A history of precarious labor in Dutch archaeology

Abstract

This article critically examines the historical role of economically vulnerable populations in Dutch archaeological fieldwork from the 19th century to the present. It argues that the professionalization and expansion of archaeology in the Netherlands was fundamentally reliant on various forms of precarious labor, from informal ‘treasure digging’ driven by hunger to institutionalized state-sponsored work relief schemes and, more recently, the competitive commercial sector. This research uncovers a persistent pattern of power imbalances and overlooked human costs. While the Malta Treaty fundamentally altered the field’s structure, it has not eradicated this legacy; in many ways, it has simply reconfigured it.