Open AccessResearch on illicit cultural artefacts
Author(s) -
Mehreen Sheikh
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
primitive tider
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2535-6194
pISSN - 1501-0430
DOI - 10.5617/pt.9258
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , institution , product (mathematics) , public relations , engineering ethics , sociology , cultural institution , political science , social science , engineering , history , archaeology , media studies , geometry , mathematics
This paper examines whether we can have confidence in the scientific integrity of a research effort that could potentially be part of the illicit trade in cultural artefacts. As an example, I use the research on the ancient clay tablets from the Schøyen Collection. A closer study of the research product reveals questionable research practices, and the latter issue is then put into a wider context. After highlighting the importance of the research community as a social institution in shaping the norms and values of its members, and its influence on what is desirable research, I explore how these expectations and guidelines impact research conducted on illicit cultural artefacts.