[OR_Archaeology] FW: SAA Asks For Your Help Opposing Looting Shows

[Sarah Purdy]

Dear Colleagues,

Late last week the SAA Board was informed that there are two TV series
planned that promote and glorify the looting and destruction of
archaeological sites. They are *American Diggers* and *Diggers*. The first
is scheduled for Spike TV and the other for National Geographic TV. As past
SAA President Bob Kelly wrote in a recent e-mail in response to *American
Diggers,* "This shameless and shameful program will glorify and promote the
mindless destruction of archaeological sites in the U.S."

SAA and other groups, such as SHA, have already prepared and sent strong
letters condemning both of these programs to the production companies,
networks, and others. Copies of the SAA letters can be found on the SAA
website (http://bit.ly/w2MHJM, and http://bit.ly/wzT7IA). The letters
provide details on why we are so concerned. Up to this point Spike TV has
not responded to the public outcry. Leadership of National Geographic,
however, has indicated that, while they are unable to stop the showing
tomorrow on such short notice, they will place a disclaimer into the show
that speaks to laws protecting archaeological and historic sites. They are
also willing to enter into discussions with the archaeological community to
determine how to raise awareness of the impacts of the use of metal
detectors for treasure hunting. We will advise you of developments in this
area.

We are also in conversations with SHA, RPA, AIA, NASA and others to develop
a coordinated response and next steps.

BUT for the Spike TV program we need your help. We ask you to individually
send letters and/or e-mails to the companies involved—or take advantage of
social media outlets (see below)—urging them as strongly as possible to
stop this show. The contact points that we have identified so far for the
Spike TV project are provided below.

Spike TV
Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney
Gurney Productions, Inc.
8929 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 510
Los Angeles, California 90045
http://www.gurneyproductions.com/contact

Kevin Kay
President, Spike TV
1633 Broadway
New York, New York 10019
http://www.spike.com/about/feedback/

Stephen K. Friedman
President, MTV
c/o MTV Studios
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
Shana Tepper
shana.tepper at mtvstaff.com <ashana.tepper at mtvstaff.com>

Philippe Dauman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Viacom Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
http://www.viacom.com/contact/Pages/default.aspx<http://www.viacom.com/contact/Pages/default.aspx/t_blank>

There are also Facebook pages where you can comment

One is a "People against American Diggers" facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/People-against-Spike-TVs-American-Digger/193110227460512<https://www.facebook.com/t_blank#!/pages/People-against-Spike-TVs-American-Digger/193110227460512>

If you would like to add comments to the Spike website, please visit the
comments section at the bottom of the following page:
http://bit.ly/yQjlXP

The Spike TV announcement is available at
http://bit.ly/xm2QyI

>From the website:

In the US, there are millions of historical relics buried in backyards just
waiting to be discovered and turned into profit.  "American Digger" hopes
to claim a piece of that pie as the series travels to a different city each
week, including Detroit, MI, Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, IL and Jamestown, VA
searching for high-value artifacts and relics, some of which have been
untouched for centuries.  After pinpointing historical locations such as
Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields, Savage’s first task is to
convince reluctant homeowners to let his team dig up their property using
state-of-the-art metal detectors and heavy-duty excavation equipment.

Sincerely,

Fred Limp, RPA
SAA President


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-- 

Chelsea E. Rose, MA, RPA

Southern Oregon University

Laboratory of Anthropology

1250 Siskiyou Blvd.

Ashland, OR 97520

541-552-6764


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