Why is there not more controversy over archaeological digs that tamper with sacred burials?

Answer 1

Sometimes the archaeologist is preserving the contents of the sacred burials by first identifying them as such, and then removing them. Many construction companies and builders will call for the services of an archaeologist if they come across artifacts in the course of their digging. The US Armed Forces routinely sends in archaeological survey teams to areas that they own, prior to using those areas for training or testing explosives and artillery. In very rare cases, if sacred burials are found will the site be preserved intact. Oftentimes, all that can be done is to save as much as the site as possible and transplanting them intact elsewhere.

Meanwhile, there is considerable attention paid to returning disputed artifacts and objects from sacred burials to the people who demonstrate kinship, as seen in the publicised prosecution of the curators and dealers associated with the Getty.

Answer 2

Because the universities that sponsor the digs have more clout than the Natives. Many tribes have websites that talk about it, but unfortunately it doesn't make the papers.
To be fair to the universities, they do offer to rebury the remains of any people they find, but that doesn't stop them from tampering with the site in the first place.

Answer 3

if we were selling the sacred object for profit, that would be one thing. but we dig up these places in the pursuit of knowledge. we want to learn about our no longer living ancestors.

Answer 4

most native americans are now blinded with greed with their casinos