The ethics of sustainable archaeology

Like a chicken talking to a duck about a kettle of fish

“…On one hand, there appears to be little, if any, agreement about what archaeology is; compare, for example, Högberg and Holtorf (2019) and Pikirayi (2019). On the other hand, there is the appearance of near-total agreement, as exemplified by Pikirayi (2019) and Guttmann-Bond (2019a). This contradiction suggests that archaeology has grown so much that it is now too philosophically fragmented to be defined as a coherent entity (Zubrow 1989) and/or that archaeologists take key aspects of archaeology's definition for granted (Hutchings 2019, in press).…”

“…Guttmann-Bond (2019a: 1667) labels our inquiry “anti-intellectual”. Given that archaeology is her “love” (2019b: viii), it is understandable that she rejects our argument.…”

“…Guttmann-Bond (2019a: 1666) critiques our work because we “argue that archaeology is self-interested and exploitative” and because we “do not discuss the things that archaeology can teach us about conservation and sustainable living”. Yet it has long been recognised that archaeology is self-interested and exploitative (Clarke 1973; Shanks & Tilley 1987; Smith 2004; Smith & Waterton 2009a & b).…”

“…Gnecco's views on the global nature of capitalist exploitation are significant, as both Guttmann-Bond and Högberg and Holtorf challenge the geographic relevance of our argument. The former suggests that ours are only “ethical issues within North American archaeology” (Guttmann-Bond 2019a: 1666); the latter claim that our arguments are not persuasive “based on [their] experiences in Europe” (Högberg & Holtorf 2019: 1662). These can be seen as attempts by European scholars to externalise the damage caused by resource extraction and archaeology.…”

“…Nonetheless, it is significant that Guttmann-Bond's reaction to our thesis is to argue for the relevance of archaeology to the current climate crisis. This is because her views (2010, 2019a & b) constitute what sociologist Anthony Giddens calls ‘sustained optimism’. This is defined as: the persistence of the attitudes of the Enlightenment, a continued faith […] in spite of whatever dangers threaten at the current time.…”