I want to shoot a documented archeological site thats on a very active military installation. Awhile back the areas were studied for inclusion into the NPS, but IIRC the findings of the report were that the sites were safer in their current status until the NPS can obtained the funds neccesary to take over administration. I contacted the range officer at the base and was told the area was secured for its own protection and that in order to visit I'd have to be escorted by the base archeologist. So I'll ask you good people:
What do I state as my reason for wanting to visit the site? It is obvious that the archeologist isn't going to drop everything just because I want to take a few pictures. My purpose of course is to document the site, but thats no doubt been done by the NPS and I'm not sure that "more of the same" is reason enough---besides I get the impression that until the site can be better protected, the base community would just as soon keep the location of the site as obscure as possible justly fearing vandalism (nieghboring sites located outside the Fort have indeed been recently vandalized.)
I have a few cards yet to play---one of my employers is a large University and I have a tepid relationship with two DOD operated military museums, but niether really have a direct interest in this particular site which was a religious temple whose only military connection is that it wasn't accidentally destroyed.
I'm also hot on the trail of an individual who was instrumental in the "modern" re-discovery of the site (the earlier visitors in the 1690's recorded it in journals kept where this individual was an archivist.) I really need to talk to this person first because there are dozens of documented archeological sites on the base and I need to find out exactly which site contains the temple.
So, what do you think I'd need to do to get the archeologist to escort me to the site? Any suggestions?
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