3rd November 2006, 12:36 PM
Troll writes (after some preamble)...
Europe gets bigger every day.Each and every nation within it undoubtedly has its own unique approach to its heritage ... The overall impact on the cultural and ecological landscapes of europe could be devastating. I`m sure there are people already thinking about this (I hope!) and planning as we speak!
Yes indeed there are, and a number of legislative agreements have been signed to begin to attempt to regulate this (Valetta for example). Arguably the enlargement of the EU will improve matters for the historic environment. In examining the specific issue of human remains, Troll says...
My point is that there are well funded western academic institutions excavating abroad who should know better. Yes, in an ideal world Human remains would enjoy agreed european legislative protection but that is simply not the case.There are some nations that simply discard Human remains from archaeological contexts.Often at source and en masse.I would argue that this practise is in need of discussion.Universities around the world are pro-actively involved in the research and excavation of foreign sites.Not all of them take their professional ethics with them when they go either.The treatment of Human remains and their fundamental value to the archaeological record is a concept in dire need of discussion in a european context
There is indeed variation in the way different nations treat human remains, and indeed all archaeological remains. I would however be very very careful in being a kettle shouting at black pots, because I have seen all of these...
Human remains being either discarded, left in trays covered in rat droppings years after excavation or, twenty-odd individuals thrown into one wet cardboard box and left in the stores for years
...happening in the UK. Sadly the main culprits are often what you describe as 'western institutions with academic interests' (ie. Universities). In my view you are approaching this issue from a nationalist perspective which is quite erroneous and indeed arrogant. You appear to be implying that 'western institutions with academic interests' are unique in having 'professionalism' and a proper approach. In particular your phrase...
Things are unlikely to change abroad if western academics adopt a similar approach to that of their host nations.
...is at best patronising and at worst extremely offensive to the many hard-working professional archaeologists in other EU countries dealing with human remains. This issue is not a one way street, and I think there are many instances which we can all think of where work in the UK has been sloppy, unprofessional and ethically troubled.
Why don't you write a paper for the 'European Archaeologist' outlining your views? Or present a paper at the next EAA conference? I am sure our German, French, Croatian, Scandinavian and Dutch (etc.) colleagues would be delighted to hear how they are ethically unsound and how they can only be saved from professional damnation by the intervention of UK academics.
Engage brain before opening mouth?
Europe gets bigger every day.Each and every nation within it undoubtedly has its own unique approach to its heritage ... The overall impact on the cultural and ecological landscapes of europe could be devastating. I`m sure there are people already thinking about this (I hope!) and planning as we speak!
Yes indeed there are, and a number of legislative agreements have been signed to begin to attempt to regulate this (Valetta for example). Arguably the enlargement of the EU will improve matters for the historic environment. In examining the specific issue of human remains, Troll says...
My point is that there are well funded western academic institutions excavating abroad who should know better. Yes, in an ideal world Human remains would enjoy agreed european legislative protection but that is simply not the case.There are some nations that simply discard Human remains from archaeological contexts.Often at source and en masse.I would argue that this practise is in need of discussion.Universities around the world are pro-actively involved in the research and excavation of foreign sites.Not all of them take their professional ethics with them when they go either.The treatment of Human remains and their fundamental value to the archaeological record is a concept in dire need of discussion in a european context
There is indeed variation in the way different nations treat human remains, and indeed all archaeological remains. I would however be very very careful in being a kettle shouting at black pots, because I have seen all of these...
Human remains being either discarded, left in trays covered in rat droppings years after excavation or, twenty-odd individuals thrown into one wet cardboard box and left in the stores for years
...happening in the UK. Sadly the main culprits are often what you describe as 'western institutions with academic interests' (ie. Universities). In my view you are approaching this issue from a nationalist perspective which is quite erroneous and indeed arrogant. You appear to be implying that 'western institutions with academic interests' are unique in having 'professionalism' and a proper approach. In particular your phrase...
Things are unlikely to change abroad if western academics adopt a similar approach to that of their host nations.
...is at best patronising and at worst extremely offensive to the many hard-working professional archaeologists in other EU countries dealing with human remains. This issue is not a one way street, and I think there are many instances which we can all think of where work in the UK has been sloppy, unprofessional and ethically troubled.
Why don't you write a paper for the 'European Archaeologist' outlining your views? Or present a paper at the next EAA conference? I am sure our German, French, Croatian, Scandinavian and Dutch (etc.) colleagues would be delighted to hear how they are ethically unsound and how they can only be saved from professional damnation by the intervention of UK academics.
Engage brain before opening mouth?