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TitleCan You Dig It? The ethics and politics of cultural property
NameDelColle, Jeanne M. (author), Verbrugghe, Gerald (chair), Charme, Stuart (internal member), Rutgers University, Camden Graduate School,
Degree Date2010-05
Date Created2010
SubjectLiberal Studies,
Archaeology,
Cultural property--Protection (International law),
Cultural property
DescriptionCan You Dig It? is a little archaeology humor that is meant to serve a dual purpose. It is meant as both a literal question and as colloquial slang. The first section of this paper focuses on the politics of cultural property. The question, Can You Dig It?, literally asks if items of cultural property can be excavated, by whom, and if they may leave their country of origin. To address these issues, there has been legislation, both international and national, to help regulate the flow of cultural property and prevent the terrible damage done by theft and looting. The second section of Can You Dig It? focuses on the colloquial slang and presents to readers information to allow a basic comprehension of the issues central to the debate of cultural property. While legislation may seem very straightforward, archaeologists, nation-states, museums, and collectors all assign a different type of value to objects and so do not agree on the best practices and uses for cultural property. The pros and cons of each are presented to readers for their consideration, and the ethics of cultural property are discussed. In the final section, possible solutions to the debate are proposed. These include a type of public service campaign for archaeologists to reach out to communities both at home and abroad. This outreach has already included the education of the U.S. military, particularly those being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, about the cultural heritage of the Middle East. Finally, a push to extend archaeology education to teachers and, by extension, their students in the public school system could result in discouraging the next generation of looters.
NoteM.A.L.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references (p. 38-39)
NoteJeanne M. DelColle
NoteIncludes abstract
Genretheses,
bibliography
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10005600001.ETD.000052813
LanguageEnglish
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.