A discussion among archaeologists meeting over the weekend centered on whether it is ethical to "sell" — that is, to popularize — the ancient ruins and artwork of the Southwest. It is an interesting issue, but the wrong question.

In the "information age," it is not possible to keep even the most remote sites secret for long. More to the point, even to try would be both wrong and impractical. Individuals may harm archaeological sites, but only the American public can save them.

The debate was part of a the three-day get-together called the 2000 Pecos Conference held at the Dolores Line Camp. It was moderated by David Roberts, author of the book In Search of the Old Ones and a National Geographic article on ruins. He said that after his works were published he heard from some land managers and archaeologists that his readers had beaten paths to previously untouched sites.

Those concerns were shared by another speaker, Bill Lipe, a former president of the Society for American Archaeology and professor of anthropology at Washington State University. His advice was to minimize wear on the sites by promoting education and fostering respect for what are, after all, national treasures.

That is a more complicated approach than simply telling people to shut up, but in the long run it is the only one that will succeed. Americans are not about to turn over their public lands to some sort of archaeological priesthood.

The situation is similar to what happens with skiing. Ski areas are in many ways hard on the environment. At the same time, they provide many people with their first, and perhaps only, mountain experience. As such, they have probably done more to boost support for environmental causes than environmentalists themselves.

Likewise, public exposure may damage some archaeological sites. The knowledge gained, however, should translate into increased respect for the ruins and appreciation of their significance.

That kind of support is the key. As Lipe said at the conference, "The fate of these sites is going to be settled in public policy decisions."

In the end it is the American people who will decide the fate of our archaeological heritage. They own our public lands. It would hardly make sense then to try to exclude them from the process — or from the sites themselves.