If it is the intention of the organizers to ultimately donate these artifacts to a public collection, then I don't see that their other commercial activities present an ethical issue for an exhibiting museum. However, if these objects are to be sold after being temporarily exhibited in a museum, the ethics become more problematic. The exhibiting museum would be allowing itself to serve as a marketing tool for the commercial enterprise -- both advertising its merchandise and possibly affecting the value of the objects. Stephen Nowlin Director, Williamson Gallery Art Center College of Design >I have an interesting ethical question that I would encourage >people to respond on. > >Let say a commercial enterprise is involved in excavating >archaeological sites not necessarily illegally but primarily for >economic profit. A particular site is selected by this >enterprise and is excavated. Lets assume, for this discussion, >that the site is examined in a systematic fashion and recorded >properly. At the conclusion of the excavation a significant >majority of the objects are sold commercially. However, some are >held back and placed in a traveling exhibit that is quite >breathtaking. Your institution is approach as a venue for this >exhibit. Would you have any ethical concerns or would you except >this exhibit without reservations? > >Brian Kimsey-Hickman