Desecration of the Dead

Since the 1970s there has been public controversy over our treatment of native North American burial sites and human skeletal remains. Three main issues have come to the fore: Should we excavate burial sites at all? If so, how should they be treated and the remains handled? Who has, or should have, the power to make decisions on these questions? As the epigraph by Red Cloud illustrates, the roots of the conflict are old and deep. Two examples illustrate the issue as it has appeared on both sides of the U.S./Canada border. In 1971 members of A.I.M. (American Indian Movement) disrupted a dig outside Minneapolis-St. Paul. Even though there were no burials at the site, the symbolism of the confrontation was important to A.I.M. members who felt the excavation was proceeding without consideration of Native values and beliefs. According to the Arlie House Report (McGimsey and Davis 1977:90) the public was largely sympathetic with native people while archaeologists were not

Anthropological Studies and Insights · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies · History

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  Open Access•Joseph A Tainter•Advances in Archaeological Method…•1978

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