Unveiling Silenced Narratives: Ethical Codes and the Challenge of Knowledge Dissemination Facing Middle Eastern Archaeologists

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Thinking with, through, and against Archaeology’s Politics of Knowledge" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This paper delves into the glaring disparities faced by Middle Eastern archaeologists in disseminating their invaluable knowledge about their own heritage, elucidating how prevailing Western-centric ethical codes fail to redress these issues effectively. A profound asymmetry exists, wherein Middle Eastern archaeologists encounter structural violence hindering their ability to contribute on par with their Western counterparts in the field. This predicament is a complex web of impediments stemming from rigid publishing institutions, language barriers, and exclusive networks that perpetuate the marginalization of scholars from the global south. Highlighting the inadequacies of current ethical codes, this paper underscores the urgent need to reformulate these guidelines, ensuring they are not only culturally inclusive but also cognizant of the unique challenges faced by scholars from underrepresented regions. It suggests solutions such as fostering collaborative partnerships, advocating for linguistic diversity in scholarly discourse, and dismantling the systemic biases ingrained in academic networks. This presentation offers a critical examination of the structural violence faced by Middle Eastern archaeologists, emphasizing the imperative for a more equitable and inclusive approach within the global archaeological community.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)   •
• Thinking with, through, and against Archaeology’s Politics of Knowledge

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39765.0