At least 3,000 sites have been looted already! This is just the start, and looting is just going to get worse if we don't stop it. That is why when people donate and help out, they can make a HUGE difference. Every time a site is looted, a piece of important history goes missing. Archaeologists are the pencil to the past. They preserve it. Looters are the erasers. They get rid of the past. This could make a huge different on what the archaeologists think happened to something. It could be very different because it could change things that are in history books and in museums. Imagine going on a field trip and seeing that there used to be unicorns, just because a looter took something and messed up history.
A: Sadly, yes. Looting in archaeology has slowly gotten worse. So has looting in general. Now, with all the new technology, it is easier to find places that are easier to reach for looters. Now, we have satellites, and people can look and see where items can be easily reached. Also, over the years, looting has become more systematic. There are black markets selling looted antiques, handing out permits, and more money when selling artifacts.
A: We had the privilege to talk and present our idea to real archaeologists! We asked them what are a few solutions they have tried and they have tried SO MANY things! Some worked, but were really expensive, and others just didn't work.
Tell your friends parents and teachers about what you learned on our website and spread the awareness about looting. If you want, you can ask an adult to donate to our website. We appreciate all of you, and hope you become more aware of looting in the future.
A: This is a tricky question to answer. To be honest, it depends on the looter. There might be some people who loot because they grew up with no money, and don't have any. Recently, we had the chance to talk to UCLA archaeologists. They confirmed this. The UCLA archaeologists said that many looters have no money, and they steal out of desperation. They might know that some artifacts are very valuable, so they might try and take them, so that they can survive in the world. However, some people out there, they're daredevils and rule breakers. We wish that didn't happen. I know this seems crazy, but it is actually true. They might have a good amount of money, but they might still steal things. In general, it depends on the looter.
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Scientists, Archaeologists, Anthropologists, and many others have tried to stop looting in its path. But the truth is, no has found the absolute best solution to this problem. Security usually consists of either cameras and guards. Guards are expensive, and can't cover that much ground. Cameras could be delayed, or could be easily blocked and hacked into. The Go Getter Girls had an idea to make a Anti Looting Kit - Preserving the Past solution. We would have a camera that comes with cheap, 3D printed cases. Each case would have a different landscape attached to it so that it could blend in. We would have a sand case, - like for deserts in Cairo - a bark and leaves case, - to prop up against a tree - and maybe a rocks/pebbles case - for riverbanks and more. There really is no best way to defend against looters and what they do. But our idea is to educate the new generation. Teach them not to be looters. You can learn in multiple languages, whatever you're most comfortable with.
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A: The answer is, it depends. It could be 1 year, it could be 15. Sometimes where it happened matters, or who's history it's about. It could be the value of the artifact, anything really. Some people go to court, try to find a sufficent argument. Those are just a few examples.
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A: This started out as a project (Innovation Project) for FLLC (First Lego League Challenge) Robotics. We became so interested in the topic, and we dove deeper. We've created this website as a way to educate kids, adults, anyone from anywhere, to teach them about the problems of looting in archaeology. Archaeology is more than just digging and digging until you find an artifact, it's about learning about our pasts. And looters are changing it. They can get to sites before archaeologists and change our understanding of our ancestors, and our history.