There has been a lot of news
recently about the link between the looting of our heritage resources and
criminal enterprises (see links below). This of course, is nothing new to the many
of us that have been involved (sometimes putting life-n-limb in “Harm’s Way”)
with the protection of our patrimony.
The collectors driving the illegal black market may think they are
involved in a victimless crime: that is delusional, self-serving… well, seems
like rationalization to me. So, to help with the recovery and repatriation I
think we should standup and be counted by tweeting on Twitter at: #bringbackourartifacts
(on 2nd thought, based on what continues in Nigeria, this may not be
the-way-to-go for positive results).
In about 3-months (October 7th)
Lucinda Schroeder’s next book (Plunder of the Ancients) is due to be
released. Some might recall Cindy’s first work, Hunt for Justice: it chronicled
her undercover operations with wayward big game hunting guides in Alaska (she
did some nice work throughout her career with US Fish & Wildlife Service). I’m
looking forward to reading her memories regarding a couple of our multi-agency covert
ops (East/West & “Operation Cooperation”), that looked into the trafficking
of ancient ethnographic art and the darker side: the backroom illegal trade in
cultural & sacred objects. The latter of these operations became fairly well-known locally as it involved individuals supplying & trafficking sensitive objects.
Ya know, when I’m asked which ARPA
Task Force* or National Park Service (NPS) Resources Protection Unit operation was the most successful,
I often have to think about it for awhile. Of course, I’m inclined to think of the Native American Graves Protection &
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) case that started as an illegal feather trading investigation and ended up as the first NAGPRA jury trial and conviction that was appealed up through the 10th Circuit to the U.S. Supreme
Court (conviction stood). However, I truly believe that we reached-out and spread-the-word to by far the most people with a simple
letter (or two): Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) is an example of how
long journeys start with small-steps.
It began in the latter part of
1992, while watching an episode of Star
Trek: TNG (possibly Season 6 episode 7’s “Rascals”). Our son, Justin, was nine at the time and it was our
custom to pop some corn and watch a new episode on the Saturday’s that I was at
home (unfortunately, not that often as I recall). In previous seasons and
episodes, Captain Jean Luc Picard’s character had been shown to have a strong
interest in archaeology, even delivering a keynote address at a scientific
conference on the subject. At the beginning of this story’s hour Capt.
Picard was showing-off some artifacts he had “acquired” from a cave while on
shore leave. That didn’t “sit-right” with this Deputy ARPA Task Force
Coordinator. It prompted a letter (on Task Force letterhead) asking for some behavioral
changes by the illustrious captain of the Starship Enterprise. Due to the
results I’m sure that others where also watching & writing...
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| Capt. Picard (right) and his mentor, archaeologist Galen. |
Within a short while there was an episode where Capt. Picard mentioned the desire to protect our heritage
resources (artifacts). It prompted another letter: this one on NPS letterhead
and signed by our Regional Director (John E. Cook) that more-or-less said: way-to-go Enterprise. This was
followed by multiple installments where Jean Luc took an active role in
tracking down intergalactic black market artifact smugglers, and helping to
assist & answer archaeological research questions that we haven't evolved to even think of to ask in the late 20th Century. In fact, the writers
brought up his youthful passion for the science of archaeology to the point
that he once had to decide between that academic endeavor or a career
with Star Fleet (certainly struck a chord with me: historian/archeologist
turned NPS Ranger/Special Agent). The stories continued to unfold in very positive
directions, and it was rumored that Star Trek: TNG was eventually recognized by
the Society for American Archaeology with a special award. I’ve been unable
to corroborate that.
One thing I do believe is true: we have
Gene Roddenberry# and his creative heirs to thank for seeing a great
opportunity to educate “the next generation” and following through with it. Yep, education, that's-the-ticket...
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| Artifact Show - Santa Fe, New Mexico |
*- The Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) Task
Force was an interagency effort based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early
1990’s. Agencies initially involved were the Bureau of Land Management,
National Park Service, and USDA Forest Service. Its’ members eventually
expanded and included efforts also with a variety of other agencies from the Departments
of Interior, Justice, and Treasury.
#- As a matter of full disclosure, my spouse’s (Meme) family
has a Roddenberry connection: her maternal family was O’Hara and lived in El
Paso, Texas. In the 1920’s the Roddenberry & O’Hara families moved from El
Paso to Los Angeles at the same time. Her Aunt Dorothy was the same age as Gene
and they went to L.A. Franklin High School together.
