ARCHAEOLOGY, HISTORICAL HERITAGE AND ETHICAL ISSUES

The development of mass society and emergence of new groups that actively claim their place in society and in the world have turned historical heritage into a valuable political resource. This, in turn, has paved the way for 'historical politics', which, along with twentieth-century events, tends to encompass layers of the past that go much further back in time. As a result, archaeologists find themselves confronted with some important issues. What is historical heritage? How is it understood today? What attracts public attention, and what leaves the public indifferent? Who has the right to historical heritage - archaeologists, the state, or society? What society? Here, we deal with complex issues of ethno-genesis and disputes over historical heritage, including unjustified claims for heritage that is someone else's. Such disputes may occur between states, ethnic groups, or archaeologists and local communities. Acute ethical issues necessarily follow: is this about preserving historical heritage after all or is this about stealing it from others as part of the colonial/postcolonial logic? In addition, it has now become clear that armed conflicts can threaten historical heritage: it can be looted, destructed, or completely destroyed in conflict-affected areas. Thus, ethics is increasingly coming to the fore in archaeology.