A Web Log Championing the Longstanding Interests of Collectors in the Preservation, Study, Display and Enjoyment of Cultural Artifacts Against an "Archaeology Over All" Perspective
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
The Mummy's Curse
Archaeo- blogger Paul Barford has made what appears to be a heartfelt plea that tombs not be disturbed to satisfy collectors. But then, shouldn't the Mummy's curse also fall upon archaeologists who excavate tombs and steal grave goods from the deceased or even remove their remains? CPO seems to recall reading that Barford himself was involved many years ago in the excavation of the grave of a Polish Noblewoman. If so, how's this really any different in the end as far as the deceased in concerned? If graves should not be disturbed, that should be the case across the board.
i just read on twitter that the historic castle ashby estate in northampton is on fire,maybe the curse has struck.
ReplyDeletekyri.
ps i hope no one was hurt.
The holier than thou Barfords of the world are quick to defile the grave of someone's mother, but holler and scream like wounded pigs when a broken pot shard is snatched from their control. A disgusting mindset if there ever was one.
ReplyDelete(Now all we need is for the "challenged by formal education" sidekick to add his next ad hominem to the Cultural Property Obfuscater blog for the picture of total oikery to complete itself.) There is of course no "mummy's curse" here (Cf. Deuteronomy 32:35).
ReplyDeletePosted by a Mr P Barford at 11:15 10 July 2014.
.................................
Mangling the (presumably) English language in the manner above, is ample proof enough for me that the Warsaw curse exists.
Best wishes
John Howland
England
Looks like Mr. Barford is digging himself in deeper. See http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2014/07/lobbyists-attacking-dead-men.html Now, apparently Mr. Barford is defending himself because Church authorities apparently approved of his excavation (did they have a choice in what was then probably Communist Poland?)-- but not sure that is relevant given the view he has taken that its wrong for tombs to be disturbed for the collector's market but apparently not wrong for them to be disturbed by archaeologists. As for Egyptian burial practices and the soul's of the deceased inhabiting statuary, not sure what the distinction is either. How it it that somehow a soul is disturbed by the sale of a burial item, when similar burial items are on open display in museums in source countries like Egypt, all removed from tombs, by archaeologists of course. I suppose that makes it okay as far as Egyptian religious practices are concerned too. More hypocrisy I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteWayne Sayles writes three witty lines, and by way of counter, Mr P Barford of Warsaw, writes SIXTY, documenting what we already know. He fails yet again, to address the main thrust that double standards exist: In short...I excavate...you loot.
ReplyDeleteAs for ad hominen attacks, Mr Barford is the master, proof of which is evident on his wretched blog. He dragged the argument to gutter level some years ago and richly deserves the disrespect he receives from across the spectrum.
It is my view that anyone who emigrated to live and work under Communism, in Poland -- as he did in 1986 -- deserves to have their judgement questioned.
Most telling of all is where Barford wrote the exhumation team was led by, "a retired state prosecutor." How could he soil his hands, some might ask, by working alongside a Communist State Prosecutor, retired, or otherwise. Again, in my view, this gives cause for concern not only for his choice of friends but his judgement too.
Best regards
John Howland
Enhgland
"If I had my way," writes a Mr P Barford from Warsaw, "The study of ancient coins would be a much stronger discipline with real standards and a firm and reliable database rather than based on a random hodge-podge of stuff floating around from goodness- knows-where and from goodness knows-whose-hands."
ReplyDeleteReaders may not realize that Mr P Barford is one of the architects behind the Artifacts Erosion Counter, a crude hodge-podge database based on estimation and guesswork for the purpose of propaganda.
Mr P Barford really ought to get his own house in order if he wants to be taken as a serious contender in what is a serious debate.
Usual warm regards
John Howland
England