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| Language: | English |
| Participants: | The online seminar is open to everyone. Participants who will attend the entire online sessions and/or the on-site workshop will receive a certificate. They are also eligible to join the Workshop and Case Study Activity during SPAFACON 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. |
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For inquiries, please contact anne@seameo-spafa.org.
Pre-Session 2:
We are excited to announce the second session of our Archaeology Ethics in Southeast Asia series. This session aims to shed light on issues related to Gender and Sex Discrimination within the field of archaeology and to explore ways of creating a safe and inclusive space for people of all genders and sexes.
Session 2 is scheduled for 30 January 2024 at 10 am (BKK time / GMT+7) – REGISTRATION is REQUIRED* in order to join. After registering, a Zoom link will be sent. To register, please click HERE.
Meet the panel of speakers for this session:
Kathleen Tantuico is a lawyer and archaeologist from the Philippines. She recently earned her Master of Arts in Archaeology from the University of the Philippines, School of Archaeology in July 2023, completing a thesis that dealt with the awareness of Philippine archaeologists of the laws of the Philippines relevant to the practice of archaeology. Prior to this, she obtained a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of the Philippines, College of Law in 2019 and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences, specializing in Cultural Heritage, from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2010. She previously worked as a Litigation Associate at a top Philippine law firm. She has been published in both international law and archaeology journals. Currently, she serves as a Consultant for UNESCO Paris while also pursuing a Master of Law in International Law at the University of Kent.
Dr. Michael B. C. Rivera is a bioarchaeologist and anthropologist based in Hong Kong. He specializes in prehistoric coastal archaeology and the analysis of human skeletal remains. He has served on numerous association and society boards, and engaged in ethics work and conversations in the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Rasmi Shoocongdej is a professor and a former chair of the Department of Archaeology, at the Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University. Her research focuses on the study of the mobility organization of hunter-gatherers as one mechanism of adaptation in highly seasonal tropical environments. Her areas of specialization are late-to post-Pleistocene forager in the tropics, Southeast Asian prehistory, and cave archaeology. She is also a committee of the development of ethical guidelines for Social Science and Humanity, Ministry of Public Health and a former ethics committee of the World Archaeological Congress.
*Please note that this session as well as subsequent sessions are for registered participants only and will not be live-streamed on SEAMEO SPAFA’s Facebook (as was done for the Opening Session). No recording will be available after.
**REMINDER: By attending the whole series, you stand the chance to have your SPAFACON 2024 registration fee (12,000 baht or approx. 340 USD) plus the 1,000 baht on-site “Archaeology Ethics in Southeast Asia” workshop fee WAIVED! So be sure to register and join!
Post Session 1 – RECAP:
SEAMEO SPAFA kickstarted the Archaeology Ethics in Southeast Asia on December 7th 2023, with the first session being the introduction to the workshop series and introduction of the panel of speakers. Dr Noel Hidalgo Tan, Senior Specialist in Archaeology at SPAFA welcomed the participants who attended the live session on Zoom and Facebook live. This workshop aims to raise awareness and encourage discussion around ethical issues in the field of Archaeology in Southeast Asia. Anne Valera, SPAFA researcher informed the participants about the hybrid format of the workshop series, where there are four online workshop: introductory session, gender and sex discrimination, inclusivity and accessibility of the discipline, and intellectual property, then followed by the case study activity and round table discussion in June 2024. The introductory session consisted of the panel of speakers presenting their perspectives on ethics and experiences in encountering ethical dilemma issues.
Kathleen Tantuico, lawyer and archaeologist from the Philippines, discussed the importance of ethics in Archaeology along with ethical guidelines in the Philippines, other countries, and regions. Tantuico emphasised that with the different standards about ethics around the world, archaeology communities should create the standard guidelines to maintain integrity in the discipline.
Dr Michael B.C. Rivera, bioarchaeologist and anthropologist also shared experiences and perspectives from working in the UK, the US, Singapore, the Netherlands and Hong Kong about ethics in the field of Archaeology. He highlighted the power dynamic and the importance in protecting and supporting each other to push the ethical practices in Archaeology. Dr Rivera noted that the idea of ethics can be different depending on the context and ethics can change regularly. He emphasised that creating a safe and supportive discipline is relevant for the development of the discipline.
Prof. Rasmi Shoocongdej, Archaeology professor at Silpakorn University, Thailand, noted that Archaeology can be viewed in positive and negative ways. Therefore she stressed the importance of communication and collaboration when practising Archaeology as it is crucial to understand, respect and protect the local heritage and the local communities.
Prof. Ben Marwick, of the University of Washington, presented several ways to define and approach ethics. He suggested that at a regional level, surveys can be used to determine the important principles and priorities in updating ethical guidelines regularly.
Assoc. Prof. Dougald O’Reilly, of the Australian National University, discussed the definition of being ethical and that ethics in each society can represent the social norms. Dr. O’Reilly shared approaches to be ethical in the profession of Archaeology including his experiences encountering ethical dilemmas in practising Archaeology.
Prof. Phaik Yeong Cheah, bioethicist and Professor of Global Health at the University of Oxford, emphasised the importance of collaboration and how practitioners can learn from each other to further develop the ethical guidelines and practices, including the relevance of open research in the times of crisis.
The session continued with a Question and Answer session where the panel fielded questions from the participants.
Following each session, we will compile a list of useful resources related to the session topic.
For Session 1, we have compiled a list of archaeology-related codes of ethics from various institutions and organizations, offering valuable insights for archaeologists, researchers, and students. Gain a deeper understanding of responsible and ethical conduct within the field by exploring diverse perspectives and guidelines. Click HERE.
Responses from the 2019 SEAMEO SPAFA Regional Survey on Archaeology Education indicated a demand for greater awareness surrounding ethical issues in archaeology. One of the responses to the need will be a seminar series to highlight some of these issues in the region today, to raise awareness of ethics in the profession, and also to discuss ways to resolve or mitigate prevalent issues.
One of the knowledge gaps identified by several respondents to the survey indicated a need for more awareness about ethical issues or ethical malpractice in archaeology in Southeast Asia. Some of the problems identified in contemporary archaeological practice include access to opportunities and resources for local archaeologists, gender discrimination and sexual harassment, and control over intellectual property. Ethical issues can be attributed to a lack of knowledge (ignorance), illegal or immoral action, or differences in cultural practice that may lead to injustice, tension or unfair outcomes.
Discussions on ethics in archaeology are generally not discussed or widely known in the region. Curating a number of seminars around specific topics may help raise awareness of these issues and find ways to resolve them.
- Promote ethical practice in archaeology in Southeast Asia
- Identify issues of concern in archaeological practice in Southeast Asia
- Facilitate workable solutions where possible, including providing perspectives and solutions from outside Southeast Asia
- Ethics in Archaeology case study activity – to foster critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and collaboration among participants while simulating real-life scenarios archaeologists might encounter
Online Seminar – Lecture sessions
A group of knowledgeable resource speakers specialising in ethical matters within Southeast Asian Archaeology (where possible) will conduct four lecture sessions. These sessions will cover issues of gender and sex discrimination (including harassment), accessibility and inclusivity of the discipline (including but not limited to ableism and ageism), as well as intellectual property. Following the lectures, the ethical issues identified will be further refined and addressed through a moderated discussion where participants share their encounters and concerns.
The opening session will be live-streamed on SPAFA’s Facebook account. The subsequent three sessions will be conducted privately, exclusively for registered participants.
Workshop and Case Study Activity
There will be a culminating workshop and activity scheduled to take place during SPAFACON 2024. In the morning session, there will be a case study activity where selected participants, divided into teams, will present a strategic plan for a fictional case study, the details of which they will receive during the final online seminar session in March 2024. The assessment of these presentations will be carried out by the moderator and the invited advisory panel. The afternoon session will consist of roundtable dialogue, question-and-answer discussion, and deliberations about future actions. Interested individuals can pay to join the morning and afternoon sessions.
Ethics in Archaeology Case Study Activity: Mechanics
Objective:
The Ethics in Archaeology Case Study Activity aims to test participants’ knowledge of ethical guidelines, laws, and their ability to address complex ethical dilemmas in the field of archaeology. Participants will work in teams to analyze a fictional case study, develop a strategic plan, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.
Team Formation:
- Eligible participants will be paired up in March, following the final online session.
Case Study Development:
- The moderator will provide a fictional case study to the teams. The case study is developed using input from real-life experiences and suggestions from academics, legal experts, and archaeologists from Southeast Asia.
- The case study will present a complex ethical dilemma that archaeologists might encounter during fieldwork, research, or interactions with stakeholders and local communities.
Activity Phases:
- Analysis and Planning:
– The teams will have three months (March to June 2024) to understand the case study and develop a strategic plan thoroughly.
– Teams will discuss the case study and identify ethical dilemmas, potential stakeholders, relevant laws, and ethical guidelines.
– Teams will create a strategic plan that addresses the ethical dilemmas and outlines their proposed solutions. The plan should consider the perspectives of archaeologists, local communities, and stakeholders.
- Presentation and Defense:
– Each team will present their strategic plan to the panel of judges and other participants. Presentations should be clear, concise, and well-structured.
– Teams will defend their solutions by explaining the reasoning behind their choices, referencing academic knowledge, ethical guidelines, laws, and personal experiences.
– Judges may ask questions to challenge teams and assess their ability to think critically and adapt their solutions to new scenarios.
- Question and Answer Session:
– After each presentation, the judges and audience will engage in a question-and-answer session with the team. This session may involve follow-up questions, hypothetical scenarios, and challenges to the team’s proposed solutions.
Judging Criteria:
Judges will evaluate teams based on the following criteria:
– Ethical Understanding: How well the team comprehends and analyzes the ethical dilemmas presented in the case study.
– Solution Quality: The feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of the proposed strategic plan in addressing the ethical issues.
– Legal and Ethical Knowledge: The team’s ability to reference relevant laws, ethical guidelines, and academic knowledge in their solutions.
– Stakeholder Consideration: The extent to which the team considers the perspectives of stakeholders, local communities, and heritage preservation in their solutions.
– Presentation and Defense: Clarity, organization, and persuasiveness of the presentation and the team’s responses to judges’ questions.
Winner Selection:
Judges will deliberate and score each team’s performance based on the judging criteria. The team with the highest overall score will be declared the winner and receive the prizes.
We are delighted for you to join us for this engaging and informative event, where we will explore the intricate and essential aspects of ethics in archaeology within the context of Southeast Asia.
Please fill out the application form to secure your spot and be a part of Archaeology Ethics in Southeast Asia workshop: https://bit.ly/ArchaeologyEthicsInSEAsiaWorkshop
For inquiries, please contact anne@seameo-spafa.org.
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