S3E13: People Are Still Looting and Vandalizing Cultural Sites
Despite the implementation of federal laws like the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), illegal artifact trafficking thrives. The challenge lies in transforming this legal framework into effective cultural site protection. It necessitates a fresh paradigm: conservation over commodification, respect over exploitation.
The latest episode of 90 Miles from Needles, the Desert Protection Podcast centers on a conversation with Archaeologist Shannon Cowell and Law Enforcement consultant Dusty Whiting, both of the group Archaeology Southwest.
"For the last few decades, removal of artifacts...has been forbidden by federal laws in the US...Legality is one issue. Ethics and morality are a different issue..."
Cultural Theft as Violence
Archaeological resource crimes are not mere property crimes without human casualties. Cowell and Whiting compare such crimes to a hypothetical desecration of Arlington Cemetery, in that site vandalism and looting remain not just a legal infraction but an affront to the living cultural fabric of Native peoples.
As Shannon Cowell insightfully points out, “…looting and vandalism have been intertwined with colonialism since the beginning.” The effects of these crimes extend beyond the physical: they perpetuate a lineage of disrespect and marginalization.
"Privatizing [artifacts] by stealing them from the tribes that are the rightful owners and putting them into private collections or sending them overseas for auction is a theft of knowledge."
Compassion and Collaboration
The conversation introduces a hopeful strategy—compassion and collaboration in addressing archaeological theft. Dusty Whiting shares a remarkable blend of personal narrative and professional insight, emphasizing the need for holistic solutions involving law enforcement, archaeologists, tribal representatives, and the community at large.
Promising initiatives like the ARPA assistance program and educational outreach underscore the power of concerted efforts. These movements are kindling awareness and cultivating empathy, the seeds of genuine change.
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This newsletter is a project of the nonprofit Desert Advocacy Media Network. D.A.M.N. also produces the 90 Miles from Needles desert protection podcast and Letters From the Desert, an email newsletter by desert writer Chris Clarke.