Lay of the Land

Promoting Unacceptable behavior

back in the 1960s Newton Minow, then chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, described commercial television as a “vast wasteland.” Despite the dramatic changes brought about by a profusion of cable and satellite channels, things haven’t gotten any better; in fact they have gotten a lot worse. In this issue of American Archaeology (see “Digging Up America,” page 19) we investigate two new cable shows that endorse uncontrolled digging of artifacts, promoting the idea that looting is acceptable behavior.

Ric Savage, of the Spike TV show American Digger, brags of digging up as much as a half million dollars’ worth of historical artifacts each year. Drawing liberally from the sensationalist antics of TV wrestling (Savage was a professional wrestler), the show features such digging techniques as backhoes, jackhammers, and explosives.

Even worse, the National Geographic Channel’s show, Diggers, features contrived betting on who can dig up the most loot. No mention is made of scientific information or preserving the context of the discoveries. In one of the pilots, the show’s stars apparently illegally dug up artifacts on Montana state land without the required permit. This is particularly shocking considering the National Geographic Channel is a commercial venture of the venerable National Geographic Society.

Needless to say, archaeologists and preservationists are incensed and united in their sense of outrage. It appears the only recourse at this time is public opinion, and we all need to speak out in favor of protecting our cultural heritage. Controlling looting in America is difficult enough without mindless TV shows endorsing the idea.

Mark Michel, President