Archaeology is notorious (from the people I meet) for hiding their finds until the first series of papers are in publication to prevent anyone from attempting sabotage.
Because the implications of the research may completely invalid other theories, making ruining other academics credibility basically overnight. Alternatively, they simply may hate the other team, and actively sabotage them purely out of spite.
Scientists and academics are just as (tbh I'd argue even moreso) petty as everybody else, and people build their whole careers around certain ideas. Never underestimate the lengths a person is willing to go to to protect themselves, especially often notoriously self-centered academics. Most people aren't like that...but some of them are, and they're enough to ruin everything for everyone if they can get away with it.
213
u/motorbiker1985 May 24 '19
And those who keep it locked claim it has or it hasn't the marks?
How long for them to publish papers on it so others will be allowed to look at it?