Aren't these just gorgeous...
images via
Egypt: No "Emergency" After All, Just More Exaggeration
Less than a month after Egyptian Antiquities Pharaoh Zahi Hawass suggested on his blog that archaeo-lobbyists of the "Capitol Archaeological Institute" had been given agreement authority by the US State Department to draft a MOU imposing "emergency import restrictions" on Egyptian cultural goods, see
http://ordinarymag.blogspot.com/2011/05/hawass-says-emergency-import.html, Hawass has blogged that there really is no "emergency" in Egypt after all. See http://www.drhawass.com/blog/can-egypt-protect-its-ancient-monuments
Hawass now states, " I have been distressed by recent reports that exaggerate the damage done to our antiquities...."
And so am I, but for different reasons.
This again just goes to show that archaeologists are simply not credible sources when it comes to reports of looting in countries where the facts are difficult to verify. Archaeologists have previously exaggerated looting in places like Afghanistan and Iraq to justify emergency import restrictions. Here, they have apparently done so again-- this despite Minister Hawass' own view that the situation is under control.
Emergency import restrictions are unnecessary here. Egyptian and US authorities are well able to interdict looted artifacts.
But archaeological fanatics want more: they see import restrictions as a way to drive unprovenanced artifacts off the market in the United States, at least.
And ginning up an "emergency" is their best way to assist their cronies in the State Department's Cultural Heritage Center to get the job done. Based on their exaggerations, yet another collecting area will likely become off limits to all those but the wealthy who can afford to purchase the limited number of artifacts with detailed collecting histories.
http://ordinarymag.blogspot.com/2011/05/hawass-says-emergency-import.html, Hawass has blogged that there really is no "emergency" in Egypt after all. See http://www.drhawass.com/blog/can-egypt-protect-its-ancient-monuments
Hawass now states, " I have been distressed by recent reports that exaggerate the damage done to our antiquities...."
And so am I, but for different reasons.
This again just goes to show that archaeologists are simply not credible sources when it comes to reports of looting in countries where the facts are difficult to verify. Archaeologists have previously exaggerated looting in places like Afghanistan and Iraq to justify emergency import restrictions. Here, they have apparently done so again-- this despite Minister Hawass' own view that the situation is under control.
Emergency import restrictions are unnecessary here. Egyptian and US authorities are well able to interdict looted artifacts.
But archaeological fanatics want more: they see import restrictions as a way to drive unprovenanced artifacts off the market in the United States, at least.
And ginning up an "emergency" is their best way to assist their cronies in the State Department's Cultural Heritage Center to get the job done. Based on their exaggerations, yet another collecting area will likely become off limits to all those but the wealthy who can afford to purchase the limited number of artifacts with detailed collecting histories.
AIA's Lobby Shop Gins Up Letters for Bolivia MOU
The Bolivian Government, which has fallen under the orbit of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's Dictator, is no friend of the United States. See http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51849
Yet, the AIA is ginning up a lobbying campaign to ensure that the State Department renews its MOU with Bolivia for a fourth time.
See http://www.archaeological.org/cpac
Despite poor bilateral relations, I suspect this effort will be successful, particularly given the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Cultural Heritage Center's predilections to renew MOU's as a standard operating procedure.
Yet, the AIA is ginning up a lobbying campaign to ensure that the State Department renews its MOU with Bolivia for a fourth time.
See http://www.archaeological.org/cpac
Despite poor bilateral relations, I suspect this effort will be successful, particularly given the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Cultural Heritage Center's predilections to renew MOU's as a standard operating procedure.
Lights out!
the power was out on my whole street, so I lit some candles and watched the storm through my window...
None of their Business II
The AIA has issued a manifesto condemning the Smtihsonian for planning to exhibit artifacts from the Belitung shipwreck. See http://www.archaeological.org/news/advocacy/5260
As stated previously on this blog, the archaeological community has been fond of saying at CPAC meetings and elsewhere that it is no business of others to lecture source countries on how to manage their cultural resources.
But, apparently, all that goes out the window when the AIA hierarchy issues pronouncements about public-private partneships to salvage wrecks.
For more, see http://ordinarymag.blogspot.com/search/label/Indonesia and
http://ordinarymag.blogspot.com/2011/04/none-of-their-business.html
For the Smithsonian's view of the controversy, see
http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/SW-CulturalHeritage.asp
As stated previously on this blog, the archaeological community has been fond of saying at CPAC meetings and elsewhere that it is no business of others to lecture source countries on how to manage their cultural resources.
But, apparently, all that goes out the window when the AIA hierarchy issues pronouncements about public-private partneships to salvage wrecks.
For more, see http://ordinarymag.blogspot.com/search/label/Indonesia and
http://ordinarymag.blogspot.com/2011/04/none-of-their-business.html
For the Smithsonian's view of the controversy, see
http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/SW-CulturalHeritage.asp
200,000 Ancient Coins Found in China
Chinese authorities have reported that construction workers have found 200,000 more ancient coins-- this time in a well. See http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/200000-ancient-coins-found-in-china_100540893.html
This news news from China again calls into question the thought processes of our cultural bureaucrats.
US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Cultural Heritage Center and US Customs and Border Protection bureaucrats consider ancient Chinese coins to be of "cultural significance." As a result, US collectors can no longer import these coins unless they are accompanied with extensive documentation that either does not exist for most ancient coins or is cost prohibitive to produce given their modest value.
However, China itself has no "provenance requirements" for collecting such coins and they can also be imported freely from abroad. And why not? The Chinese certainly understand they are not rare.
So, why do our own State Department and CBP bureaucrats demand of US Citizens what the Chinese do not require of their own citizens?
This news news from China again calls into question the thought processes of our cultural bureaucrats.
US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Cultural Heritage Center and US Customs and Border Protection bureaucrats consider ancient Chinese coins to be of "cultural significance." As a result, US collectors can no longer import these coins unless they are accompanied with extensive documentation that either does not exist for most ancient coins or is cost prohibitive to produce given their modest value.
However, China itself has no "provenance requirements" for collecting such coins and they can also be imported freely from abroad. And why not? The Chinese certainly understand they are not rare.
So, why do our own State Department and CBP bureaucrats demand of US Citizens what the Chinese do not require of their own citizens?
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