Practice question · Multiple choice
Why do archaeologists say looting destroys knowledge even when the object survives intact?
Hints
- Recall that the context, not the object, is the dating unit.
- What questions can a pot in a shoebox still answer?
Show the answer
B. The object loses its context: date, associations, sequence
Why
A pot in a sealed tomb dates the burial, partners its companions, and anchors a sequence; ripped out, it is a shape with a price. Looting converts evidence into decoration, the object is the receipt, not the knowledge.
Practise Ethics and Heritage Management
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More questions on Ethics and Heritage Management
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