AASCH
Archaeologists, Assyriologists and Specialists of Cultural Heritage
On January 17, 2017, the website of the Penn Cultural Heritage Center posted a document entitled "Towards an Ethics Charter for Near Eastern Archaeology and Assyriology," which was also posted on the Agade list. In keeping with its title, the document purports to be "intended as a starting point to assist colleagues in often difficult or uncertain conditions, and for general guidance." It is not stated how the document is circulated, or how people are invited to contribute to the discussion; nor is the Penn CHC blog itself open for comments. It is said that the document is "based on official statements and an exchange of views among members of the community of Assyriologists, Near Eastern Archaeologists and specialists of the ancient worlds."
In principle, we would like to contribute to this exchange, but in fact, given the timing and the declared attitude taken by some of the signatories of the Charter, we conclude that the document is intended to specifically exclude some members of the "community of Assyriologists, Near Eastern Archaeologists and specialists of the ancient worlds," the undersigned being among them. Through various media, some of the original signatories have used the strongest language against us. One accused us of committing a "shameful act of compromise and ignominy," to engage in a "shameful and objectionable behavior," to be guilty of a "severe and unforgivable attenuation of all ... recognized ethical and moral norms." Another assimilated us to Nazi sympathizers: "Hitler, Staline, Mao ont eu leurs admirateurs français, leurs porte-flingues intellectuels. La lignée des collabos n'est pas éteinte... Honte à ceux qui font passer leurs petits intérêts personnels avant la souffrance d'un peuple." Yet another has vilified us as foul and filthy: "Ces gens sont immondes dans leur démarche." And passing from words to facts, another one of the signatories rescinded a contract for a book that he had formally accepted for publication because of the opinion expressed by the volume editor with regard to issues of no relevance to the book as accepted.
It is abundantly clear that our opinion is openly censored. Under these conditions, what "exchange" can there possibly be with regard to this document? It is all the more apparent that we need a charter of ethics that applies to the very procedure by which such an exchange ought to be conducted. We would stand ready to contribute to a proper "exchange" on substantive issues once it is made clear that a proposed charter will not be used as an instrument to foster vile personal attacks, on us or anybody else.
January 27, 2017
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