Archeology in Stargate

[WavyRancheros]

Does the US government (and later the IOA) control all archeological excavations in Earth countries? How would they prevent a private archeologist to discover the secret about aliens visiting Earth? Let's say if someone discovers some further Goa'uld technology hidden in ruins in Egypt?

[escyos]

I would assume that they keep an eye on such things, but I doubt they throw their weight around as that would cause suspicion.

I would say that if such information did arise many archaeologists (at least the reputable ones) would dismiss these theories anyway.

[hedwig]

Does the US government (and later the IOA) control all archeological excavations in Earth countries? How would they prevent a private archeologist to discover the secret about aliens visiting Earth? Let's say if someone discovers some further Goa'uld technology hidden in ruins in Egypt?

Doubtful. That would mean they have some sort of worldwide control over non-SGC things, and that just is not likely. Them having that kind of control would cause too many people to ask too many questions, and then ... whoops, the program is discovered.

[McAvoy]

It seems that they do keep their eye on things on Earth. There have been episodes where certain things have been evacuated and then later sent to the SGC. Howe the SGC managed to do that is unknown.

However, I do wonder if Goa'uld script is viewed as an unknown in the fictional Earth, so when an object is found with the script on it, it is cataloged as such.

[Alyana]

It's not that hard to keep an eye on everything. Archeology is divided by time period, technically, each period and country represents a rather small field. Specialists in the same country and time period easily know of each others research. They might not know everything about it, but it's easy to find out where digs are happening and what they are about. Then, most of them, publish their results. If there were to be something written that the archaeologist does not understand or has never seen before, it would be noted in the publication. It's not a secretive treasure hunt, to go on a dig, you need permissions from the government, you also need accommodations to stay at, and particularly in Egypt, you have to hire locals to dig up. So, it's pretty much out there.

You also have to consider that many artifacts used in stargate don't seem to be recent finds (one episode with a treasure that stayed in a sunken boat by example). In the past, countries would send "archeologist" to dig up treasures (with very little regards for the scientific part of archeology) and just bring the things back home, this is why plenty of museums are filled with objects from other countries, there were taken but not "stolen" because laws aren't retroactive.
It seems to be why the USA has the Stargate on their territory. The Stargate was found in the late 20's, I don't know if American archaeologist were really working in Gizeh at the time in our real History (but I know an American team is now), but it's probably how it came to go to the USA in the show.

Archeology in the show isn't exactly accurately portrayed

[Falcon Horus]

Archeology in the show isn't exactly accurately portrayed

Most think it's like Indiana Jones, and less like Mark Lehner. Or Colin Renfrew, or Mark Waelkens in Sagalassos.

Archaeology still has that treasure-hunt feel to it, and it really is a treasure-hunt. Just not in the pirate sense of the word. We are still digging for treasures which reveal our past, or the past.

However, as is being said before me, the world of archaeologist who actually do have digging projects is remarkably small in comparison to graduated archaeologists, and because this is such a small world they know what the other is working on. So, it would be fairly easy for the SGC to just keep taps on what digs or going on where and what is being found and if something pops up on the radar as potentially Goa'uld or Ancient in nature, I'm sure they'll have Daniel dispatched in a wink.

[Alyana]

I met Colin Renfrew last week but I've never met Indiana Jones xD
But you are right, people think we go on adventures to find treasures.
The real adventure is to sleep under a tent for weeks, eat mud with every sandwich, give up on trying to maintain your hair and your hands to a certain standard of beauty, and feel extremely happy when you find a piece of ceramic in an antic garbage disposal hole in the ground. I'm kidding, sometimes, we sleep in accommodations. Then, we go home and the rest isn't glamour at all.

The treasure is the knowledge in archeology, not the most extraordinary pieces. Some beautiful objects in museums are totally useless for archaeologists.
Many digs aren't in grandiose sites but it is the little things that makes it absolutely amazing ^^

And yes, many people graduate as archaeologists but very little people become archaeologists. There are not enough places in institutions for them, some just don't want to, or they are specialized in a field that it already crowded.

[Falcon Horus]

I met Colin Renfrew last week but I've never met Indiana Jones xD

Way to make a girl jealous....

I still haven't managed to read the book I have he co-wrote. Can't remember the title at the moment. Oh yeah, I studied Archaeology for two years.

[Alyana]

He came to give a conference in my University. We're having a year long themed conferences string about rituals. I worked on his publications about the cult of Heroes so I went because I was curious ^^'

I think I'm totally out of subject but it's good that you studied archeology. I wish there was more funds for archeology. I'm not certain I'll be able to do research later because there's so little positions to take. To look back on the show, I will also say that often it is described as a "soft science" and we're not taken seriously (despite using real science). In some ways, the way Daniel Jackson is in the show is accurate. He's always trying to understand people and cultures, sometimes, he's not taken seriously although he is often right. I think Archeology (and often Anthropology, because they are linked in most countries) teach a way to see the world and I find that it brings more perspective in how you can appreciate cultures, people, etc.

Archeology is taught very differently around the world. In my country, we're not that encouraged to take (social) anthropology classes because of the problem it can cause in interpretation. I don't share the same ideology, so I took extra credits ^^'

I think I was slightly out of subject. Don't hit me, I'm nice

[garhkal]

I would assume that they keep an eye on such things, but I doubt they throw their weight around as that would cause suspicion.

I would say that if such information did arise many archaeologists (at least the reputable ones) would dismiss these theories anyway.

Or they would soon get a visit from the Men in black, and pressured to keep silent.
Just like in that episode where that man in the Caravan found about that asteroid coming here (season 6) and it was carter and co who showed up at his place to let him know to stay mum..

[Krisz]

I would think things just go on as usual in the archaeological world of the Stargate universe. Items would be found that are Goa'uld, but classed as Egyptian as the gate itself was. No one knew what it did and I don't recall it being explained how, or who discovered that it was alien technology and not some Egyptian decorative architecture for instance, had it shipped to the US in 1939 to be studied and first activated in 1945 as we learned in 'The Torment of Tantalus'.

Given that Daniel was ridiculed and ostracised by the archaeological community on Earth and from what I gathered throughout the series things remained the same. Anyone who would suggest that any excavated Goa'uld artefacts were of alien origin would be laughed out of academia or put in the 'whacky way out there' group with Eric Von Daniken. This rigid belief that all archaeological finds were of Earth based origin in itself would keep the SGC's secrets about aliens on Earth.

Daniel continued to be classed as a weirdo and the fun of watching Stargate was that his fellow archaeologists would never know that he was right.

[garhkal]

Given that Daniel was ridiculed and ostracised by the archaeological community on Earth and from what I gathered throughout the series things remained the same. Anyone who would suggest that any excavated Goa'uld artefacts were of alien origin would be laughed out of academia or put in the 'whacky way out there' group with Eric Von Daniken. This rigid belief that all archaeological finds were of Earth based origin in itself would keep the SGC's secrets about aliens on Earth.

They would be looked on with scorn, but i still feel that soon afterwards, they would get visited by the SGC "Men in black"..