Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics
ASV CODE OF ETHICS (Revised and Passed 10/26/19)
The Archeological Society of Virginia values inclusivity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment regarding age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
A. The member and the archeological resource base
1. Members shall:
a. actively support the preservation of archeological sites.
b. know, understand, and comply with all federal, state, and local laws that apply to their archeological research.
c. insist upon, and act in such a way that, data recovered from a site are kept intact, properly curated, and made accessible to others with legitimate research interest in the collection.
d. work under the oversight of an archaeological professional who meets or exceeds qualifications established under the Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation.
2. Members shall not:
a. undertake any archeological research project for which they lack appropriate expertise.
b. engage in activities which violate the UNESCO Convention governing the illicit import, export, and ownership of cultural property.
B. The member and the public
1. Members shall:
a. represent archeology and its results to the general public in a responsible manner.
b. be sensitive to and respect the concerns of groups whose cultural history is the subject of archeological or anthropological study.
c. avoid statements and behaviors that tend to encourage others to engage in unethical or illegal archeological activity.
2. Members shall not:
a. engage in any illegal/unethical conduct related to archeological matters, or knowingly permit the use of their name in support of such conduct.
b. render a professional opinion, public report, or give legal testimony on any archeological questions for which they have no expertise.
c. engage in dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful, or misleading conduct regarding archeological issues.
C. The member and their peers
1. Members shall:
a. appropriately credit the work of others when used in their own work.
b. communicate, cooperate, and share information with professional and amateur colleagues working in the same or related fields of research.
c. stay informed about developments in their fields of specialization.
2. Members shall not:
a. falsely or maliciously injure the reputation of their colleagues, amateurs, or professional archeologists.
b. plagiarize any oral, written, or electronic communication.
c. refuse reasonable requests for research data from qualified colleagues.
