Federal laws have been in place to protect archaeological (考古学的) resources for more than a century.【小题1】However, decades later the law's language was deemed too vague to offer adequate protection from looters (劫掠者) and vandals ( 故意破坏公物者). In response, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act was enacted in 1979.【小题2】

Yet theft, vandalism, and looting continue to pose serious threats to our cultural resources, and land managing agencies, tribal communities, and others are faced with the challenge of protecting heritage sites. A 2010 National Park Service report revealed that more than 3,000 cases of vandalism and looting on federal lands were documented within a 3-year period, and many more are likely unreported. Destructive behaviors range from the harmful act of artifact collecting to the criminal activity of looting and grave robbing.【小题3】For example, some artifacts (古手工艺品) are removed from their contexts by collectors.

Ancestral sites and surface artifacts are abundant in the Southwest. These material remains maintain connections to ancient traditions and cultural identity.【小题4】 Acts of theft and destruction cause real and lasting harm, depriving us of the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the history of our land. Looters disturb human remains and steal from graves for financial gain, thereby negatively impacting the spiritual health and wellbeing of Native American communities. 【小题5】A shared goal among many archaeologists is to increase public awareness to help stop this destruction, but we are only subset of preservation- minded groups. The support of other parties like tribal communities, environmental advocates and historians is necessary to protect archaeological resources and sacred landscapes.