[ARC5] A Letter from the pCAF

[David Stinson]

William Donzelli wrote:
 >
 > The reason for "no-dig" policies is because allowing "pot hunters" (named
 > for the guys that go along looking for ancient pottery) to get a license
 > would have a DEVASTATING effect on the museum community.

I don't agree.  	
Frankly, I think some of their unstated reasons neferious.

 > They have
 > problems enough with the pot hunters, and how what they do 
comprimises the
 > history of past and present digs.
I don't condone "pot hunters."  That's why I call for standards and
training before turning someone loose on a military park.
The museums and archaeologists would rather see the artifacts rot
than have anyone else on "their territory."

 > Any museum or archaeologist will tell
 > you that the physical artifacts are _very_secondary_ to the history
 > (things like the site and circumstances of the excavation) attached to
 > them....

Well if they're so unimportant, why do they protest their recovery?

The bottom line is this:  Unless unfunded volunteers recover them,
they will never, ever be recovered.  Period.

 > It is a shame to see stuff rot, but we can't save it all.
And why not?  I'd spend my money and time doing my part.
I know of hundreds, if not thousands, who would do the same.
No- it's really about ego and "turf," not history.
There is no logical, valid reason that a force of volunteers
with simple standards and training can't do valuable historical work.
Some work to some standard is far better than no work to any standard.

D.S.