Trading Archaeology Is Not Just a Matter of Antiquities: Archaeological Practice as a Commodity

Abstract

In theory, archaeology was born as a knowledge-based activity in which the most important concern was getting to know the past better. Since the very beginning, we have been creating “products” in terms of heritage and archaeological information. In some way, perhaps due to the broadly extended capitalist mentality of the leading Anglo-Saxon stream, these “products” soon became commodities in a Heritage market that has now become a commodity itself. “What are you selling?” is one of the most frequently asked questions during the quest for project funding. We are selling Knowledge, Identity, Dreams, Pride and, sometimes, even stones. The first ethical issues arise here, in the building of “products” that are usually misused by the public in its different facets. The mix of politics, money and media has created a “Culture of Archaeology” that deeply affects daily issues not directly related to archaeology. Are we responsible for that? Looking at the growth of archaeology in developing countries might answer this question. The imposition of a value for the past/heritage from an occidental point of view has created a tourism-related market, supported by International Organizations that, in some way, are still having a neo-colonial attitude towards archaeology. Moreover, since the growth of urban archaeology, CRM and commercial archaeology have become a major issue for the profession. Archaeological practice itself has become a commodity for developers who need a new “paper” for their building permission. How ethical is it to sell ourselves for something else than research? Can we call “research” what we do in this framework? Answers should be easy and clear, but this market, which covers more than 90 % of all archaeological practice in many countries, has too many shadows. Today, commercial archaeology is growing fast, expanding it activities from outreach to management. Thus, the main ethical concern that arises is this: Can we privately work in archaeology viewing it as a commodity, when it still is a public resource that belongs to all of us?