Town Hall

Searching for Treasure (March 2011)

Finders keepers, losers weepers? You've probably changed your mind about that saying after reading our March issue. What do you think about returning artifacts to Native Americans? Leaving ancient beads right where you found them? Do you believe in leaving the landscape undisturbed, or are you more of a take-it-and-run kind of explorer?

personally, i think the best way is to; ask the native americans if you can take it; or if they dont want you to, then just take a picture of it.

submitted by Victoria, age age, City, State
(March 7, 2011 - 3:08 pm)

it is all quite interesting how peaple have right to the ramanes of there ansestors. science neads subject madder or elts there would be no substence to study. but unles the spesimen is extrodernery, or encredebly valueable or uneake, the scientest should give it back. weather it be beads or bones the Indians have a right to there ansesterel past and anteaks.

submitted by maya h, age 12, salinas ca
(March 8, 2011 - 10:59 pm)

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, VICTORIA

submitted by Betsy
(March 13, 2011 - 3:53 pm)

cool!  someone:

(a) Agrees with me 

and (b) commented on my post!!!

thanks!

submitted by Victoria, age age, City, State
(March 20, 2011 - 3:47 pm)

i agree!

submitted by ettolrahC , age who cares?, Oakland, California
(March 24, 2011 - 4:19 pm)

Best answer I could think of Victoria.

submitted by Zachary B, age Don't Know, Everywhere
(March 25, 2011 - 9:41 am)

I agree!!

submitted by t.d.c.u., age 9, Portland,OR
(January 31, 2012 - 3:33 pm)

I think you should return bones that can be linked to tribes, and imporant items, such as old ceremonial things. But bones too old that no tribes can know if it theirs? No. Everyday items such as arrows lost when the target was missed? No.

For leaving items where you find them or not? Leave them. Let the scientist see them. Take a picture. But don't keep it. 

submitted by Katie G.
(March 9, 2011 - 5:29 pm)

that really makes sense!

submitted by ettolrahC , age who cares?, Oakland, California
(March 24, 2011 - 4:20 pm)

totally right.

submitted by Lauren B., age 3.14 or, for Kokopelli, pie., York Haven, Pennsylvania, The United States, The Americas, The Earth, The Solar System, The Milky Way, The First Spiral Galaxy on the left, The Universe
(April 9, 2011 - 1:56 pm)

i personally think that it is a REALLY good idea to return the stuff found in the grounds of native american property back to the Native Americans, bkuz, well... its like my room, for example... my bro (9 years) is always coming in to my room and finding his own "treasure" underneath all the wood shavings, ( i carve wood) hangars, and, um, personal garments, and drives me INSANER than i already am! so the Archeologists should just give the Native americans back their items already!!! sheesh!...sorry, i over reacted a bit there. but, like all my personal stuff, (talking to YOU, little bro!) it should really be returned to its rightful place. its probably a small deal to some Muse readers, but to me and the people here posting stuff like this, this is a big deal. it needs to changs. WHO IS WITH ME!!!???

submitted by The person at the keybored, age infinite, a place
(March 9, 2011 - 6:17 pm)

I am with you... most of the time.   If your "bro" asked you if he could take something, and then respected what you said, would you be so mad?

submitted by Victoria, age age, City, State
(March 11, 2011 - 8:42 am)

You are so right with both of your comments, Victoria!  These Native Americans don't derserve these treasures being taken away from them.  I hope the items will be returned!

submitted by Katelin P., age 10, Hastings,New York
(March 19, 2011 - 4:53 pm)

Victoria, you are an incredibly smart person!

submitted by ettolrahC , age who cares?, Oakland, California
(March 24, 2011 - 4:22 pm)

Not everything always needs to be given back. Some should, but not all. And your brother going through your room is a bad example. That would be a good example if this were a debate about scientists going into Native Americans camps and raiding them, which they don't.

submitted by Kate G.
(March 12, 2011 - 10:41 am)

Is it possible to just borrow the artifacts, collect data, then return them? Scientists could  then use the data when they need it and the Native Americans could have thier artifacts back.

submitted by Emma, age 14, Olathe, KS
(March 15, 2011 - 4:22 pm)

That's a great idea, emma!  i think that could be a great way to do things. 

submitted by Victoria, age age, City, State
(March 20, 2011 - 3:48 pm)

that makes sense & should happen!  

i don't know why people don't do that.

stupidity, perhaps? 

submitted by ettolrahC , age who cares?, Oakland, California
(March 24, 2011 - 4:24 pm)

ha ha yah i guess thats it... =) lol

submitted by Victoria, age age, City, State
(March 25, 2011 - 4:35 pm)

adults always manage to miss the best ideas and not think of them until some kid points it out

submitted by Liatheninjacow
(April 2, 2011 - 5:05 pm)

Definitely! Don't you think it would be better if kids ran the world? Awesome!

submitted by Tori
(August 1, 2011 - 8:26 pm)

Hey, Muse editors?  When is the post office coming?  Sorry to be off topic... but i just want to know and I can't think of any other effeciant way to ask....

Sorry to say that construction has been very seriously delayed. I can only assume Kokopelli was involved. --Ed. 

submitted by Victoria, age age, City, State
(March 20, 2011 - 3:52 pm)

i SO don't care about peices of pottery.  One reason for this is that I can lose anything.  Yet, I do have an ancient indian arrowhead that one of my friends found in a forest.  If I found something like that myself, I would probably take a picture, but it is pretty tempting... 

submitted by Esther R., age 9 3/4, Albuquerque NM
(March 28, 2011 - 9:20 pm)

Okay, this is completely off topic, but since the Q&A with the Muses thread shut down a while ago, this is the only place I can be sure Kokopelli will see my question.

Koko, what pranks can I use tomorrow on my sister? I'm already planning on using your exellent "experiment in human behavior A" (sqhwoerytk sqhwepektriynjgl tqhwel bqewdr) but I'd like one that I wouldn't have to wait the whole day to see the effect of. Any suggestions? And I just moved into a new house, so there's an unfortunate but temporary pie shortage.

submitted by GeekGirl, age 13, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Diagon Alley
(March 31, 2011 - 10:23 pm)

Return those thingys! They Belong the the naitives! Stealing is a nasty habit! Put the back!

submitted by Noah P, age 10, Seattle, WA
(April 2, 2011 - 11:33 am)

personlly, if i found a valuebule artifact, i would take it and sell it, on the black market if nessery. because i'm only in it for the money. 

submitted by liam h, age 10, cary nc
(April 7, 2011 - 7:32 pm)

Give the Native Americans their stuff and leave random artifacts alone.  It is the best way to avoid a fight (as a peaceful person, I avoid fighting as much as possible.) 

submitted by Erin K., age 13.314159, Somewhere in Annalacity, The First Universe
(April 18, 2011 - 10:46 am)

But if you asked them if  you could take something AND RESPECTED THEIR ANSWER, dont you think they would appriciate that?  and if they said no, then you could just take a picture!

submitted by Victoria, age toot sweet, hushaby bay, vulgeria
(April 22, 2011 - 9:24 am)

I believe that it's important that scientists can access these artifacts. Without scientific fact-finding, I bet a lot of the tribes wouldn't have as much knowledge of their ancestors' way of life. I liked what some people have said about Native Americans and scientists working together to learn from each other.

submitted by Tori
(August 1, 2011 - 8:32 pm)