Archaeology has come a long way since amateurs began hunting for ancient treasure in the 18th century. Today's archaeologists employ scientific methods and technology ranging from DNA to ground-penetrating radar. But with the new methods have come new responsibilities. Modern archaeologists now must contend with the cultural sensitivities of native groups affected by their work, although some scientists say political correctness has carried the trend to unreasonable extremes. In addition, archaeologists worry about preserving sites from looting and development, and dig less extensively than they did in the past to preserve the integrity of sites for future researchers. Meanwhile, some archaeologists say the only way to stop the looting of ancient sites is to ban the trade in antiquities altogether.

David Masci specializes in social policy, religion and foreign affairs. Before joining CQ Researcher as a staff writer in 1996, he was a reporter at CQ's Daily Monitor and CQ Weekly. He holds a BA in medieval history from Syracuse University and a law degree from The George Washington University.