Are you here for the meth?

In April 2004, agents from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service surrounded a trailer outside Grants, New Mexico, to execute a search warrant, in a case concerned with archaeological crime:

“As the agents stormed the trailer, the suspect ran out the back, where the cover team stopped him at gunpoint. ‘What are you guys here for’? he said. ‘Are you here for the meth’?” (Patel 2009)

Welcome to the world of ‘Twiggers’, this has to be about the most bizarre story from the world of Archaeology I’ve come across in recent times.

A projectile point and a methamphetamine molecule (source: Berger 2008).

In 2005 the Associated Press reported that: “A sheriff investigating clandestine methamphetamine labs had made an unusual archaeological discovery: suspected makers and users of the drug often have extensive collections of arrowheads, some thousands of years old.” But this is just the start of this fascinating story! (… on a completely unrelated note: anyone else find it funny that the Sherriffs name in the above story was Pat Garrett, anyone?)

Now I’m not at all surprised to learn that there are links between international drug smuggling and international illicit antiquities smuggling, that makes sense… its smuggling! But, this is something quite different!  

In 2006 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had recognised the connection between theft of artefacts and meth as such a problem that they launched “Operation Bring ‘Em Back”, since then other operations have followed with equally high arrest rates and similar findings. Convictions for such looting crimes may not be completely recordable however as narcotics charges (with heavier penalties) are usually used by the police instead.

In 2006 the US States Attorney office – District of Oregan reported that:

” Operation Bring’em Back has targeted the illegal excavation and trafficking of Native American human remains and artifacts. To date, Operation Bring’em Back has resulted in 13 federal and state convictions for violations of the Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA), Conspiracy, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Theft of Government Property, and possession and distribution of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).”

Reports suggest that a synergy has developed between theft of native american artefacts and meth, law enforcement has combined the terms “tweaking” (for taking meth), and digging (for stealing artefacts) into the term “twiggers” for those who do both! The popularity of stealing artefacts can in part be explained financially, there is a ready market for indian art, and networks exist for fencing the material around the country, or world, for sale. Making these readily available, and physically unprotected, archaeological resources easy prey for theft.

However, there has always been some looting, and lots of drug problems but never before has there been such a direct connection, it seems then that the “looting-meth nexus probably has much to do with the drug itself” (Patel 2009).

So what is it about meth that makes archaeological discovery so fascinating, and should we be giving it out at Archaeology course Fresher fairs? According to Tony Young who was in White County Jail facing Meth-related charges: “You get kind of wired on that stuff and you need to have something to do.”(Associated Press. 2005). This need to do something, and the obsessive nature of that thing have been further explained in Archaeology magazine as: “The energizing and obsessive effects make it fun, almost pleasurable, for tweakers to do the tedious work of artifact hunting. They have the steam to wander sites and dig holes for hours, the focus to scan the ground closely, and the compulsive need to find more and more. According to those who have spoken to twiggers directly, the ability to sell artifacts seems almost secondary to the addictive thrill of discovery. It makes them the perfect, tireless looting workforce.” (Patel 2009).

Reports suggest that the increase in meth related looting has altered the way in which sites are looted, no longer are the ‘best bits’ searched for, but today everything is hoovered up and the best sold on through illicit dealers, whilst the rest sold in online auction sites.

SO, in conclusion, what have we learnt maybe that – “Archaeology isn’t normal: But on Meth it is!”

 

Artifacts and Meth, Image Courtesy of Archaeology Magazine and BLM

Resources:

Associated Press. 2005. Ark. sheriff explores link between meth and arrowheads. Policeone.com August 23rd 2005. Available Online: http://www.policeone.com/news/118261/

Bandy, M. 2009. Looting and Meth. Neolithic Revolutions Blog. March 26th 2009. Available Online: http://neolithic-revolutions.blogspot.com/2009/03/looting-and-meth.html

Berger, K. 2008. Indiana Jones, Meth Addict. CrossCut.Com. Ocober 12th 2008. Available Online: http://crosscut.com/2008/10/12/mossback/18561/

Brodie, N. 1999. The Concept of Due Dilligence and the Antiquities Trade. Culture Without Context. Issue 5. Autumn 1999. Available Online:http://www.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk/projects/iarc/culturewithoutcontext/issue5/brodie.htm

CrankyProfessor. 2008. The Strangest archaeology story I’ve read all month – meth and looting. The Cranky Professor Blog. October 16th 2008. Available Online: http://www.crankyprofessor.com/archives/001893.html

Gordon, B. 2009. Meth Trade and Stolen Artifacts. UTNE Reader Blog. February 4th 2009. Available Online: http://www.utne.com/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=36&tag=meth

The Meth Project: http://www.methproject.org/

Morgan, D. W. 2009. Turning the Wheel, or What Preserve America and Drugs Have in Common. National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) Blog. 24th February 2009. Available Online: http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/index.php/turning-the-wheel-or-what-preserve-america-and-drugs-have-in-common/

Morgan, D. W. 2009. More on Arrow and Meth Heads. National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) Blog. 5th March 2009. Available Online:http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/index.php/more-on-arrow-and-meth-heads/

Patel, S. S. 2009. Drugs, Guns, and Dirt. Archaeology. Volume 62, Number 2. March/April 2009. Available Online: http://www.archaeology.org/0903/etc/drugs.html