Archaeological Conservation

   "What ethical questions need to be considered when conducting archeaological studies on ancient sites? How can sites be protected while also being studied? How can the biases and preconceptions of archeaologists and other scholars cause problems during excavation and reconstruction? What is the difference between conservation and reconstruction? Should sites be conserved or reconstructed?"

      The ethical questions involved with archaeology often focus around conservation and respect for an archaeological site. According to Tim Williams at the Getty Conservation Institute, over the last two decades, scientific techniques have advanced, allowing for noninvasive scouting in discovered sites. With the help of satellite imaging, LiDAR, and unmanned aerial vehicles, a site can be inspected before it is disturbed. Archaeologists have shifted their focus to balancing interpretation of a site, how it is presented, and conservation in an effort to find a middle ground of understanding and respect for the past (Williams). Since the 2000's began, universities have begun offering a wider array of classes focusing on heritage management, which concerns "the the identification, protection and stewardship of cultural heritage in the public interest" (Elia & Ostovich). The main difference between conservation and reconstruction is a conservator will do their best to leave the original structures and details intact, while a full physical reconstruction would result in newly created site in the image of the original. New technologies have also allowed for the creation of computer reconstructions that can aid archaeological investigations. Fully reconstructing a site using this technique can often help archaeologists understand how ancient peoples addressed problems with basic infrastructure, such as rainwater disposal. Early reconstruction practices often took the form of artworks, taking inspiration from accounts in the bible and travelers accounts from the time (Hageneuer).  

        So many techniques are in place to conserve and respect sites because they are often culturally and religiously significant to the people who created them; Archaeological sites offer a unique insight into the lives of ancient peoples. One such site is the White Temple [above (German)], which was built during the late 4th millennium B.C.E, this temple is the focal point of the ancient city of Uruk, in southern Mesopotamia (German). This site was the subject of a digital reconstruction, which is a noninvasive and ethical way to reconstruct a site, while conserving the the physical location itself. So to answer the question for should sites be conserved or reconstructed, the answer is both, as a balance between the two will likely lead to the greatest understanding of a site, while respecting its natural state. 

Dr. Senta German, "White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk," in Smarthistory, August 8, 2015, accessed September 4, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/white-temple-and-ziggurat-uruk/.

Elia, Ricardo. Ostovich, Marta. "Heritage Management", in Oxford Bibliogrophies, Septepmber 30, 2011, accessed September 4, 2020, https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195389661/obo-9780195389661-0119.xml#:~:text=Heritage%20management%20is%20a%20growing,heritage%20in%20the%20public%20interest.

Sebastian Hageneuer, "Archaeological reconstructions," in Smarthistory, January 27, 2016, accessed September 4, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/archaeological-reconstructions/.

Williams, Tim. "The Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites." The Getty Conservation Institute, Spring, 2018, accessed September 4 2020