24th July 2005, 10:58 AM
the act of exhumation can be seen as a violation of the individual and, the "sacred space" it occupies. Is it ethical to sever the metaphysical/religious processes in play simply because the contemporary community are no longer there to see us do it and object? I also question the "validation" terminology-research. We are happy (on rare occasion) to leave structural archaeology un-molested in lieu of future advanced and, non-invasive technologies. As the rites of passage in the Human theatre of behavioural dynamics are amongst the most emotionally and ideologically charged arenas, why are burials not accorded the same respect and, forethought. I guess that most archaeologists hold fairly rigid atheistic views and as such, may dismiss the ideologies of past communities as either a false dillusion or, superseded by the "truths" of modern science. Guys, I don`t feel that we have the right to quite literally sever or permanently interrupt the rights of passage of others-modern or archaic-in the name of research. On another ride, those with faith just might be right you know.....explain your actions to the God of your choice when you meet them at the gates! For my part, I will live my life as close to the teachings and laws of my faith as possible.When I die, my body will be subject to a gamete of prescribed and ancient processes including inhumation. It is not right for some yellow jacketed graduate to interrupt and sever the process in the name of "research". It may sound as though I only champion the cause of those buried in a faith environment-I don`t, an atheist also has the right to be left in peace without becoming the plaything of an individual/organisation that ostensibly, claims to hold the ethical/moral high ground-usually in complete ignorance of the processes of passage they sever. In simple terms, it is not for us to decide.Archaeologists today can be seen as painfully ignorant of the ideologies behind the worlds modern religions/belief systems-let alone those of archaic communities.Before you say it, this is no valid excuse to go exhuming archaic inhumations to learn more about their beliefs. Severence is just that. Under threat-yes, exhumate after due consultation and within the framework of strict professional guidelines.For simple research-no, this is violation and intellectual hedonism/masturbation at its worse....