Petroglyph thefts near Bishop stun federal authorities, Paiutes

 

Ancient hunters and gatherers etched vivid petroglyphs on cliffs in the Eastern Sierra that withstood winds, flash floods and earthquakes for more than 3,500 years. Thieves needed only a few hours to cut them down and haul them away.

Federal authorities say at least four petroglyphs have been taken from the site. A fifth was defaced with deep saw cuts on three sides. A sixth had been removed and broken during the theft, then propped against a boulder near a visitor parking lot.

Dozens of other petroglyphs were scarred by hammer strikes and saw cuts.

"The individuals who did this were not surgeons, they were smashing and grabbing," U.S. Bureau of Land Management archaeologist Greg Haverstock said last week as he examined the damage. "This was the worst act of vandalism ever seen" on the 750,000 acres of public land managed by the BLM field office in Bishop.

The theft required extraordinary effort: Ladders, electric generators and power saws had to be driven into the remote and arid high desert site near Bishop. Thieves gouged holes in the rock and sheared off slabs that were up to 15 feet above ground and 2 feet high and wide.

Visitors discovered the theft and reported it to the BLM on Oct. 31. BLM field office manager Bernadette Lovato delivered the bad news to Paiute-Shoshone tribal leaders in Bishop.

"It was the toughest telephone call I ever had to make," Lovato said. "Their culture and spiritual beliefs had been horribly violated. We will do everything in our power to bring those pieces back."

The region is known as Volcanic Tableland. It is held sacred by Native Americans whose ancestors adorned hundreds of lava boulders with spiritual renderings: concentric circles, deer, rattlesnakes, bighorn sheep, and hunters with bows and arrows.

For generations, Paiute-Shoshone tribal members and whites have lived side by side but not together in Bishop. But desecration of the site, which Native Americans still use in spiritual ceremonies, has forced reservation officials and U.S. authorities to come together and ask a tough question: Can further vandalism be prevented?

"How do we manage fragile resources that have survived as much as 10,000 years but can be destroyed in an instant?" asked archaeologist David Whitley, who in 2000 wrote the nomination that succeeded in getting the site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "Do we keep them secret in hopes that no one vandalizes them? Or, do we open them to the public so that visitors can serve as stewards of the resources?"

The easy answer is to police the site and others listed under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. But that's not possible given the condition of cash-strapped federal lands agencies, authorities said.

Authorities said the petroglyphs aren't worth a great deal on the illicit market, probably $500 to $1,500 each. But they are priceless to Native Americans, who regard the massive tableaux as a window into the souls of their ancestors.

The site is one of dozens of such locations managed by the BLM office in Bishop. A small army of volunteers has stepped up surveillance of the area.

For archaeologists, the images carved into a half-mile-long volcanic escarpment depict the culture and spiritual notions of the ancient tribes that once populated the sage flats and river valleys of the Eastern Sierra.

Paiute tribal historic preservation officer Raymond Andrews observed sacred law by quietly chanting a traditional prayer when he approached the site earlier this month.

Standing beneath a panel of geometric renderings believed to have been carved by shamans, Andrews took a slow, deep breath and said, "We still use this sacred place as a kind of church to educate tribal members and children about our historical and spiritual connections. So, our tribal elders are appalled by what happened here."

Federal authorities and Native American leaders plan to mark each defaced petroglyph with a small sign pointing out that, as archaeologist Haverstock put it, "this damage was done by malicious, selfish individuals."

The BLM is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves. Damaging or removing the petroglyphs is a felony. First-time offenders can be imprisoned for up to one year and fined as much as $20,000, authorities said. Second-time offenders can be fined up to $100,000 and imprisoned up to five years.

Urgent Call to Action: Help Oppose New Reality TV Series American Digger

This post comes courtesy of the North Carolina Archaeological Society (NCAS).  The Society's most recent newsletter addresses the problem the archaeological community has with the American Diggers and Diggers television series.  It also provides a handful of talking points and the contact information for parties related to the production of both series.

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Two main goals of the North Carolina Archaeological Society are to promote responsible attitudes toward archaeological resources and to discourage careless and destructive activities.  The Society relies on its members to help achieve these goals, and right now your help is urgently needed!

This spring, Spike TV plans to air American Digger, a reality series following native North Carolinian and former professional wrestler Ric Savage and his American Savage team as they plunder archaeological resources across America.  According to the show’s teaser, “Once the team identifies an area they think is ripe with high-value artifacts and relics, they’ll have to convince the current homeowner to give them permission to dig up their backyard. If American Savage is persuasive enough, they'll get a chance to dig up the tenant’s backyard using their state-of-the-art equipment, and divide the cash they get from selling the artifacts they find there with the tenant.”

Last month, the National Geographic Channel (NGC) launched a similar show, Diggers.  NGC has already aired reruns of the first episodes, and Diggers has become a topic of discussion in online forums devoted to metal detecting and treasure hunting.

Both of these new reality shows encourage the destruction of archaeological resources for profit and rob current and future generations of opportunities to understand and learn from history.  The Society for American Archaeology (SAA), the Society for Historical Archaeology, and other professional and avocational archaeology societies strongly condemn the shows and have launched campaigns to raise awareness and encourage action.

In response, NGC has agreed to run a disclaimer informing viewers that there are laws protecting archaeological resources.  According to a recent memo sent to SAA members by president Fred Limp, NGC has also expressed willingness “to enter into discussions with the archaeological community to determine how to raise awareness of the impacts of the use of metal detectors for treasure hunting.

”As of this writing, Spike TV has yet to formally respond to archaeologists’ concerns.  However, the Huffington Post reported on March 2, 2012 that the station’s spokesperson Shana Tepper maintains that because American Digger is filmed on private property, Savage and his crew are “getting artifacts that are otherwise rotting in the ground.”

Please join NCAS board members in expressing your own concerns about the airing of American Digger by writing the companies involved. Contact information and talking points are provided below.

Talking Points:

• Rather than encouraging a responsible attitude toward archaeological resources, this show encourages destructive and careless activities that will rob current and future generations of the chance to understand and learn from their shared past.
• Archaeological resources are limited and irreplaceable.  They should be left in the ground until responsible and scientific methods can be used to ensure that important information is not lost during their removal.
• Some states (including North Carolina) have laws protecting all unmarked human burials and skeletal remains, even those located on private property.
• The methods and behaviors that American Digger promotes are not only irresponsible but also disrespectful toward descendent populations.  By normalizing and glamorizing such behaviors, the show may encourage viewers to imitate them.

Contacts:

Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney Gurney Productions, Inc.

8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 510

Los Angeles, California 90045

http://www.gurneyproductions.com/contact

Kevin Kay President, Spike TV

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

Stephen K. Friedman

President, MTV

c/o MTV Studios 1515 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Shana Tepper

Spike TV Spokesperson

shana.tepper@mtvstaff.com

Philippe Dauman

President and Chief Executive Officer Viacom Inc.

1515 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

I highly suggest contacting your state, regional and/or local archaeological society and asking them to comment on the subject of these two series in their newsletter or at their next meeting.

An update on the fight against televised looting

I am overwhelmed by the response received in regards to both Spike TV's American Diggers and National Geographic Channel's Diggers series.  The outpouring of support from archaeologists, professors, curators, students, enthusiast, and legitimately concerned individuals is overwhelming.  I want to extend my thanks to everyone who has taken time to show their disgust and anger over what is percolating in the television landscape.

Here is an update across the board as to what is happening:

• A petition entitled "Stop Spike TV from looting our collective past!" has exceeded 15,000 signatures.
• A petition has also emerged to stop National Geographic Channel from airing a similar series entitled Diggers.  While falling to second in the headlines, this series is nearly identical to Spike TV's American Diggers.
• Two Facebook groups have emerged to protest both televised looting series American Diggers and Diggers.
• The Society for American Archaeologists (SAA) released two statements this week "unequivocally opposing" both Spike TV's American Diggers and National Geographic's Diggers.
• The President of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) has sent a letters to both NGC and Spike TV protesting televised looting.
• The National Trust has issued a statement protesting these two shows.
• The Society for Historical Archaeology published their take on thes events on their blog.
• The International Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management has also released a statement warning that these two series will establish a fad for looting.
• KTVA in Alaska aired a report on the story.  The first episode of the series was filmed in Girdwood, Alaska.
• WSET in Virginia also aired a story, with an emphasis on National Geographic's Diggers.
• Numerous blogs, seasoned veterans, professors, professionals, and organizations have expressed disgust and opposition both in the media and online, but more is needed.  State your argument and then post it on one of the two Facebook groups listed above or on the Sexy Archaeology Facebook Group.  Every bit helps.
• ScienceInsider has an article on the threat of televised looting.

Archaeologists may sometimes be divided on their interpretations of history, but one thing has been made abundantly clear these last few days: when it come to threatening the historical record and the science of archaeology, we stand together.  Don't let bad science or non-science ever rear its ugly head in the media because more often than not, what the public sees the public does.

About as un-sexy as you can get: Spike TV digs into televised looting

Spike TV, known for such masterpieces of modern television as Ink Master, 1000 Ways to Die, Repo Games, and Auction Hunters has found another way to entertain its legion of couch potato fans: televised looting.

February 15th, Spike TV announced it would begin airing a new series in March entitled American Digger.  “American Digger” follows the American Savage team (led by former professional wrestler-turned-modern- day relic hunter Ric Savage) as they scour target-rich areas, such as battlefields and historic sites, in hopes of striking it rich by unearthing and selling rare pieces of American history.

If you though Hollywood was above glamorizing the lives of thieves and criminals, boy were you wrong!  American Digger, which begins airing March 20th, aims to spit in the face of archaeological research by teaching you how to supplement your income in these tough economic times with looting!

For those of you who aren't too familiar with how archaeology works (pay attention Spike TV execs), taking cultural artifacts out of the ground, removing them from their context, and selling them for profit is not only classified as looting, it is also disrespectful and damaging to the historical record.  In fact doing it on Federal land, battlefields and historic sites is a very serious crime and will land you in prison for a great number of years.  So why on earth would anyone consider putting that on television?

I called the Gurney Productions on Friday to ask them just that.  Unfortunately, no one was in so I'll have to call back on Monday.

Already the outcry from individuals within the archaeological community has been loud and clear: this show is unacceptable.  The full press release, which you can read here, already has over 120 comments expressing such rightly justified emotions as disgust, horror and utter shock.  I encourage everyone to contribute to the comments section at the bottom of the press release.  State your name, your level of involvement with archaeology (even if you're just an enthusiast), and your feelings towards bastardizing the work that real professionals do.

I for one am ready to wage a public relations jihad against any network, production company, cast, and crew who would disrespect the field of archaeology, the work that I do, and the cultures or people they would exploit to line their pockets.  Let your voice be heard.  Send feedback to Spike TV here. You can join the 'People against Spike TV's American Digger' Facebook group and sign this petition.

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My name is Kurt Thomas Hunt.  I hold a BA in Archaeology and an MA in Archaeology for Screen Media.  I maintain an archaeoblog called Sexy Archaeology and serve as a consultant for production companies interested in putting good archaeology on TV.  I have also worked in the field of CRM for a number of years and witnessed firsthand the damage that can be caused by looting.  As someone who has dedicated their life to archaeology; to the conservation of heritage and to making sure that good science is a mainstay in the headlines, I am utterly disgusted by the concept of this show.  Taking cultural artifacts out of the ground, removing them from their context, and selling them for profit is not only classified as looting, it is also disrespectful to the people who created those objects and damaging to our understanding of the past.  In fact doing it on Federal lands, battlefields, and historic sites is a very serious crime and will land you in prison for a great number of years.  It is my firm belief that the series American Digger will promote the illegal hunting of artifacts and result in massive and irreversible damage to the cultural heritage of this country.  Do not let this series air.

China's tomb raiders laying waste to thousands of years of history

China's extraordinary historical treasures are under threat from increasingly aggressive and sophisticated tomb raiders, who destroy precious archaeological evidence as they swipe irreplaceable relics.

The thieves use dynamite and even bulldozers to break into the deepest chambers – and night vision goggles and oxygen canisters to search them. The artefacts they take are often sold on within days to international dealers.

Police have already stepped up their campaign against the criminals and the government is devoting extra resources to protecting sites and tracing offenders. This year it set up a national information centre to tackle such crimes.

Tomb theft is a global problem that has gone on for centuries. But the sheer scope of China's heritage – with thousands of sites, many of them in remote locations – poses a particular challenge.

"Before, China had a large number of valuable ancient tombs and although it was really depressing to see a tomb raided, it was still possible to run into a similar one in the future," said Professor Wei Zheng, an archaeologist at Peking University. "Nowadays too many have been destroyed. Once one is raided, it is really difficult to find a similar one."

His colleague, Professor Lei Xingshan, said: "We used to say nine out of 10 tombs were empty because of tomb-raiding, but now it has become 9.5 out of 10."

Their team found more than 900 tombs in one part of Shanxi they researched and almost every one had been raided.

They spent two years excavating two high grade tombs from the Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou periods (jointly spanning 1100BC to 221BC) and found both had been completely emptied by thieves. "It really is devastating to see it happening," Zheng said. "Archaeologists are now simply chasing after tomb raiders."

Experts say the problem became worse as China's economy opened up, with domestic and international collectors creating a huge market for thieves.

Zheng said a phrase emerged in the 1980s: "If you want to be rich, dig up old tombs and become a millionaire overnight."

But he added that a crackdown by authorities was helping to contain the problem to an extent. According to the ministry of public security, police investigated 451 tomb-raiding cases in 2010 and another 387 involving the theft of relics. In the first six months of that year, they smashed 71 gangs, detained 787 suspects and recovered 2,366 artefacts.

Those caught face fines and jail terms of three to 10 years, or life in the most serious cases.

Officials say tomb thefts have become increasingly professionalised. Gangs from the provinces worst hit – Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan, which all have a particularly rich archaeological heritage – have begun exporting their expertise to other regions. One researcher estimated that 100,000 people were involved in the trade nationally.

Wei Yongshun, a senior investigator, told China Daily in 2011 that crime bosses often hired experienced teams of tomb thieves and sold the plunder on to middlemen as quickly as they could.

Other officers told how thieves paid farmers to show them the tombs and help them hide from police.

Local officials have insufficient resources to prevent the crimes and often do not see the thefts as a priority. Others turn a blind eye after being bribed by gangs.

Often, raiders return to a site repeatedly over months. In some cases, thieves have reportedly built small "factories" next to tombs – allowing them to break in without being noticed.

But international collectors bear as much responsibility for the crimes as the actual thieves: the high prices they offer create the incentive for criminals.

Wei said: "Stolen cultural artefacts are usually first smuggled out through Hong Kong and Macao and then taken to Taiwan, Canada, America or European countries to be traded."

The sheer size as well as value of the relics demonstrates the audacity of the raiders – last year, the Chinese authorities recovered a 27-tonne sarcophagus that had been stolen from Xi'an and shipped to the US.

It took four years of searching before China identified the collector who had bought the piece – from the tomb of Tang dynasty concubine Wu Huifei – for an estimated $1m (£650,000), and secured its return.

Luo Xizhe of the Shaanxi provincial cultural relics bureau told China Daily: "If we don't take immediate and effective steps to protect these artefacts, there will be none of these things left to protect in 10 years."

He said provincial and national authorities planned to spend more than 100m yuan (£10m) on surveillance equipment for tombs in Shaanxi over the next five years. But video surveillance and infrared imaging devices for night-time monitoring cost 5m yuan for even a small grave, he added.

Spending on protecting cultural relics as a whole soared from 765m yuan in 2006 to 9.7bn in 2011.

Wei, the archaeologist, said precious evidence such as how and when the tomb was built was often destroyed in raids, even if relics could be recovered. "Quite apart from the valuable objects lost, the site is also damaged and its academic value is diminished," he said.

In a particularly alarming case last year, raiders simply bulldozed their way through 10 newly discovered tombs in eastern Jiangxi province.

The Global Times newspaper reported that pieces of coffins and pottery and iron items were scattered across the ravaged site, which was thought to date back 2,000 years. Archaeologists said further excavation was impossible because the destruction was so bad.