Sour Grapes

Archaeologists rightly view themselves as custodians of the past, but their institutional arrogance, their disdain for collectors [who historically were welcome allies in their pursuits] or other "amateurs" [such as metal detectorists in the U.K.] and their tendency to create and disseminate knowledge largely to and for only their own peers will not serve them or their discipline well in lean economic times.

Unfortunately, instead of the recognition of the benefits of greater outreach and working with collectors and metal detectorists rather than demonizing them, we probably can expect little but more sour grapes, at least from the purists in the archaeological field. See
http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2010/12/martin-carver-on-artefact-hunting.html and http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/2010/12/martin-carver-on-sums-paid-to-treasure.html

The truth is programs like the Treasure Act and PAS get public money and support even in lean economic times because they are popular with large segments of the public at large. In contrast, it will become increasingly difficult to justify funding for conservation projects that only seem to benefit small groups of archaeological professionals.

State Department Largess to Iraqi Archaeology Continues Despite Budget Pressures

Today, President Obama told federal workers they can't expect pay raises for the next two years because of pressure on the federal budget. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/us/politics/30freeze.html?hp

Such financial pressures apparently have yet to impact the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Cultural Heritage Center and the archaeological lobby that supports it, however. Just last week, the State Department announced that it was doling out another $2 million to support Iraqi archaeology. See
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/11/151888.htm

Predictably, such largess has won the Cultural Heritage Center kudos from preservation groups like the award that was recently given at the posh Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. See
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/11/151921.htm

On the other hand, for others all this money should just be viewed as "reparations" for past wrongs. See
http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/11/26/35716051.html

Market Meltdown Impacts Museums and Others

I am no economist, but it stands to reason that the recent stock market meltdown cannot but hurt museums and archaeological organizations alike. Guidelines for not-for-profits suggest that endowments be held in high quality investments. However, in troubled economic times like these, even "blue chip" investments have suffered substantial declines in value. Although such declines may be made up in the long term, the trend must certainly be worrying for trustees and staff of any cultural institution. Another worry is that donations come from discretionary income. When a supporter's net worth falls, the first place to cut will be donations. Finally, given the current political and economic climate, cultural organizations cannot count on government handouts, particularly if they are in the form of Congressional earmarks.