Reaction to Hugh Eakin

The New York Times has published a series of Letters to the Editor concerning Hugh Eakin's recent opinion piece regarding repatriations.   Barbara Newsome, the founder of the Archaeological Conservancy, discusses both her organization's efforts here in the US as well as the importance of museums and collectors in preserving the artifacts of others because they value them.    Noted cultural property expert Bill Pearlstein questions whether archaeological looting is really driven by American demand given statements by the Italian police.  Finally, Fiona Rose-Greenland sees repatriation demands as nationalistic in character and part of power politics.   Perhaps, the archaeology-over-all perspective should not be allowed to dominate this debate.