Dem Bones, Dem Bones
Reader David Brunberg sends in this interesting story about what happens when a privately held archaeological site becomes a federally run "national treasure." A Utah rancher tended his secret find for years before handing it over to the Trust for Public Land, and now the secret is out. Brunberg comments:
Advocates of public ownership may argue that these finds, with their great historical and scientific significance, belong to all people and that all should be able to visit and benefit. On the other side, it may be that private owners would be better equipped to maintain (or not, as may be appropriate) and protect these sites, while still allowing access to archaeologists and anthropologists, filmmakers and the occasional, well-paying, and thus…respectful visitor.