Ethics in Archaeology: Misconduct and Trust Restoration

ARCHAEOLOGISTS CLAIMED OLD FINDINGS AS THEIR OWN, CRITIC SAYS BY B RYA N WA H L 1 2 / 3 / 2 3 (Youmshajekian, 2023)

PRESTON SOWELL • Independent Environmental Scientist • Founder of a Nonprofit Organization focused on conservation efforts in Peru's Lake • exploration of pre-Incan submerged artifacts and the environmental impact in the southeastern region of Peru • Aims to protect these artifacts and the surrounding environment from potential harm, • Research involves preserving the valuable historical sites and understanding their significance in archaeology and environmental science. (Youmshajekian, 2023)

SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE • The authors of the paper took artifacts from Preston Sowell's earlier projects without permission. • Claimed artifacts were found in excavations instead of during Sowell's surface collections. • Misconduct was discovered by Preston Sowell himself • There's no evidence of others involved, and this seems to be the first known case of misconduct for these authors. (Youmshajekian, 2023)

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IMPACT OF THE MISCONDUCT The misconduct could significantly damage Preston Sowell's reputation credibility and trustworthiness as an independent environmental scientist. The institution might face a tarnished reputation due to association with the authors involved in the misconduct. It could lead to decreased credibility and trust in their research and publications. The incident could undermine confidence in published research Co-authors might face reputational damage by association with the retracted article. Could impact broader public trust in archaeological and environmental research (Youmshajekian, 2023),(Baner 2022)

ACTIONS TAKEN AND CONSEQUENCES • Actions Taken : • Preston Sowell lodged complaints with the Journal of Field Archaeology and the Office of Research Integrity and Ethics at Washington University. • The article was eventually retracted due to the acknowledged misconduct. • Consequences: : • Despite the retraction, the damage caused by the publication of the flawed article remains. • The repercussions of the misconduct might extend beyond the retraction and impact future projects and collaborations. (Youmshajekian, 2023), (Banerjee, 2022), (Frampton, 2021)

REBUILDING TRUST AND MOVING FORWARD Rebuilding Trust: Preston Sowell and his team might need to work harder to rebuild trust in their work by emphasizing their commitment to ethical research practices. Institutions involved may need to review and reinforce their research integrity policies to prevent similar incidents. Moving Forward: Sowell's future work may face closer scrutiny due to this incident, but a commitment to transparency and proper research conduct can help restore confidence. (Youmshajekian, 2023)

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LESSONS LEARNED AND IMPORTANCE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT • Lessons Learned: • The incident highlights the significance of protecting intellectual property and properly attributing research findings. • It underscores the importance of researchers adhering to ethical conduct to maintain the integrity of scientific knowledge. • Importance of Ethical Conduct: • Emphasizes the need for researchers, institutions, and journals to prioritize ethical standards and transparency in academic research. • Stress on the ethical responsibility in scientific pursuits to maintain credibility and trust within the scientific community and beyond. (Youmshajekian, 2023),(Frampton, 2021)

REFERENCES • Youmshajekian, A. L. (2023, November 14). Archaeologists claimed old findings as their own, critic says . Retraction Watch. https://retractionwatch.com/2023/11/14/archaeologists-claimed-old-findings-as- their-own-critic-says/#more-128243 • Banerjee, T., Partin, K., & Resnik, D. B. (2022). Authorship Issues When Articles are Retracted Due to Research Misconduct and Then Resubmitted. Science and engineering ethics, 28(4), 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-022-00386-1 • Frampton, G., Woods, L., & Scott, D. A. (2021). Inconsistent and incomplete retraction of published research: A cross-sectional study on Covid-19 retractions and recommendations to mitigate risks for research, policy and practice. PloS one, 16(10), e0258935. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258935

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