ARCHLGY 79: Mediterranean Archaeology Today: Heritage, Ethics, and Practice in a Changing World
While archaeology engages with material remains from the past, it is embedded in and inseparable from contemporary practice. This seminar discusses a wide range of ethical dilemmas raised by archaeology in the 21st century. It aims to develop an acquaintance with legal and ethical codes as well as disciplinary practices that relate to cultural heritage, with a strong focus on the ancient Mediterranean world. Such issues will be approached primarily through discussion and debate of current case studies including: ownership and destruction of cultural property, colonialism and decolonization, ethical responsibilities in scientific practice, and cultural, nationalistic, religious, and popular uses of heritage. By the end of the term, students should be able to apply critical reasoning to a variety of ethical issues related to heritage of the Mediterranean world and beyond, and to articulate (in oral and written form) responses to current controversial topics about the human past.
Last offered: Spring 2020
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