Native Americans vs. Archeology - Assignment Example

Archaeologists would like to find out more about the history of ancient peoples by exploring the pieces that they left behind of their past. The suggestion of some of the panelists was to use something called “oral history” instead. Oral history is sort of like archeology, except instead of exploring things that were left behind it involves interviewing people who are raised in the traditions of the people and asking them things about what they have learned from their history. If this technique was used then people would not have to worry about their traditions being upset by the pieces of their ancestor's history being dug up or removed from their burial sites, for instance.

Also, the archaeologists still get to learn something about the ancient peoples, although probably not as much as they would like. I thought the views of the Native Americans were pretty surprised at first because I thought they would want to know more about their past. After thinking about it for a while, though, I guess it makes sense. Most American people probably would not like it if people from another culture came over and started digging up graveyards so that they could learn about how people lived a few hundred years ago, for instance.

So I think that the views of the Native Americans are pretty sensible even if it does mean we will know less about the distant past.