Land, Archaeology, And The Free Market

Conflicts that arise between development and archaeology can best besolvedby acknowledging that landowners have rights over finds, according to anarticle in Regulation, a journal published by the Cato Institute. In"Selling Artifacts," the authors argue that archaeology can be advancedifthe free market is allowed to work where control of land is concerned.Ifowners rights over objects found on their land were acknowledged, theywouldhave an incentive to conduct studies and preserve the value of what theyuncover. Current laws impose high costs on society and actuallydiscouragedevelopers from supporting archaeological discovery, the authorsconclude.