Turkey has received more bad press for revoking the excavation permits of German and French archaeologists due to the failure of German and French museums to repatriate artifacts removed from the country well before a 1970 benchmark. The article also suggests that the Turkish Government is hypocritical for demanding repatriation on one hand, but happily destroying important archaeological sites on the other in the name of "progress."
As the article reports,
A Turkish archaeologist, who did not want to be named, said he was heartbroken that the government appeared to be destroying sites at the same time as battling for the return of artefacts. "I don't understand the attitude of the government," he said. "This contradiction is truly mind-boggling
So far, the agreement of the University of Pennsylvania to provide "long term loans" of ancient jewelry the Turks have demanded from its museum has saved the University's digs in Turkey. But one wonders if such appeasement will just lead to escalating demands over time.
Frankly, I'd be happy if Turkey just sold rights to dig to the highest bidder and used the money to help preserve its unparalleled historical sites and spruce up its collections. Putting digs on such a basis might also have the benefit of freeing American archaeologists from taking anything but the Turkish cultural bureaucracy's line on cultural heritage issues.
Bones of Contention
Paige Williams has written a fair and balanced article for the New Yorker about Eric Prokopi and the seizure and repatriation of his dinosaur reconstruction to Mongolia. My only quibbles are that the article glosses over open sales of dinosaur bones within Mongolia itself as well as the fact that current Mongolian law on the subject does not appear to be quite as clear as the Government has claimed.
Now, Where Does One Go to Get Their Reputation Back?
After years of rumor and innuendo largely fed through archaeo-bloggers and friendly "access journalists," Italian cultural authorities have notified Princeton's antiquities curator, Michael Padgett, that he is no longer the subject of a criminal investigation. Now, where does Padgett go to get his reputation back? Certainly, not to the archaeo-bloggers and access journalists who are so quick to condemn but are so slow to exonerate. Indeed, despite their connections to Italian authorities, they have yet to so much as acknowlege this news.
Jay Kislak at 90
It's nice to see former CPAC Chairman Kislak remains active and engaged at age 90. The article discusses his incredible generosity to the Library of Congress. It also touches on his frustrations dealing with the State Department while chairman of CPAC. In particular, the article references Mr. Kislak's statements at the CPRI's seminar on Capitol Hill. As the article notes,
With Kislak's knowledge of collecting, President George W. Bush appointed him to the State Department's Cultural Property Advisory Committee. But while chairing the committee from 2003 to 2008, Kislak grew frustrated and didn't seek to stay on with the group, which deals with controversial issues of regulating the importation of cultural and historical artifacts.
Later, at a Washington, D.C., seminar in March 2011, Kislak called the advisory committee "useless." According to a transcript, he criticized the group for holding closed meetings and fumed that its recommendations were ignored by State Department staff.
With Kislak's knowledge of collecting, President George W. Bush appointed him to the State Department's Cultural Property Advisory Committee. But while chairing the committee from 2003 to 2008, Kislak grew frustrated and didn't seek to stay on with the group, which deals with controversial issues of regulating the importation of cultural and historical artifacts.
Later, at a Washington, D.C., seminar in March 2011, Kislak called the advisory committee "useless." According to a transcript, he criticized the group for holding closed meetings and fumed that its recommendations were ignored by State Department staff.
Archaeologists Perceive Site Looting; But What Protective Measures Have They Implemented?
The AIA has published a study that purports to measure archaeologists' perceptions of looting worldwide. Not surprisingly, the study suggests looting is pervasive; however, there seems to be differences in its nature and extent depending on locality.
I assume this study will be trotted out time and again to justify further restrictions on collectors, dealers and museums. But what about asking archaeologists to police their own sites in the 10 months or so out of the year they are not worked? Is it too much to ask them to hire site guards or at least use cameras to monitor their sites? Regretably, the study does not ask.
I assume this study will be trotted out time and again to justify further restrictions on collectors, dealers and museums. But what about asking archaeologists to police their own sites in the 10 months or so out of the year they are not worked? Is it too much to ask them to hire site guards or at least use cameras to monitor their sites? Regretably, the study does not ask.
Forfeiture is Big Business-- For Federal Prosecutors
The forfeiture of Eric Prokopi's Bataar display piece has helped prompt the the New York Times to examine how forfeiture has become big business for federal prosecutors in New York. I've found the federal attorneys who handled the Bataar forfeiture case to be quite professional and obviously good lawyers. On the other hand, I have to agree with critics that the system can be quite arbitrary, even going so far as to allow the government to hobble any defense by seizing as possible proceeds of the crime all of the defendant's assets.
Palentologist May Loose Freedom for Following His Dream
Here is a humane and balanced portrait of Eric Prokopi from his local paper. In contrast, most coverage, which has relied on Government, paleontological and Mongolian sources, has vilified him.
Mr. Prokopi's guilty plea will also end his civil effort to recover the Bataar display piece he spent a year preparing. Left unresolved are serious questions concerning whether American law should subject American citizens to criminal and civil liability based on obscure and unclear foreign laws that are not even consistently applied at home.
Mr. Prokopi's guilty plea will also end his civil effort to recover the Bataar display piece he spent a year preparing. Left unresolved are serious questions concerning whether American law should subject American citizens to criminal and civil liability based on obscure and unclear foreign laws that are not even consistently applied at home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)