Sperling: Archaeologists stand against digging that exploits, destroys Maryland sites

The desire to collect historical objects is as old as humanity itself, and this appetite for antiquity can be seen throughout Maryland. As professional archaeologists, my colleagues and I have recovered ancient Indigenous stone tools in a 19th century farmhouse basement and found 7,000-year-old artifacts on a 700-year-old Native American site. In both cases, people probably stumbled across these objects on the ground and marveled at the link to the past. It is important to realize, however, that archaeology is a profession that requires training and care. It is not so much what you find, but the meaning and context behind those discoveries, that is most valuable.