The AAI and Its Opponents

For years BAR has been the only public forum to deal with questions of public policy and current events in archaeology. Not even the Israeli publications, scientific or popular, have ever provided a format for such discussion. The Association of Archaeologists in Israel (AAI), a professional association of archaeologists established in 1984 (see BARlines, BAR 11:01), is now attempting to establish a newsletter (in Hebrew at present). The newsletter will serve as a forum for public debate on current issues, for example: professional ethics, philosophical questions, public policy in archaeology, and archaeology from an economic perspective. The AAI Newsletter will also discuss:

• the function of the universities, the Department of Antiquities, and other archaeological institutions,
• the problem of publication rights and timetables,
• enforcement of antiquity laws,
• the antiquity trade and its effect on plunder.