# Chantier-Ethique: A Label to Reduce Discrimination on Archaeological Digs

Isabelle Algrain, Laura Mary, Béline Pasquini, Ségolène Vandevelde

► To cite this version:

Isabelle Algrain, Laura Mary, Béline Pasquini, Ségolène Vandevelde. Chantier-Ethique: A Label to Reduce Discrimination on Archaeological Digs. The European Archaeologist, 2024, 81 (Summer 2024), pp.17-18. hal-04803549

HAL Id: hal-04803549

https://hal.science/hal-04803549v1

Submitted on 8 Jan 2026

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 - Attribution - International License
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>
TEA

The
European Archaeologist

The newsletter of EAA members for EAA members
Issue 81 – Summer 2024

<table><tr><td>Cover</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>The Colosseum: The beating heart of ancient Rome</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Letter from the Editors</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Calendar for EAA Members</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>July – October 2024</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Overview</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>New Guidelines from the European Archaeological Council (EAC)</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>In Case You Missed It</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Chat with EAA Official over TEA</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Maria Taloni</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Meet a Member over TEA</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Flavia Palazzini</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Newsflash</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Chantier-Ethique: A Label to Reduce Discrimination on Archaeological Digs</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Special Section</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>An Archaeologist's Guide to Rome</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Research Overview</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>Notes along the Silk Road: What Mineralogy Can Tell Us about Trust</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>Antler allometry of the Irish Elk and the mystery of Stephen Jay Gould's data</td><td>34</td></tr><tr><td>Project Overview</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><td>The Book of Deer</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><td>Book Review</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>Taylor, Jodi. 2013. Just One Damned Thing after Another.</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>Community Spotlight</td><td>52</td></tr><tr><td>Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA)</td><td>52</td></tr><tr><td>Announcements</td><td>56</td></tr></table>

Published by the European Association of Archaeologists, c/o Institute of Archaeology CAS, Letenská 4, 11801 Praha 1, Czech Republic

Tel./Fax: +420 257014411, administrator@e-a-a.org. ISSN 1022-0135

Editors: Samantha S. Reiter and Matthew J. Walsh (tea@e-a-a.org)

EAA Administrator: Sylvie Květinová (administrator@e-a-a.org)

Contents © named authors and the EAA

The views expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent official EAA policy.
# Cover

## The Colosseum: The beating heart of ancient Rome

In today's world of increasing dependence on technology and the advances it provides, what is the place of the past? The Colosseum was once the Netflix of the ancient world—it was a site of bloody entertainment which inspired Juvenal to write "Give them bread and circuses, and they will never revolt". Shortened to 'bread and circuses' (panem et circenses), the metonymic phrase is generally used to refer to superficial appeasement. The Colosseum represents, therefore, both an outlet for and reflection of the interests of the people. It was the beating—and sometimes bloodied—heart of Rome and, as such, holds tremendous appeal to archaeologists.

The Flavian emperors commissioned the Colosseum in the first century AD. It was the site of wildly popular events throughout antiquity, including gladiatorial fights and animal hunts and continues to be a place of spectacles to this day. It has sophisticated stage equipment (including trap doors and mechanisms for flooding the floor for the re-enactments of sea battles) and offered food and drink services in the stands to spectators during the gladiatorial battles. It could accommodate up to 50,000 spectators and is the largest amphitheatre in the world.

The Colosseum started to deteriorate after Valentinian III outlawed gladiatorial contests in 438 AD. It was used as a quarry for building materials during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. In fact, some of its stones were even used in the construction of St. Peter's Basilica. Its charm as an ancient ruin attracted Romantic writers and artists, eventually leading to a revival of interest, methodical excavations and restoration projects. The Amphitheatre, which is still a vibrant and alluring structure today, is a living testament to how human invention and skill have withstood the test of time. Together with the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, the Colosseum is part of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo.

Image and text contributed by Francesca Di Maria
# Letter from the Editors

Dear Colleagues,

Europe is once again in the hottest part of the year; we wish all of you a fun, productive, and safe summer whether you are in the field, the office, or on holiday! Just last year our editorial letter highlighted the extreme temperatures and weather that summer will bring. Already it seems that summer 2024 will follow along as a harsh echo of the footsteps of summer 2023. Heatwaves are expected across Europe and beyond, with many countries already experiencing record-breaking heat. In fact, this summer will likely be the hottest ever on record with temperatures exceeding 10C above average already in some places. Unfortunately, this trend shows no sign of changing anytime soon. Please take exceptional precautions while in the field. Be vigilant for signs of **heat stress** for yourself and for colleagues!

Of course, summer also brings us closer to the 30th EAA Annual Meeting in Rome, which is likely to be not only the hottest AM to date, but also the largest. At last count, there are hundreds of [sessions and thousands of presentations](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024) from which to choose!

While we wait, however, this issue of TEA still has plenty to dig into, including the usual TEA fare: the EAA's July thru October Calendar and [In Case You Missed It](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024). As we are focusing on Italy in advance of the 2024 AM (a fact further highlighted by our lovely *cover shot of the Colosseum* by Francesca di Maria) this issue also includes interviews with two Italian colleagues: a chat with EAA Official *Maria Taloni* (EAA Executive Board) and Meet a Member over TEA featuring *Flavia Palazzini* (PhD student at Sapienza University of Rome, the host institution for this year's Annual Meeting). In preparation for the Annual Meeting, Francesca Di Maria provides us with *An Archaeologist's Guide to Rome*, including some great tips on what to see, where to go, how to eat well on a budget and how to organize your visit to get the most out of the Eternal City this summer.

We also include an [Overview of the European Archaeological Council's new guidelines](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024) and a Newsflash introducing the [Chantier-Ethique label](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024): a code of conduct protocol for conducting and maintaining professional and ethical on-site working conditions. In addition, we take a step into the past of the Silk Road with Anna Radchenko's fascinating cross-disciplinary analysis of [kashi ceramic tiles from sites from the Zaporizhya region of present-date Ukraine](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024), which additionally serves as a sharp reminder of the ongoing war in Ukraine and its toll on Ukrainian cultural heritage. In another cross-disciplinary offering, Masahito Tsuboi sheds light on the [evolution of antler size in Cervids](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024), revisiting Gould's discussion of allometry (body-scaling in evolutionary contexts) as exemplified in the extreme antler size and morphology of the extinct Irish elk (a prime example of which many of us will recall seeing in the Ulster Museum during last year's AM in Belfast). Speaking of deer, Ali Cameron and Alice Jaspars take us along for the ride as they trace the remarkable provenance of the [Book of Deer](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024), a medieval Scottish illuminated manuscript with a complicated history. Rounding out this issue, TEA editor Samantha Reiter gives us a review of some recommended summer reading in her review of Jodi Taylor's rollicking time-travel archaeology adventure *Just One Damned Thing after Another*. Rounding out the issue is a Community Spotlight on the [Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA)](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024) by Marina Gallinaro and colleagues and an announcement about an upcoming [osteology short course in the UK](https://www.eaa.org/Meetings/Rome2024).

Finally, please remember to keep your cameras to hand as you finish up fieldwork or some final sightseeing—once again this year, **TEA has a photojournalism competition** on the theme of 'Archaeology: Art or Science?' The due date for submissions has just passed, but we are hopeful to run another competition in 2025! Keep your eyes peeled for prospective shots as well as for further
news! We will be announcing the semi-finalists of this year's competition at the ABM in Rome in just a few weeks' time.

We hope to see you all in Rome.

Best Regards,

Matthew J. Walsh and Samantha S. Reiter

Editors
# Newsflash

## Chantier-Ethique: A Label to Reduce Discrimination on Archaeological Digs

Isabelle Algrain<fnref n="1" />, Laura Mary<fnref n="2" />, Béline Pasquini and Ségolène Vandevelde<fnref n="3" />

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

Archaeological excavations are conducive to the development of systemic discrimination, such as sexism, homophobia, ableism and racism. As most of us are already aware, the work—which is often physically demanding—is usually done in groups over several weeks (or even months) in a 'timeless' environment. Several studies in recent years have highlighted the extent of discrimination on digs (e.g., Coltofean-Arizancu et al., 2023 with a bibliography of previous studies). The *Chantier-Ethique* (lit. 'ethical excavation') label, developed by the *Paye ta Truelle Collective* and the *Archéo-Ethique Association* aims to help site managers reduce discrimination on their archaeological digs.

### How does it work?

The principle of the label is simple: it offers site managers a code of conduct to be signed by everyone working on the site, regardless of the duration of their stay or their hierarchical level. This code comes with a short manual, a tool primarily intended for the site manager which provides a step-by-step guide for handling reports of problematic behavior. When a person is not trained to deal with discrimination, they may make mistakes even with the best of intentions (minimizing incidents or confronting the potential victim with the aggressor are among the most common errors). In addition to the code, this manual should also be read and understood by everyone participating in the

<footnote n="1">¹ Université libre de Bruxelles, Centre de recherches en Archéologie et Patrimoine</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² Asbl Recherches et Prospections archéologiques (Belgique, Wallonie)</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴ Université du Québec à Chicoutimi et Université de Sherbrooke</footnote>
excavation. From the moment of application for participating in an excavation, diggers are then aware
that site management is vigilant with regards to this topic. The code and manual are available at [this](#) address in French, English, and Spanish (the English translation of the manual is currently in progress).
To join the program, one must complete a short form and send it to the association before the start
of archaeological work.

Is it really effective?

The effectiveness of the *Chantier-Ethique* label relies entirely on the goodwill and commitment of the site manager. The initial premise is that a person who voluntarily chooses to adopt it is genuinely aiming to improve working conditions on their site. Since it was launched in 2019, several dozen sites have chosen to adhere to the movement. Thus far in 2024, there are 23 participating digs (primarily in France and Belgium but also in a few non-French-speaking countries, such as Cyprus and the United States).

Over the past few years, some site managers have asked excavators fill out anonymous evaluation forms about the code. The responses indicate that the perception of the initiative is generally positive. However, criticisms have emerged, mainly concerning the effectiveness of a label that lacks both control mechanisms and enforcement capabilities.

Several problematic digs have been reported to the association since the creation of the code. In all cases, these were excavations that had falsely claimed the label: they used the logo in their communications and pretended to be members, but they had never officially applied for membership with the Archéo-Ethique Association. In all these cases, the site managers were contacted, urged to stop using the *Chantier-Ethique* logo and encouraged to seek training on discrimination issues.

On the part of the *Paye Ta Truelle* Collective and the Archéo-Ethique Association, a procedure has also been established for cases in which an *actually* certified site is reported for not adhering to the spirit of the code. In such cases, managers and supervisors will be required to undergo training on discrimination. If they refuse, the label will be revoked. Efforts are currently underway to further improve the initiative, including provisions for site managers to indicate who is designated as discrimination officers, whether it is a first-time certification or a renewal and whether accessible toilets will be available during the excavation.

The list of certified sites is available on the [association's website](#). Do not hesitate to join or to implement a similar initiative on your own dig!

**Bibliography**

Coltofean-Arizancu, L., Gaydarska, B., Plutniak, S., Mary, L., Hlad, M., Algrain, I., Pasquini, B., Vandevelde, S., Stamataki, E., Janežič, P., Wouters, B., Sengeløv, A., 2023. Harassment, assault, bullying and intimidation (HABI) in archaeology: a Europe-wide survey. Antiquity. 1–19.