Notes on the Internet Sale of Antiquities - Letter to Amazon.com

Date of Letter: July 3, 2000
Sender: Representing three major professional organizations of archaeologists:
- Society for American Archaeology
- Society for Historical Archaeology
- American Anthropological Association
Purpose: Request for Amazon.com to cease the sale of archaeological materials due to severe impacts on archaeological heritage.

Primary Concerns:
- Commercial market for antiquities stimulates looting of archaeological sites worldwide.
- Artifacts require proper context for scientific study; without systematic recovery, their significance is diminished.
Context Importance:
- "Context" refers to:
- The site of discovery
- Location and depth within the site
- Association with other archaeological materials.
Consequences of Looting:
- Looting destroys associated historical, environmental, and cultural context.
- Whole cultures and archaeological sites are lost due to unregulated excavations.

Archaeological sites are a rapidly diminishing resource; they hold significant scientific, historical, and educational value.
Short-term profit from antiquities sales compromises long-term heritage preservation.
The need for an ethical stand against the sale of antiquities:
- Ethical preservation is paramount for the benefit of society as a whole.

Public Sentiment:
- A poll indicated:
- 96% of the public supports laws protecting archaeological sites.
- 90% believe in preventing exportation of artifacts from source countries that oppose such actions.
Archaeologists represent public concerns and refuse to patronize sites selling antiquities.

Challenges in Legality:
- Difficulty in determining the legality of antiquities due to varying jurisdictions and laws governing cultural property.
Factors influencing legality include:
- Where found
- Circumstances of acquisition
- Jurisdiction of the buyer.
Emphasis on the potential migration of illegal trade to Internet auctions as traditional dealers become cautious due to law enforcement.

Issues with Authenticity:
- Many items sold may be fakes; authenticity certificates hold no weight.
- Ethical guidelines prevent archaeologists from authenticating materials for sale.
Importance of recognizing that the trade of archaeological artifacts contributes to the destruction of archaeological records globally.

Amazon.com is urged to:
- Create a policy to stop the sale of antiquities.
Proposal for collaboration on developing this policy with Amazon.com.
Expressions of appreciation for Amazon's consideration and openness to questions or further discussions on the topic.