Archaeology vs. "American Digger"

This topic would have been more appropriate a few weeks ago when we were discussing archaeological method and theory, but beggars can't be choosers.  In a few weeks, the paragon of educational and intellectual television, Spike TV, will be broadcasting their new show, American Digger.   In this show, a former professional wrestler will

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. In the US, there are millions of historical relics buried in backyards just waiting to be discovered and turned into profit [Spike TV press release]

I hope all of the students in the Archaeology and Prehistory class can already see what's wrong with  this show just in that short description.  Such a show runs counter to most of the deeply held ethical principles of archaeology.  As discussed in class, at its core, archaeology is about learning more about the pasts of specific peoples as well as our collective humanity.  The archaeological record is an irreplaceable resource to do that. And, the archaeological record is more than just a collection of artifacts. It's a record of spatial relationships among features and artifacts that give us insight into the social organization of past peoples.

Looting artifacts to make a quick buck robs descendant communities and all of us of our past.