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Archaeology as a Political Tool  
IN THE PAST 

Tags: archaeology, tool, politics, power, purpose, dig, archeology

How has archaeology been used as a political tool in the past 200 years?

	Archaeology has been used for political purposes throughout the world quite often in the past 100-200 years.
	There are numerous examples from all over the world where archaeology was used in times of war and change in nation-states as a tool for those in power.
	The Nazi's under Adolf Hitler used archaeology to endorse their ideology and prove their superiority in the Germanic culture.
	Saddam Hussein even used ancient monuments from Mesopotamia as a "safe parking zone" for his tanks and planes during the Gulf War, knowing the United States would not bomb them there.
	Iraq has a great past inherent in the archaeology of Mesopotamia, Assyria and Sumeria, the civilizations that invented writing, the city state, irrigation controls and much of agriculture.
	However, the most common example of the use of classical archaeology as a political tool is to promote nationalism and claim rights to lands through history. Archaeology can be used to stake a national claim to a territory or to create a sense of superiority and autonomy. There is no better example of an area of the world where this was done than in the Mediterranean.
	Heritage seems to always be substantial proof in the world of politics. It goes back to old idea that if you were there first, it’s yours. Just as we stuck our American flag in the moon because we were the first to step foot there, if you can prove through archaeology that your ancestors had civilizations in ancient times on a piece of land you can claim the rights to that land today.
	During the 19th and 20th centuries European culture was dominant. And during those times many of the nation-states of the Mediterranean were gaining their independence. At this time (due to the dominance of European culture), classical antiquity was held very highly. European culture identified with classical civilizations as much as possible. In order for these newly independent nation-states to gain "acceptance" from Europe (and America), they needed to prove their connection with the classical world. They did so through archaeology.
	This was especially easy for the Italians and Greeks. The rest of these new nations (i.e. Germany, France, Britain) had already proved their origins from the Roman Empire. It was more difficult for the Balkans and countries in the Near East (i.e. Albanians, Bulgarians, Arabs and Turks). Consequently, these countries have been areas of much cultural conflict over the past 100 years.
	Some nations even go to the extent of creating a past that is not real. The Nazis used pseudoarcheological data to back their theory of the perfection of the Aryan race. A palace archive in Syria made biblical claims that were quite far-fetched.
	These are just some of the good and bad consequences of the use of archaeology in politics. Though there are some bad results, for the most part this use of archaeology is a good thing. Archaeology is a good way to promote self-worth and distinguish one culture from another.

Lister: Pratt

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