important part Native Americans lose an important part

of their heritageof their heritage Large quantities of human remains, Large quantities of human remains,

pottery rock art, and sites of habitation pottery rock art, and sites of habitation are being lost and important links to the are being lost and important links to the past – gone foreverpast – gone forever

It is important to protect archaeological It is important to protect archaeological sites and artifactssites and artifacts

Examples Examples showing showing

destruction of destruction of artifactsartifactsLarsen Cave near Prairie du Larsen Cave near Prairie du

ChienChien

Red arm with nearby Red arm with nearby damagedamage

Larsen Cave, red bird with Larsen Cave, red bird with recent damagerecent damage

Larsen Cave, looter’s pitLarsen Cave, looter’s pit

Looter’s pitLooter’s pit

More destruction in Iowa More destruction in Iowa County, WICounty, WI

The The Damage is Damage is irreversible!irreversible!

Gottschall vandalismGottschall vandalism

Once the past is Once the past is destroyed, early destroyed, early cultures can no cultures can no

longer be longer be accurately dated accurately dated

and studied.and studied.

Act now to Act now to save the links save the links to our past.to our past.

As a follow up to the As a follow up to the PowerPoint presentation, I PowerPoint presentation, I will have my students make will have my students make

a brochure to be put into a brochure to be put into visitor stops on the bike visitor stops on the bike trail in our communities. trail in our communities. The brochure will feature The brochure will feature how and why to protect how and why to protect

sites.sites.