There is more than one type of collecting.  Systematic collecting in
scientific and beneficial.  Synoptic collecting is not based on scientific
principles and can be damaging to scholarly disciplines such as Archaeology.

Archaeology did begin with pot digging--but it has moved beyond that stage.
The discipline has become a profession with ethics.  Professional
archaeologist uphold their professional ethics by publishing--which is done
frequently--just not always in National Geographic.  Presenting a paper at a
conference, etc., fulfills the ethical obligation, as well.

As for hoarding--many of the items recovered are not appropriate for
display--they are unremarkable as individual pieces.  However, individual
pieces have meaning when placed in context to their provenience.  So every
item recovered must be maintained to allow for scientific study.  The
artifacts are maintained in university or museum storage for future research,
as well.  If artifacts were destroyed, sold or given away, how could an
archaeologist or his/her colleagues reexamine them in the future.

So by collecting in a scientific meaner, Archaeologists increase the amount
of information know about a culture.  This in turn supports the information
exhibited in museums.  Systematic collecting of this type is necessary for
science.

Synoptic collecting is contrary to science.  If an artifact is purchased on
eBay, from an antique store or ripped out the ground in a slap dash
meaner--half of the artifact information is lost because nothing is known
about its context, provenience, or creator.  Synoptic collection can offer
insight into the personality of a collector, don't offer much information
about the items in the collection.

So the bottom line--collecting must continue, or all knowledge would seas.
It is the meaner in which items are collected that must be examined.

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