Richard Engel of NBC News has produced a piece that reflects the views of Egypt�s cultural bureaucracy under the old guard in the person of Zahi Hawass and his allies in the American archaeological community.
Yet, does Engel�s reporting really match the reality on the ground or just the propaganda of Egypt�s discredited cultural bureaucracy, which must be desperate to justify itself to Egypt�s new Islamic rulers?
The real issues are that there are no police to protect the sites, the people are desperately poor, and the Egyptian cultural bureaucracy wants to control more than they can or should (even what you find under your own house!).
One should also note for all the talk about criminal looters from Hawass (allegedly a crook on a much larger scale -- a subject Engel studiously avoided broaching) and an American archaeologist, all I saw were locals looking for stuff presumably to feed their impoverished families.
Perhaps in the complete absence of police American archaeologists should pay for local security guards to protect their sites. Their salaries can't cost all that much. I'm also mystified how looters can find a previously unknown tomb and loot it overnight on a site that has apparently been under archaeological investigation for years. Perhaps now unemployed diggers for American archaeologists knew about the tomb for years, but did not to divulge it to them out of distrust of foreign archaeologists who would take these treasures from them.
Showing posts with label looters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label looters. Show all posts
High Tech Witch Hunt?
The authors of Chasing Aphrodite have now embarked on a new plan. Apparently, they hope to put out documentation received from Italian and Greek law enforcement onto the web, and then rely on activists to play the part of vigilantes in identifying looted material on the market and in museums. See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2012/03/12/introducing-wikiloot-your-chance-to-fight-the-illicit-antiquities-trade/
I agree with the following comment on their blog:
Elizabeth Marlowe March 12, 2012 at 6:33 pm Reply
Has the photo archive been made available to the museums, dealers and auction houses yet? The �gotcha� approach of this project seems unnecessarily antagonistic. If the goal is to embarrass museums, then yes, let members of the public catch them with their pants down. But if the goal is to track down as many of the pieces in the Medici archive as possible, then wouldn�t it be more productive to let the museums check the archives against their own inventories and come clean first? And THEN post the photos of whatever pieces still haven�t been located?
I would also note that this project presumably blurs the lines between investigative journalism and activism. But that is more an issue of journalistic ethics than cultural property law.
I agree with the following comment on their blog:
Elizabeth Marlowe March 12, 2012 at 6:33 pm Reply
Has the photo archive been made available to the museums, dealers and auction houses yet? The �gotcha� approach of this project seems unnecessarily antagonistic. If the goal is to embarrass museums, then yes, let members of the public catch them with their pants down. But if the goal is to track down as many of the pieces in the Medici archive as possible, then wouldn�t it be more productive to let the museums check the archives against their own inventories and come clean first? And THEN post the photos of whatever pieces still haven�t been located?
I would also note that this project presumably blurs the lines between investigative journalism and activism. But that is more an issue of journalistic ethics than cultural property law.
China's Disappearing Past: A Victim of Modernization or Greedy Foreign Collectors?
Here are two different reports with two very different conclusions about the reasons behind China's fast disappearing cultural history. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/01/china-tomb-raiders-destroy-relics and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16367488
The first report repeats the usual "party line" of the archaeological community that the problem is due to gangs of looters working to supply collectors, particularly wealthy foreign ones. The State Department's broad import restrictions on Chinese cultural artifacts have been justified based on such reports, this despite the uncontested fact that by far the biggest collectors of ancient Chinese material are the Chinese themselves.
The second report attributes the destruction of China's cultural history to the vast construction projects going on in that quickly modernizing country. Why don't we hear more of this? Is it because such reports don't fit the narrative necessary to justify unpopular import restrictions that only impact American collectors and museums?
The first report repeats the usual "party line" of the archaeological community that the problem is due to gangs of looters working to supply collectors, particularly wealthy foreign ones. The State Department's broad import restrictions on Chinese cultural artifacts have been justified based on such reports, this despite the uncontested fact that by far the biggest collectors of ancient Chinese material are the Chinese themselves.
The second report attributes the destruction of China's cultural history to the vast construction projects going on in that quickly modernizing country. Why don't we hear more of this? Is it because such reports don't fit the narrative necessary to justify unpopular import restrictions that only impact American collectors and museums?
Labels:
China,
China MOU,
Chinese artifacts,
Import Restrictions,
looters,
Looting,
State Department
Chasing Aphrodite at the Walters
On October 29, 2011, the Walters Museum of Art, Baltimore, hosted a discussion about the controversies surrounding the museums collecting antiquities. Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino, the authors of Chasing Aphrodite, an expose about the Getty Museum�s collecting practices in the 1980�s, critiqued museum collecting from a moral and legal perspective. According to Felch and Frammolino, past museum collecting practices have helped stimulate looting in art rich countries and have violated local law. Arthur Houghton, CPRI President, and Gary Vikan, the Walters Museum Director, rose to defend museum acquisition practices, which both conceded have become more stringent over time. Houghton, who served as a curator at the Getty, provided some context for the discussion. He recounted how the Getty, awash with cash and eager to become a player, took too many shortcuts in an effort to build a world class antiquities collection in record time.
Larger issues were also discussed. Felch and Frammolino argued that changed attitudes have encouraged Italy to make loan term loans to American museums. They also suggested that returning the statue that was the center of the book led to a reappraisal of the work, which has now been identified as Persphone. Houghton argued that construction activities in places like Turkey is a much greater, but little discussed factor, in destroying archaeological context. Audience members also joined the fray. Commenting on the return of the �Aphrodite� to a small Sicilian town, one audience member remarked that she certainly did not want to go to such a place and that the statue will inevitably be seen by far fewer numbers of people than at the Getty. She also noted long term loans are costly to museums because Italy expects museums to spend substantial time, effort and money to conserve the artifacts that are exhibited. Another audience member suggested that source countries themselves could help alleviate the problem of looting by adopting �report and reward� statutes like that in force in the United Kingdom.
Larger issues were also discussed. Felch and Frammolino argued that changed attitudes have encouraged Italy to make loan term loans to American museums. They also suggested that returning the statue that was the center of the book led to a reappraisal of the work, which has now been identified as Persphone. Houghton argued that construction activities in places like Turkey is a much greater, but little discussed factor, in destroying archaeological context. Audience members also joined the fray. Commenting on the return of the �Aphrodite� to a small Sicilian town, one audience member remarked that she certainly did not want to go to such a place and that the statue will inevitably be seen by far fewer numbers of people than at the Getty. She also noted long term loans are costly to museums because Italy expects museums to spend substantial time, effort and money to conserve the artifacts that are exhibited. Another audience member suggested that source countries themselves could help alleviate the problem of looting by adopting �report and reward� statutes like that in force in the United Kingdom.
Labels:
looters,
Museums,
poor stewardship,
stolen antiquities,
Treasure Trove
PhDiva Gets a Jump On Everyone Else
Kudos to PhDiva for describing what's missing from the so-called Benghazi Treasure. For more, see http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2011/10/antiquities-missing-from-libya.html
Rather than all the usual speculative blather about shadowy Western collectors organizing the looting of the world's treasures, its nice to see someone associated with the archaeological community making such a timely and positive contribution to describing what is lost.
Kudos to PhDiva for doing so.
We would be all better off if others took her cue.
Rather than all the usual speculative blather about shadowy Western collectors organizing the looting of the world's treasures, its nice to see someone associated with the archaeological community making such a timely and positive contribution to describing what is lost.
Kudos to PhDiva for doing so.
We would be all better off if others took her cue.
Treasures Stolen from Benghazi Vault-- But When and By Whom?
The Sun Newspapers and others have reported that a treasure trove of gold artifacts and coins was stolen from a Benghazi bank vault. See http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3903581/Priceless-gold-of-Benghazi-is-stolen.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News
Collectors and dealers in ancient art should obviously report any efforts to sell such materials to the authorities. Here are some other thoughts.
1. Although some will apparently use this news as a basis to claim there is a need for "emergency import restrictions" on Libyan cultural material, these objects would already be treated as stolen under US and other law.
2. While the theft of this material is said to have happened during revolution, if what happened in Iraq is any guide, it's also possible that the material was stolen earlier by officials associated with the former regime, and the loss is only coming to light now.
3. It would have been easier to identify this material if it had been properly recorded by either the Italian authorities who returned it to Libya back in 1961 or the Libyans themselves. Unfortunately, this does not appear to have been the case, so all we will be left with is some general descriptions of the material. Hopefully, Libyan authorities will put out as detailed as possible descriptions of the missing artifacts soon.
Collectors and dealers in ancient art should obviously report any efforts to sell such materials to the authorities. Here are some other thoughts.
1. Although some will apparently use this news as a basis to claim there is a need for "emergency import restrictions" on Libyan cultural material, these objects would already be treated as stolen under US and other law.
2. While the theft of this material is said to have happened during revolution, if what happened in Iraq is any guide, it's also possible that the material was stolen earlier by officials associated with the former regime, and the loss is only coming to light now.
3. It would have been easier to identify this material if it had been properly recorded by either the Italian authorities who returned it to Libya back in 1961 or the Libyans themselves. Unfortunately, this does not appear to have been the case, so all we will be left with is some general descriptions of the material. Hopefully, Libyan authorities will put out as detailed as possible descriptions of the missing artifacts soon.
Putin, the Looter?
http://news.yahoo.com/putin-discovers-greek-urns-scuba-dive-154802017.html
I'll leave it to others to complain to the Russian Embassy that Russia's former and likely future President did not excavate the amphora in question scientifically.
Addendum: PM Putin's office put up this interesting transcript about his discovery, where he indicates his excavations were done with the help of archaeologists and that the he hopes the area will be preserved and exploited for touristic purposes. See
http://premier.gov.ru/eng/events/news/16173/
Meanwhile, the NY Times suggests that he dive is but one of many events staged to help ensure PM Putin's standing with Russian voters. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/world/europe/17polling.html?hp
I'll leave it to others to complain to the Russian Embassy that Russia's former and likely future President did not excavate the amphora in question scientifically.
Addendum: PM Putin's office put up this interesting transcript about his discovery, where he indicates his excavations were done with the help of archaeologists and that the he hopes the area will be preserved and exploited for touristic purposes. See
http://premier.gov.ru/eng/events/news/16173/
Meanwhile, the NY Times suggests that he dive is but one of many events staged to help ensure PM Putin's standing with Russian voters. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/world/europe/17polling.html?hp
Death to Looters!
That at least is the implication of Professor Rothfield's suggestion that armed guards police archaeological sites and museums in places like Egypt and Iraq. See
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/jul/10/arm-museum-guards-looting-war?mobile-redirect=false
While our own museums like the National Gallery of Art have some armed guards, I agree with Dorothy King that this particular proposal may lead to unnecessary deaths. See
http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2011/07/arm-museum-guards-to-prevent-looting.html Most "looters" in places like Egypt, Iraq and Peru are "subsistence diggers" who remove treasures from the graves of their ancestors in order to put food on the table. Do we really want to encourage them being killed in the name of archaeology? As for the armed gangs of archaeological lore, to the extent they exist at all, wouldn't they likely be better armed than the guards?
Of course, every country is free to address this issue in its own way, but I also suspect that Professor Rothfield wants Western countries to fund these armed guards.
And let's not forget. Shoot the looter was the practice in Saddam's Iraq. Is this really who we want to emulate?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/jul/10/arm-museum-guards-looting-war?mobile-redirect=false
While our own museums like the National Gallery of Art have some armed guards, I agree with Dorothy King that this particular proposal may lead to unnecessary deaths. See
http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2011/07/arm-museum-guards-to-prevent-looting.html Most "looters" in places like Egypt, Iraq and Peru are "subsistence diggers" who remove treasures from the graves of their ancestors in order to put food on the table. Do we really want to encourage them being killed in the name of archaeology? As for the armed gangs of archaeological lore, to the extent they exist at all, wouldn't they likely be better armed than the guards?
Of course, every country is free to address this issue in its own way, but I also suspect that Professor Rothfield wants Western countries to fund these armed guards.
And let's not forget. Shoot the looter was the practice in Saddam's Iraq. Is this really who we want to emulate?
Some Pieces Recovered From Egyptian Museum Break In
There is finally some GOOD news out of Egypt; Egyptian police have recovered some artifacts stolen from the Egyptian museum. See
http://www.talkingpyramids.com/12-museum-pieces-recovered-snare/
If accurate, the report undercuts competing claims that the looting: (a) was an inside job by corrupt museum workers or police; or (b) the work of sophisticated criminals stealing artifacts "to order" for wealthy collectors from abroad.
Rather, the suspects seem to be unsophisticated locals who had hoped to take advantage of the unrest to "make a king's ransom" in cash.
http://www.talkingpyramids.com/12-museum-pieces-recovered-snare/
If accurate, the report undercuts competing claims that the looting: (a) was an inside job by corrupt museum workers or police; or (b) the work of sophisticated criminals stealing artifacts "to order" for wealthy collectors from abroad.
Rather, the suspects seem to be unsophisticated locals who had hoped to take advantage of the unrest to "make a king's ransom" in cash.
Hawass Confirms Resignation
In what some might consider a self-serving staged interview on his own blog, Zahi Hawass has confirmed that he has resigned as Minister of Antiquities. See
http://www.drhawass.com/blog/why-dr-hawass-resigned
Meanwhile, those archaeologists who view Hawass as a "hero of archaeology" apparently hope no one looks too deeply into allegations of corruption at the SCA; for them the ONLY issue is reports of looting of archaeological sites.
http://www.drhawass.com/blog/why-dr-hawass-resigned
Meanwhile, those archaeologists who view Hawass as a "hero of archaeology" apparently hope no one looks too deeply into allegations of corruption at the SCA; for them the ONLY issue is reports of looting of archaeological sites.
Egypt's Antiquities Fall Victim to the Mob
Alex Joffe has written thoughtfully about the realities on the ground behind the looting of the Egyptian Museum and archaeological stores.
See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703833204576114580200904212.html#articleTabs%3Darticle
Hopefully, this dose of reality will help undercut another attempt to blame the looting on unnamed antiquities dealers in New York, London and Paris. Their supposed culpabilty in the looting of the Iraq Museum was gospel to elements within the archaeological community after that tragedy happened, but this turned out to be nothing but a fantasy.
See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703833204576114580200904212.html#articleTabs%3Darticle
Hopefully, this dose of reality will help undercut another attempt to blame the looting on unnamed antiquities dealers in New York, London and Paris. Their supposed culpabilty in the looting of the Iraq Museum was gospel to elements within the archaeological community after that tragedy happened, but this turned out to be nothing but a fantasy.
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