Ethical Issues in Exploring Artifacts from Tombs
Is it ethical to dig up ancient tombs?
Morals and values are essential aspects of ethics. There exist diverse cultures among different communities across the globe. These communities not only belong to racial and ethnic lines, but communities can be forged along professional lines. These communities have different cultures with different sets of morals and values that guide them (Alex, 2018). There may be conflicting values and morals among communities when t comes to excavating ancient tombs. However, what will remain constant is that there is a need to create a connection between the past and the present and relate it to the future. Only through the excavation of ancient tombs can the current generation get the much-needed answers of how the past was and how it is affecting the present. So it is ethical to excavate ancient tombs as long as it is done in a responsible manner.
Should researchers excavate ancient tombs?
Researchers have the sole responsibility of relating the past with the present and link the present with the future. The only places that they can find answers on how the past was are at archaeological sites like ancient tombs. They should be excavating ancient tombs but in a responsible manner that can allow future research work to be conducted efficiently. Knowledge relating to these tombs should be further analyzed in a classroom environment to enable individual learners to know more about their ancestors and relate some unique attributes that they possess to the ones exhibited by their ancestors.
How does choosing whether or not to excavate ancient tombs affect our understanding of the early cultures in China? Use specific examples from class material.
China is a country with a rich cultural history. Majority of these cultures are still preserved up to these days. In China, there existed several dynasties over the ages. These dynasties can remain to be mere stories without proof that they actually existed. For instance the discovery of the oracle bones in the late 19th century that led to the excavation of the Shang dynasty tombs in Anyang. The Shang dynasty existed in the period between ca. 1300 to ca. 1050. The excavation verified that indeed the Shang kings existed and are not just mere stories.
What are the reasons for and against the excavation of people and their tombs from ancient cultures?
Cultural beliefs form the basis in which individuals gang up against excavation of tombs. In most cultures across the globe, it is unethical to exhume dead bodies. Some revere burial grounds as holy places in which nobody should cause any form of disturbance. On the contrary, archaeologists in the contemporary world regard excavating of tombs as a necessary step in creating a link between the past and the present. Additionally, archaeologists can excavate tombs to protect the human remains from natural calamities like rising sea levels (Alex, 2018). Excavating tombs is a worthwhile activity since it’s only through the excavation of these tombs can pressing, and important issues like health conditions and cultural diversity pertaining to past generation can be answered
Are there alternatives to learn about ancient cultures without tomb excavation?
There is no other alternative that can help archaeologists to learn about the future apart from tomb excavation. All artefacts that ever existed in the past were buried with the people who exited during those periods. It is only through the study of ancient burial sites that we can get answers relating to ancient cultures.