I usually try to stay out of these types of debates, but I'm in a "live on the edge" mood so I might as well weigh in.

Let me say first that I am a strong advocate of historic preservation. I'm not a huge collector and once upon a time in a previous life was a professional archaeologist. I do not support the looting of sites and of course wouldn't advocate anyone relic hunting at Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, etc.

That said,it is a simple fact that every battlefield is not going to be preserved. There are small battle and skirmish sites all over Arkansas and Oklahoma that are not preserved park areas and never will be. Quite often, the only real archaeological data to be found about these comes from artifact collectors. A classic example is Devil's Backbone. The middle section of the Confederate line was demolished by gas well construction. Had artifact hunters not worked over the site, everything there would have been lost. I became interested in this site and was able to piece together much of how the engagement was fought because local artifact collectors were kind enough to show me their collections and walk the ground with me, explaining what was found and where. The same story is true of Massard Prairie, where collectors were among those who helped lead the charge to save the critical area of the field.

It seems to me that perhaps there should be more open-mindedness with regard to cooperation between "professionals" and "amateurs." If there was, a great deal more information would be saved about smaller sites all across the country. As it is, much is being lost simply due to a lack of mutual courtesy and respect.

Dale