I've never quite understood how it is so easy for people to rationalize this thought-process: “<X := some motivation assumed to be widely shared like greed> means that someone will <Y := do some morally-questionable to morally-unacceptable act>;” therefore, if the speaker's motivation is even arguably less bad than X, it somehow justifies the speaker doing exactly Y first.

Recovering artifacts “for science” almost never benefits humanity in the short-term (and it's questionable if the average case fares better over the long-term). More often than not over our history, it has involved desecration and has enabled essentialism, and serves to benefit private collectors more than any other party (frequently to the exclusion of scientists).

Maybe the energy used to “get there first” would be better put towards making sure the burial remains are respected, or at least ensuring that whatever descendants remain are given legal stewardship.

All the best,