Quote Originally Posted by Lyle1 View Post
[snip] the graves of humans and/or other sites that were once sacred to a people should be treated with respect, particularly when they are subjected to invasive examination. [snip]
I couldn't agree more.

Having been involved in a few excavations both officially as a geologist working with physical anthropologists, and as an volunteer participant in digs with archeologist friends of mine, I can say that sites involving human burial or ritual are treated with great respect indeed. The excavation is untaken with the utmost care, and the finds meticulously handled and cared for.

The remote sensing techniques I highlighted above are a few of the techniques used, and they are always the first step. And no doubt they have already been done at this site and it's progressing to excavation. That's hot they got the evidence for an metal axe, shield, and approx. 200 metal pins. Someone walked over the site with a high-resolution magnetic anomaly device. The problem again, is resolution, or lack thereof. Invasive techniques are necessary if you really want to understand. These techniques are not the "pickaxe" techniques done in ancient Egypt in the 1850's, thankfully.

Everyone I've ever met involved in this kind of work is fully aware and sensitive to the human emotional issues that will be generated in the public, and indeed, in the scientific community as well.

As a person, and as a scientist, I have a great deal of respect and trust in my colleagues that undertake this kind of work. I personally feel it's very justified and very important for society as a whole.

Again, this is just one man's opinion