Diana said:
Should we also remove the 3,000 year old basket left behind in the same cave by
these explorers, or leave it in place for future examination? The Park Service
has chosen to leave certain artifacts in situ, if the item is located in an
out-of-the way place that will not be noticed or disturbed by the casual
tourist.
I don't personally care one way or the other whether something like a
basket or pot is left in a commercial cave, but it seems to me that if the
basket is valued, it would be better to remove it. Won't leaving a basket in
the cave lead to its more rapid degradation than removing it to a controlled
environment? And if it is indeed in an out-of-the-way location, wouldn't far
more people benefit from having it in a museum than in an obscure corner of the
cave where few if any people ever go? Who benefits from leaving it where it is
other than the occasional explorer?
Mark Minton
