Breaking down the constructions has additional archeological benefits in addition to the economic intentions that led to its selection for development. From an archeologists perspective, it is undisputable that this site is important from various perspectives when the job of excavation is over. The first way in which the site is valuable is that it provides sufficient information to present to other scholars and religion experts. This is an important issue in academia since the findings are important for understanding how social, cultural, and political aspects of the location influenced people at the time. In addition, this value is important for teaching students about different religions and other factors that influenced people in various world locations such as the one in Italy.
Another value of this site is associated with my subsequent professional development after excavation of over. The information will be used to advance expertise, professional understanding of ancient religions, and impress the university based on the quality of work provided. One of the professional targets is being a tenured archeologist in the university. Most of the time, tenure is issued when professors can prove their worth to the institution, and this is the overall goal once the excavation of done, data compiled, and report presented to various entities interested in the information. These values of the site are primary followed by others like professional recognition, propagation of knowledge and preservation of archeological artifacts.
Decisions are required regarding the usage of the discovered artifacts and the site itself generating an environment where parties offer their opinions. Some of the decisions seem to introduce ethical dilemmas whose application of professional skills offer viable solutions. In this case, there are conflicting opinions from entities like art galleries, students, academicians, and conservators. There are other people with additional opinions and sometimes it is good to evaluate their content before classifying them as relevant or irrelevant. Opinions from different people offer a wider perspective of the situation and decision factors leading to well-informed decisions that balance the interest of stakeholders.
Therefore, it is justifiable that opinions from everyone are relevant and matters in the debate on what to do with the site, artifacts, as well as information compiled from collected data. Even dealers who have been associated with taking some artifacts have valuable opinions in aspects like conservation techniques, variable applications of the discovered artifacts, and other essential processes for maintaining and maximizing their value. Being an archeologist, it is ethical and proper leadership practice to listen to all parties without discrimination so that their opinions are used for effective decision making.
The discoveries have made the site of archeological, economic, and conservationists value demanding the need for potentially controversial decisions about what to do with it. Being an archeologist, this site should be preserved in its natural settings rather than moving it to another location. If moved, the quality of artifacts will be compromised, and their overall value reduced since they cannot bring the same effect as if they were in their natural settings. So, the location should be preserved and redesigned so that other interested parties can visit the location to advance their research in archeology and religion.
On the issue of access, people should be allowed to visit the site, because it is of no use to anyone if people are denied access. Tourists should be allowed to view the site and its constituent components so as to learn ancient religions and their influence on native populations. Scholars are supposed to get access to further their research and gather more information to understand religions, their propagation, and influence on native societal processes. Artifacts that require movement should be the ones that further scholarly work or require advanced preservation mechanisms that cannot be afforded on site. In fact, the planned construction should be stopped so that an alternative location can be sought since archeological work goes on for prolonged periods.
Artifact looting is an occurrence where elements are collected from the surface or digging through archeological sites for personal benefit. It is essential to protect the site from looters because their motives are probably different from the motives of the team working on the site. To them, their intention is to make money and other benefits hence the personal responsibility of the archeologist to enforce relevant protective mechanisms. The best way to protect the site is erect a fence around it with a controlled entrance where people can be monitored to prevent them from looting. The natives and volunteers also require training so that they can ensure that potential looters are identified and disrupted before they conduct their planned activities. In addition, it should be made illegal to be found on the site without reasonable justification.
On the other hand, it should be protected from tourism until the excavation process is over and the site is ready to accept visitors. The rationale for such protection is to ensure that tourists may not tamper with artifacts or compromise locations of value in their quest to make discoveries. Hence, they should be limited from accessing the location until all archeological work is complete. Once the site has been exhausted, then tourists can be allowed to make visitations and learn about the nature of religious activities, construction of the temple, and the existence of religious elements that facilitated in prayer functions. It is the ethical responsibility of the archeologist to ensure that the site is preserved and given access to deserving people while keeping out looters.
