code of conductSection I The Archaeologist’s Responsibility to the Public Section II The Archaeologist’s Responsibility to Colleagues, Employees, and Students Section III The Archaeologist’s Responsibility to Employers and Clients Archaeology is a profession, and the privilege of professional practice requires professional morality and professional responsibility, as well as professional competence, on the part of each practitioner. STANDARDS OF RESEARCH PERFORMANCESection I Adequate Preparation for Research Projects Section II Integrity of Research Methodology Section III Procedures for Field Survey or Excavation Section IV Maintaining Continuity of Records Section V Specimen and Research Record Storage Section VI Appropriate Dissemination of Research The Research archaeologist has a responsibility to attempt to design and conduct projects that will add to our understanding of past cultures and/or that will develop better theories, methods, or techniques for interpreting the archaeological record, while causing minimal attrition of the archaeological resource base. |
Code of ConductArchaeology is a profession and the privilege of professional practice requires creating a safe work environment and a commitment to professional morality, professional responsibility, and professional competence on the part of each practitioner. An archaeologist’s responsibility is to create a safe work environment free of harassment of all types, including sexual. Sexual harassment in this Code is defined as a pattern of unwanted advances, references, or remarks of a physical or sexual nature when an individual has expressed that such advances, references, or remarks are unwelcome. An archaeologist shall not engage in sexual, gender, and any other form of harassment or violence (including verbal, symbolic, or physical) against any colleague, student, employee, employer, sponsor, or member of the public in the conduct of archaeological practice. An archaeologist shall intervene when witnessing such behavior by others. Intervention is important as it substantiates claims made by those who are victims while reducing the likelihood of retaliation. THE ARCHAEOLOGIST’S RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC1.1 AN ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL:a. Recognize a commitment to represent Archaeology and its research results to the public in a responsible manner; b. Actively support conservation of the archaeological resource base; c. Be sensitive to, and respect the legitimate concerns of, groups whose culture histories are the subjects of archaeological investigations; d. Avoid and discourage exaggerated, misleading, or unwarranted statements about archaeological matters that might induce others to engage in unethical or illegal activity; e. Support and comply with the terms of the UNESCO Convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property, as adopted by the General Conference, 14 November 1970, Paris. 1.2 AN ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL NOT:f. Engage in any illegal or unethical conduct involving archaeological matters or knowingly permit the use of his/her name in support of any illegal or unethical activity involving archaeological matters; g. Give a professional opinion, make a public report, or give legal testimony involving archaeological matters without being as thoroughly informed as might reasonably be expected; h. Engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation about archaeological matters; i. Undertake any research that affects the archaeological resource base for which she/he is not qualified; j. Knowingly be involved in the recovery or excavation of artifacts for commercial exploitation, or knowingly be employed by or knowingly contract with an individual or entity who recovers or excavates archaeological artifacts for commercial exploitation. THE ARCHAEOLOGIST’S RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLEAGUES, EMPLOYEES, AND STUDENTS2.1 AN ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL:a. Give appropriate credit for work done by others; b. Stay informed and knowledgeable about developments in her/his field or fields of specialization; c. Accurately, and without undue delay, prepare and properly disseminate a description of research done and its results; d. Communicate and cooperate with colleagues having common professional interests; e. Give due respect to colleagues’ interests in, and rights to, information about sites, areas, collections, or data where there is a mutual active or potentially active research concern; f. Know and comply with all federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations applicable to her/his archaeological research and activities; g. Report knowledge of violations of this Code to proper authorities; h. Honor and comply with the spirit and letter of the Register of Professional Archaeologist’s Disciplinary Procedures. 2.2 AN ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL NOT:i. Falsely or maliciously attempt to injure the reputation of another archaeologist; j. Commit plagiarism in oral or written communication; k. Undertake research that affects the archaeological resource base unless reasonably prompt, appropriate analysis and reporting can be expected; l. Refuse a reasonable request from a qualified colleague for research data; m. Submit a false or misleading application for registration by the Register of Professional Archaeologists. THE ARCHAEOLOGIST’S RESPONSIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS AND CLIENTS3.1 AN ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL:a. Respect the interests of her/his employer or client, so far as is consistent with the public welfare and this Code and Standards; b. Refuse to comply with any request or demand of an employer or client which conflicts with the Code and Standards; c. Recommend to employers or clients the employment of other archaeologists or other expert consultants upon encountering archaeological problems beyond her/his own competence; d. Exercise reasonable care to prevent her/his employees, colleagues, associates and others whose services are utilized by her/him from revealing or using confidential information. Confidential information means information of a non-archaeological nature gained in the course of employment which the employer or client has requested be held inviolate, or the disclosure of which would be embarrassing or would be likely to be detrimental to the employer or client. Information ceases to be confidential when the employer or client so indicates or when such information becomes publicly known. 3.2 AN ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL NOT:e. Reveal confidential information, unless required by law; f. Use confidential information to the disadvantage of the client or employer; g. Use confidential information for the advantage of herself/himself or a third person, unless the client consents after full disclosure; h. Accept compensation or anything of value for recommending the employment of another archaeologist or other person, unless such compensation or thing of value is fully disclosed to the potential employer or client; i. Recommend or participate in any research which does not comply with the requirements of the Standards of Research Performance. Standards of Research PerformanceThe research archaeologist has a responsibility to attempt to design and conduct projects that will add to our understanding of past cultures and/or that will develop better theories, methods, or techniques for interpreting the archaeological record, while causing minimal attrition of the archaeological resource base. In the conduct of a research project, the following minimum standards should be followed: SECTION I. ADEQUATE PREPARATION FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS.The archaeologist has a responsibility to prepare adequately for any research project, whether or not in the field. The archaeologist must:
SECTION II. INTEGRITY OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGYIn conducting research, the archaeologist must follow her/his scientific plan of research, except to the extent that unforeseen circumstances warrant its modification. SECTION III. PROCEDURES FOR FIELD SURVEY OR EXCAVATIONProcedures for field survey or excavation must meet the following minimal standards:
SECTION IV. MAINTAINING CONTINUITY OF RECORDSDuring accessioning, analysis, and storage of specimens and records in the laboratory, the archaeologist must take precautions to ensure that correlations between the specimens and the field records are maintained, so that provenience contextual relationships and the like are not confused or obscured. SECTION V. SPECIMEN AND RESEARCH RECORD STORAGESpecimens and research records resulting from a project must be deposited at an institution with permanent curatorial facilities, unless otherwise required by law. SECTION VI. APPROPRIATE DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCHThe archaeologist has responsibility for appropriate dissemination of the results of her/his research to the appropriate constituencies with reasonable dispatch.
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