Space archaeologists want to make sure that unique places like the moon landing site of the Apollo 11 mission are protected. Could future “moon tourists” loot and destroy this “sacred site of world history?” “Can you imagine someone driving a cart of Neil Armstrong’s first footprint?” asks Peter Capelotti of Penn State University.

Meanwhile, rock art at the Picture Rocks site in Arizona has been vandalized. The 100 petroglyphs, thought to be the work of the Hohokam, are located at a religious retreat that is open without charge to visitors. The area is now posted with signs warning that thieves and vandals will be prosecuted.   

Three men were arrested earlier this month for looting a Chumash burial site in California.  

Australian writer Paola Totaro recounts her experiences as a tourist at archaeological sites, where she has witnessed the sometimes stupid, harmful acts of other travelers.  

An anonymous donor has given the Office of Historical Preservation of the Mohawks several artifacts thought to be 10,000 years old. “Although we know some things about them, I plan on having an archaeologist from SUNY Potsdam come in to take a look at them,” said Arnold Printup, Tribal Historical Preservation Officer.   

DNA taken from bones excavated in southern Greenland indicates that the settlers had both Nordic and Celtic ancestors. “We’ve always known that Norsemen traveled a lot and we also know that the early inhabitants of the Faroe Islands and Iceland had traces of Celtic genes. But now we also have evidence of this in Greenland as well,” said Danish archaeologist Jette Arneborg.  

Archaeology is a contentious undertaking in Jerusalem. PRI’s The World offers a concise explanation of the issues.  

The Morgantina Treasure has returned to Italy from New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and it will go on display at the Museuo Nationale Romano before it settles in Sicily.  

Patty Gerstenblith, Director of the College of Law’s Program in Cultural Heritage Law at DePaul University and President of the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation, and James Cuno, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago, debate “the finder’s keepers argument for antiquities” for Minnesota Public Radio News. Local callers ask questions, too.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Friday, March 19, 2010. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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