-Snip-
>I will not knowingly patronize a museum or museum store
>which sells archaeologically derived artifacts.  Just my 2
>cents.
>
>Chris Dill

Jack Thompson said:  As much as I appreciate the sentiment
expressed by Chris Dill (and others) I am uncertain about
this matter.

Jack:  I didn't say it was any easy standard or ethic to
follow.  What I did say was that the Society for American
Archaeology's Code of Ethics forbade the sale of any
archeologically derived materials.  I presume the SAA's
members would prefer that we threw deaccessioned
archeological collections into the land fill rather than
built up a market for the pothunters by selling the stuff.
I don't recall ever NOT being able to transfer deaccessioned
archeological artifacts on to other museums, but if that
happened, I'd rather lose a few dollars than encourage
theft.  Now I suppose I'm up to 4 cents.

Chris Dill

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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
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Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/
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