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. ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).