The dangers of conflating responsible and responsive artefact stewardship with illicit and illegal collecting

Archaeology and private artefact collecting have complex and inextricably linked histories. Archaeologists have long drawn attention to criminal activity among collectors, but to assume that all private owners of cultural material-and any archaeologists who interact with them-have ill-intent or engage in illegal behaviour can cause as much harm to the archaeological record as the criminal actions themselves.

Publication year:2020

Keywords:Editorial

Accessibility:Closed