Who owns the past?

Abstract

For many years, archaeologists did not consider or incorporate the perspectives of native peoples into their interpretations, nor did they think about the potential or inherent biases of their data. In the 1980s, a number of groups began to call for new codes of ethics and new laws to change the behavior of archaeology, making it less colonial in nature and more considerate of native perspectives. One result was a set of ethical principles drafted by the Society for American Archaeology. One principle is that of accountability, which includes an acknowledgement of general responsibility to the general public who is paying for research, and an obligation to make every effort to actively consult with affected groups and to develop working relationships with these parties. This has translated into a more engaged and productive archaeology around the world. Such work is difficult and time-consuming, but critically important. It may not be clear who owns the past, but we all have an obligation to and a responsibility for the past. © 2008 Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.