Why Does Archaeology Need a Code of Ethics

The code of ethics requires archaeologists to inform the public of their work, preserve archaeological sites, and evaluate the social and ecological impacts of their work before beginning.

What are archaeological ethical principles?

The SAA provides nine principles of archaeological ethics: Stewardship; Accountability; Commercialization; Public Education and Outreach; Intellectual Property; Public Reporting and Publication; Records and Preservation; Training and Resources; and Safe Educational and Workplace Environments.

Why is protecting archaeological sites important?

First, it is important to protect the artifacts and other materials that are located within archaeological sites. These artifacts have tremendous historical value, and as such, they may be vulnerable to looting by people who see the artifacts as having monetary value.