1. Archaeological Ethics

2. Dealing with Human Remains Who controls the past? Who owns the past? Conservation & Preservation Reconstruction Of sites Archaeological Ethics

3. Reconstruction of a Site Archaeologists can use reconstruction of buildings / sites to help interpret the past. So we must ask, should archaeologists reconstruct or leave it as they find it?

4. Questions to ask…. Will the process of reconstruction be destructive? How authentic will the reconstruction be? Can we learn more about the past from the site as it is? Could archaeologists make mistakes in the reconstruction and give a false interpretation? Reconstruction of a Site

5. Is this really what a mammoth bone hut looked like 10 000 years ago?

6. British archeologist Arthur Evans re-built some sections of the palace at Knossos based on existing knowledge of the Minoan civilisation. The pillars were built based on relief paintings & the size of the pillar bases that were still present. interesting, but it simply wouldn't happen today.

7. Example of some reconstruction of shop fronts at Pompeii

8. Activity Research the work of Arthur Evans at the palace of Knossos and the Answer the following in 1 A4 page: Should Sir Arthur Evans have reconstructed this archaeological site? Give reasons for your opinion.

9. Conservation – Preserving the Past Archaeological sites are finite, non- renewable resources. Information about the human past is being destroyed. A big issue in archaeology is - how to conserve a site?

10. Conservation groups work to conserve and protect archaeological sites across the world. Examples include: –UNESCO (United Nations) –ICOMOS (International Council on Sites and Monuments) –Australian Heritage Commission –Rescue (British Group) Conservation – Preserving the Past

11. Sometimes conservation requires dramatic, emergency large-scale rescues of sites. For example: Abu Simbel temples of Ramesses II. This site was saved from submersion in the Nile River. Cost 40 million, took about 4 years. Conservation – Preserving the Past

12. Abu Simbel temples of Ramesses II

16. Other times, conservation is about how to best preserve the site while allowing the public to learn from and enjoy visiting an archaeological site. For Example: Building of a replica cave of Lascaux in France. Conservation – Preserving the Past

17. Lascaux cave in France – replica cave built to conserve original site.