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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD, Thursday, August 14, 1930 - Page 16 tected locations, along with the information that give them true value. The loss to the local people is not permanent. In contrast, destruction of a site by a pothunter is final and irreparable, yielding only a few of the more impressive artifacts, forever unstuck in time and space. Viewed in this light, pothunting is clearly an act of blind selfishness. Letters to the editor The Record welcomes letters from its readers on any subject of public interest. Letters must be no more than 300 words in length. The publisher at all times reserves the right to edit, condense or reject any contributions, in the interest of suitability and or good taste. recent weeks, the length of many has gotten completely out of hand. With the publishing of the first two of the following letters, the Record feels that both sides in this controversy will have had considerable say, and future letters on this subject or any other subject will be limited to no more than 300 siieet, typewords, or slightly more than one letter-siz- e (Editors Note: letters to the editor In Finally, the most important (to me) point in this letter: Casey Shumway was certainly correct when he complained to the reporters that there are few or no opportunities for interested citizens to become legally involved in doing arch- or the equivalent in a handwritten and double-space- d, written letter. Letters of more than 300 words cannot be accepted for publication). To The Editor: Recent statements referring to archaeologists as who glorified pothunters plunder archaeological sites and carry off our artifacts are no more reasonable than dismissing surgeons as glorified butchers, or schoolteachers as glorified kidnappers. The work of a competent archaeologist bears no similarity to what a pothunter does. Admittedly, there has been some plundering of the San Juan by some who have presumptuously labeled themselves archaeologist, mostly prior to 1910. Honest people will agree, however, all the real that virtually plundering of San Juan County since that time has been accomplished by a few of our local citizens. The true value of any antique or ancient object is proportionate to how much is known its historic background, or what can be told about when, by whom, and for what purpose a cracked ceramic dish selling for pennies in a flea market may suddenly become a museum piece if someone discovers a makers mark that indicates production in the south of China in the second century A.D. A piece of junk becomes a valuable treasure only when dressed in a meaningful Without hiscontext. torical context, an artifact is a dead object, a curiosity with no soul and of questionable value. Unfortunately, we have no historic accounts which can be called upon to give meaning to a-b- out his-toc- ial the early artifacts of San Juan County. The only way that we can learn the story of their makers is through the painstaking examination of the places where those people did things, and the remains which they left behind. The archaeological remains in San Juan County span at least 10,000 years of human experi- ence, a fascinating kaleidoscope of diverse cultures which we can now perceive only in their barest outline. There is little value to displays of pretty pottery and nifty arrowheads if they are all mixed up, placed on shelves and displayed without any remind-numbi- ng reference to, or awareness of, the people and cultures that produced them. What archaeologists (including competent try to do is to recover the cultural background that transforms pots and arrowheads from dead als) - ology). One does not have to hold a college degree, work as curiosities into true antiques which can offer us into other chapters experiences. This concentration, not on glimpses a professional or refuse to own artifacts in order to be an expert and highly competent archaeologist. In many parts of the country, archaeologists (very different from pothunter) are making important contributions to the archaeology of their areas. Yet, here in the West, we have permitted archaeology to become the sole domain of professionals, academicians, bureaucrats and students. And we have all been the losers, as page after page of our prehistory has been ripped away forever by construction equipment and pothunter shovels. of mans requires the artifacts as isolated units, but rather on the context from which the artifacts were re- tween artifacts, architectural features and natural features constitute the structure of an archaeological site, and it is that structure which permits us to learn about the people who lived there and thus to derive cultural meaning from the artifacts. In short, the true value of the artifacts derives as much from detailed maps, notes and photographs as from the artifacts themselves. Thats The professionals need help from the citizens, and the citizens have a right to full involvement in the investigation of their past.I strongly recommend that people begin to agitate for the development of a situation which encourages and to far-o- ff un- top-qual- ity in- The citizens of San Juan should be openly grateful to every good archaeologist who has ever worked in the area, for trying to preserve the structure of a site and the context of some very nice artifacts, thus ensuring that some of San Juan Countys artifacts will always have true meaning and value. For every stitutions. artifact on the black market or there is an unknown and unmeasurable amount of irreto the damage parable structure of a potentially informative site. On the other hand, every site worked by a competent archaeologist (pro or non-pris another site preserved from destruction by o) collectors whose appreciation for the past is limited to a materialistic desire relic to own ancient objects. It is true that there nas been considerable failure on the part of many professional archaeologists to return the results of their work (including artifacts) to the people, but at least the potential is there. The artifacts are being stored in known and pro arsupports chaeology, and provides a legitimate channel for citizens involvement in the pleasure of archaeology. Interested citizens should solicit the support of professional archaeologists and organize local groups whose aims are as follows: (1) to show che pros that citizen archaeologists can do archaeology and make major contributions to the exploration of prehistory; (2) to provide the necessary training and equipment for their members; (3) to enable citizens to legally and ethically accumulate and curate private collections; (4) to monitor the activities of professional archaeologists in the area, and see to it that all work is fully reported to the local public, that the people are fully informed of all publications pertinent to local archaeology, and that arrangements are made for the local display of artifacts and findings. non-professi- derstand what archaeologists try to do get irritable when others speak as though the pot or the arrowhead by itself is what matters, that archaeologists are only on collection campaigns, carting off San Juans artifacts ment regulations, including the maze of conflicting re- the questions that matter about the people and their relationships to the land, to one another, and to other people in far-o- ff gulations. places. ions, but not by looking at pots and arrowheads and sandals ripped from their contexts. We must have intact sites, a lot of the full them, representing span of prehistoric occupation in all parts of San Juan County. doesnt require either are our recent still so close experiences that our view is distorted? excessive tax burdens or delays to needed construction, Cals efforts to find a scape- start? NM 38130 offering solutions. One of the more obvious solutions to a problem in this county just happens to be in your chosen field of archaeology. Archeologists in this area have been challenged to report what new discovery they have made that willl benefit mankind. If they cant justify their jobs on that basis, then why them continue to stop let ing . In the meantime, it's time to realize that archaeology is long past the era of major discoveries and well into the slow and tedious process of accumulating the minute and individually insignificant data that are necessary for fleshing out a forgotten past. We have learned much, but we are really only standing on the threshold of a maze of dimly lit rooms. The challenges lie ahead, and are exciting. Having discovered the outline of local prehistory, were finally To the Editor: I was happy to Winston, see your suggestion in the paper of getting together with root beer, ice cream, and laughter. This seems to me a much more pleasant alternative than the one offered by Fred Blackburn. Its good to see that the world has not changed you completely since you left Blanding. I was also encouraged by your change of attitude since your last letter as indicated by your re- cent statement, The important thing is that wa all try honestly and objectively to one understand anothers point of view. and I will- - basis assume you are On that sincere I would like to discuss with you another viewpoint. Here again I would like to use our forefathers as an example, for as you admitted in your letter, and I quote: But our forefathers ware strong and wise people, and its right that we should look to them as examples. And in the same paragraph speakof our forefathers you ing that they would weep said, to see the factionalism, extremism, and exploitation that we have permitted to develop among us. Winston, they would be appalled I am 'sure to come back and find the environmental extremism and archaeological exploitation that has developed among us, but I cant envision them wringing their hands and weeping over these grave problems; no, they were man and woman of action, and even though you state that their obsolete policies are to deal with the modern world, I beg to differ. For example: We have seen ill-equip- ped in recent years the modern worlds to solve and we are all problems, painfully award of their anattempt swer. We have such wonderful modern solutions as federally funded abortion for over - population, federally funded welfare for laziness, and the problems of inflation and the decline in productivity can be directly linked to todays modern answer-th- e rapid growth of Govern Or Are we going to have to cautiously wait for Government regulations to crumble our life style before we can view it from whatever distance is necessary? Please, Winston, lets put some of our practical experience in the archaeology field to use and learn from our recent experiences. I dont believe in complain- But we goat notwithstanding. must work together. Otherwise, we will lose a major portion of human experience, and be left with only rude mythologies to explain our past, fabricated by those who see space men in petroglyphs and Viking ships in effigy birds. Winston Hurst 516 West 17th Street Portales, I dont like your answer for solving todays problems. Our forefathers policy of solving through sharing, problems common sense, hard caring, and techinnovation work, nology are perhaps not so obsolete as you seem to think that they are. You speak of learning from our past human When do we experiences. We can answer these quest- And that Winston, No, non-professi- onal covered. To an archaeologist, context refers to the way artifacts, buildings, living rooms, ceremonial features, fireplaces, burials, storage structures, etc., are all arranged in relation to one another in a site, and even to the very nature and microscopic content of the soil that contains them,, These relationships be- why people who aeology (hardly an excuse for his pothunting what he did to Turkey Pen Ruin does not resemble even the worst archae- prepared to seek answers to without industries, businesses, etc., that . do benefit mankind? true that the display of Its ancient artifacts can mean increased tourist dollars and create jobs for the searchers of this buried treasure. On that basis, archaeology has its place, but like any other business these pothunters should be on a competitive basis the same as the construction, farming, mining, grocery stores, cattlemen, etc., etc. L realize that while this idea of competition is a solution, this concept is also feared and denounced by degreeholding archaeologists. They simply cannot compete with experienced local pothunters when it comes to discovering and recovering artifacts. In order to protect their inefficient, non productive behavior, they have sought to hold their jobs by getting laws passed which imprison and financially punish their competition. In this business of treasure hunting, the degreeholding pothunters selfishly the concept of disregard equal rights. If a law is passed against robbing a bank, then that law should extend to everyone equally amateur bank robbers as well as professionals. If one group is given a license to rob and steal, then that right should be granted to all. The ability to be competitive in the artifact business is the same as any other ...it comes from years of practical work experience, hard and common sense. Unfortunately the poor archaeologist seldom understands this concept. What a frus- tration it must be to enter this hot, dusty, gnat - infested country, and then find that the ceremony of waving a diploma over the ground does not (Please turn to Page 17) |