Archaeological Lobby Goes for the Gold?

It may or may not be a coincidence, but just as the archaeological lobby has geared up to press for legislation that would give the State Department unlimited authority to fund archaeological groups, a number of consultancies and/or research entities have apparently sprung up that have principals associated with that lobby.

These include: Red Arch with principals with current and/or past associations with the AIA, Lawyer's Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation and Saving Antiquities for Everyone; Heritas with principals with current and/or past associations with the AIA, Lawyer's Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation and Antiquities Coalition; and the Past for Sale Project with a researcher associated with Saving Antiquities for Everyone.

The bill in question (HR 5703) died at the end of the last legislative session, but presumably will be reintroduced in some form.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with lobbying for this or other cultural heritage legislation.  And there is also nothing wrong with making money from one's passion through "consulting" or "research." However, there needs to be far more transparency about the intersection between lobbying and consulting or researching here, particularly given the archaeological lobby's full throttled attacks on any "lobbying" by "commercial interests" concerned about the State Department's imposition of import restrictions on cultural goods.  After all, some big money-- like the $600,000 contract the State Department awarded to ASOR to assess Syrian cultural sites--is already out there for the taking by the State Department's allies against antiquities collecting.

Taking Advantage of a Bad Situation?

The hard-line archaeological advocacy group Saving Antiquities for Everyone is applauding the UK's new regulations aimed at banning the import of artifacts illicitly removed from Syria during its civil war.

While CPO understands the need for vigilance, CPO questions whether SAFE and related groups intend to take advantage of the bad situation in Syria to further their anti-collecting agenda.  In particular, when they call for the US to act, will they once again lobby for any import restrictions to be imposed based on place of production in ancient times rather than find spot in modern times as required under the US governing statute, the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act?  Of course, any such restrictions will once again put many minor artifacts without solid provenances at risk for forfeiture though there is no evidence they are the products of recent looting.

And what of the CPIA's process for imposing import restrictions?  Any emergency request must come from the Assad government, not SAFE or the Archaeological Institute of America.  But if there is a valid request that is granted, should any artifacts that are forfeited go back to that murderous regime or should they instead be held in trust by US Institutions for the benefit of the Syrian people until such time the country is again at peace?  Presumably, if recent history is any guide, the repatriationist instincts of SAFE and related groups will demand the return of such artifacts to Assad now, no matter the facts on the ground or the equities of the situation.

But, if so, won't that only confirm that their ideology is more important than fairness or common sense?

House Resolution to Protect the Iraqi Jewish Archive Garners Wide Support

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen's resolution to ensure the rights of Iraqi Jews in exile to access to the Iraqi Jewish Archive has already garnered the support of 21 House Members, including the resolution's initial co-sponsor, Democratic Congressman Israel.  The Co-sponsors to date are:

Rep Chabot, Steve [OH-1] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] - 3/12/2014 
Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Deutch, Theodore E. [FL-21] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Frankel, Lois [FL-22] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-8] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Grimm, Michael G. [NY-11] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-3] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Johnson, Bill [OH-6] - 3/6/2014 
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-2] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] - 3/12/2014 
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-17] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Murphy, Patrick [FL-18] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-10] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Stivers, Steve [OH-15] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Titus, Dina [NV-1] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-23] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Weber, Randy K. Sr. [TX-14] - 3/6/2014 
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 3/6/2014

But what is the position of the Archaeological Institute of America and Saving Antiquities for Everyone on the matter?  Both groups have been adamant in the past that Iraqi cultural artifacts should be repatriated.

Hopefully, common sense and common decency have caused them to rethink their usual position as to these artifacts which were stolen from Iraq's once vibrant Jewish community.

SAFE No More?

A reliable source indicates that Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE) is effectively dead.  While SAFE's website remains online, it has not really been updated for some time.

Certainly, SAFE has not been very active in the past year or so. And despite rumors that SAFE was planning a major conference on Turkish antiquities that was to be funded by Turkey’s U.S. lawyers, nothing ever came of it.

It does appear that a related group called "Antiquity Now" is forming on Facebook. It will be interesting to see if it becomes more active as time goes by.

I for one will not mourn the demise of SAFE.   From the start, it was highly confrontational, and brought far more heat than light to cultural property issues.

What of SAFE's Turkish Repatriation Fest?

Some months ago Saving Antiquities for Everyone was working with Turkey's US lawyers (who also help fund SAFE) to produce a conference to help make the case that antiquities should be repatriated to that country. 

From what I heard about this repatriation fest, there would be no discussion of the fact that many of these antiquities left before 1970 or that many are also the products of Greek culture, when Turkey's own Greek citizens were ethnically cleansed back in the 1920's.

Yet, nothing more has been heard of this conference, which was originally scheduled for early October.  Is there to be a great Turkish showcase?   Who will participate?  And does anyone really care anyway except SAFE, Turkey's lawyers and some Turkish cultural bureaucrats?

The Aleppo Codex Mystery

The New York Times has an interesting article about the mystery how the Aleppo Codex came to Israel and how it might have lost some 200 pages along the way.  It does ask whether the Codex should belong to the Modern State of Israel or Aleppo's Jewish exiles.  It does not suggest, however, like some in the archaeological blogosphere have, that the Codex still belongs in Syria, which conducted a thorough "ethnic cleansing" of its Jewish population well before the Assad regime began its recent bombardment of Aleppo itself. Interestingly, even some associated with the hard line archaeological advocacy group Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE) have begun to acknowledge that perhaps Jewish artifacts are not best off in the hands of governments that have persecuted Jews after all.  Will others in the archaeological blogosphere follow?

Division in Archaeological Community Over Immunity Bill

Rick St. Hilaire, former SAFE VP and current Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation Board Member, has departed from his fellows to support S. 2212, a bill meant to immunize art coming into the United States for museum exhibitions.   See http://culturalheritagelawyer.blogspot.com/2012/04/foreign-cultural-exchange.html.  I have critiqued the position of SAFE and the Lawyers’  Committee here.  See http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2012/04/lobbying-effort-against-immunity-bill.html

SAFE: Keeping its Own Secrets Safe?

Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE) has relaunched its website: http://www.savingantiquities.org/

But the snazzy graphics can't hide the fact that the website tells little about who really runs the operation or how it is financed.

There is a ghostly drop down menu under "about us," but it is difficult to access.

After a few tries, I was able to access this page entitled, "Who is Safe?"

http://www.savingantiquities.org/about/who/

And though they state,

"We do not represent or advocate for any particular profession, or academic discipline. We call for open discussions that examine practices and behavior that destroy cultural heritage. We have no “special interest” at stake except for the future of our past."

I beg to differ based on their advocacy program which seems to mark SAFE as merely an adjunct of the AIA.

And who exactly funds SAFE?

Is it solely funded on small donations of individuals, or are there any direct or indirect governmental funders?

An organization that regularly demands transparency from private collectors and dealers should do a better job of providing some basic information about itself.

Egypt in Crisis: Clamp Down on Pro-Democracy NGOs Derails Clamp Down on Collectors?

The Egyptian Military Dictatorship's decision to put Americans associated with pro-Democracy NGOs on trial may have derailed efforts to orchestrate emergency import restrictions on Egyptian cultural goods at least temporarily.

The roll-out of the new State Department funded Red List has occurred without the usual hoopla, except for this one post from a lawyer and former prosecutor who formally served as SAFE's Vice President:
http://culturalheritagelawyer.blogspot.com/2012/02/egyptian-red-list-now-available.html

And no wonder. While the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has been funding efforts of the archaeological lobby to justify import restrictions on behalf of the Egyptian Military Dictatorship with a sole source contract to prepare this "Red List," the higher ups at State have threatened to suspend all aid to Egypt over the jailing and threatened trial of Americans associated with pro-Democracy NGOs. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/world/middleeast/trial-of-americans-in-egypt-shakes-nations-ties.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=Egypt&st=cse

Cultural policy is a reflection of other government policies. In Greece, rational management of cultural resources has been hampered by over regulation, corruption and gross underfunding. Egypt's cultural policy suffers from the same ills along with an absolutely Pharaonic view of government control over the past. So why does the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, its Cultural Heritage Center and the archaeological lobby continue to subsidize and cheer for such corrupt and unfair systems?

SAFE Shortcuts Public Comment Procedure

Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE) has begun a petition campaign in support of the Bulgarian MOU. See http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-post_27.html

But the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has already set up a procedure for public comment open to all interested in whether there should be an MOU with Bulgaria. Can't SAFE follow directions?

Petitions like SAFE has prepared are inherently unreliable:

There is no way to verify that the signatories are real people or if one person has signed the petition under different names;

It's doubtful that many of the signatories have any real knowledge of the issues involved beyond the minimal information they have received with the petition.

It is likely that some signatories have also made public comments, thereby overstating support for the proposition.

SAFE already has already asked its supporters to use the regulations.gov website to comment on the Bulgarian MOU? So, can this petition accomplish anything, but to mislead?

Journalistic Detachment?

Reporters Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino have received accolades for their LA Times coverage of the Getty and their new book, Chasing Aphrodite. Anyone under the illusion that they may be detached journalists, however, should read about their SAFE Beacon award and review their Chasing Aphrodite Blog. See http://www.savingantiquities.org/event.php?eventID=257 and http://chasingaphrodite.com/

Messrs. Felch and Frammolino are certainly entitled to their moralistic views, but one can also wonder where their journalism ends and their advocacy begins.

Ai WeiWei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Only Silence by Those Supporting the Repatriation of the Originals

Jailed Chinese dissident artist Ai WeiWei's exhibition of animal heads has finally opened in New York. See http://www.zodiacheads.com/?page_id=17

One would think that archaeological advocacy groups like Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE) would publicise the exhibit, which is inspired by sculptures that were taken from the famous Yuanming Yuan (Summer Palace) in the aftermath of the Opium Wars. After all, SAFE and others have loudly supported the repatriation of the originals and other artifacts from the Summer Palace back to China. See
http://safecorner.savingantiquities.org/search/label/Yuanmingyuan

But nothing but silence.....

One wonders if there is a concern that publicising this exhibit by a dissident artist would be bad for archaeological business in China.

Egypt's Antiquities Safe

According to the new Minister of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, Egypt's antiquities are now safe. See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020102755.html

I'm sure this welcome news will leave those in the archaeological community already clamoring for "emergency import restrictions" on Egyptian cultural artifacts somewhat befuddled. See
http://safecorner.savingantiquities.org/2011/02/should-market-countries-stop.html

If there is no longer an emergency, I guess such restrictions are not needed after all.

Cypriot Icon Auction II

La Parole Divine is holding another icon auction in Cyprus.
http://www.laparoledivine.net/ Their last auction sparked some controversy. Questions arose concerning the provenance of the sole Cypriot icon in the sale. See http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2010/06/organizers-of-cypriot-icon-auction.html As a result, it was ultimately donated to the Orthodox Church.

Apparently, no Cypriot icons will be auctioned in the current sale. However, questions about double standards remain given the Cypriot government's public stance [before the U.S. State Department at least] against the sale of cultural property without longstanding provenances.

Do the icons in this auction have longstanding published provenances? [The Internet version of the catalogue does not describe provenances.] Will cultural property watchdogs Gill and Barford get on the case? Or, will they let the matter go because the auctioneer apparently has good relations with Saving Antiquities for Everyone? See http://www.savingantiquities.org/feature_page.php?featureID=6

Addendum: Mr. Barford has responded claiming his blog is not interested in icons: http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2010/11/are-gill-and-barford-interested-in-icon.html
But see http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/search?q=icons Professor Gill has also touched upon the subject:
http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/search?q=icons

US Customs Official Seeks Increased Funding Based on Disputed Claims

I wrote the following story for Coins Weekly about a US Customs Official seeking increased funding based on disputed claims about the size of the illicit antiquities market and a supposed link with terrorism:
http://www.coinsweekly.com/en/News/4?&id=313

The Customs official made his claims before a friendly audience at a SAFE fundraiser. As noted previously, his participation in that event raises additional questions. See
http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2010/10/should-law-enforcement-accept-awards-at.html

Should Law Enforcement Accept Awards at a Fundraiser for an Archaeological Advocacy Group?

Saving Antiquities for Everyone (SAFE), an archaeological advocacy group, is using awards to current and former federal law enforcement officials as a draw for its annual fundraiser. See
http://www.savingantiquities.org/event.php?eventID=235 DHS, FBI and DOJ employees can attend at a discounted rate only available to SAFE members.

SAFE's "Beacon Awards" honorees have or had enforcement authority relating to the import of cultural antiquities. Some might find this troubling. SAFE has in the past taken what many consider to be an extreme view as to what is "stolen" or illegally imported under U.S. law. SAFE also regularly conflates its version of morality and legality in its advocacy. Law enforcement should never do so when it enforces the law. In addition, government officials should avoid any appearance of bias or conflict of interest.

Would it be appropriate for a meat inspector to accept an award from PETA or an EPA official to accept an award from Greenpeace?

Organizers of Cypriot Icon Auction Donate Cypriot Icon to Orthodox Church

The organizers of the first-ever auction in Cyprus of icons have donated the sole Cypriot icon in the auction to the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. See http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/auction-house-donates-mamas-icon-church/20100505

The icon in question depicted Saint Mamas. Saint Mamas is the patron saint of Turkish-occupied Morphou. I assume that at least suggests the possibility that the icon originated from this town. The article does not state whether there is any suspicion it may have been looted when Turkish troops invaded the Island, but one wonders whether that possibility factored into the auction house's decision to donate the icon to the Orthodox Church.

As I indicated in my original blog post about this auction, I am happy Cyprus is allowing sales of antique icons on the Island, but I do question whether the auction organizers were afforded some special treatment.

For another Cyprus Mail article on the auction and some of the controversy surrounding it, see http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/treasured-icons-auction/20100403

Oddly, the usual Internet critics of the trade in cultural property have stayed strangely quiet, and, indeed, one of the harshest wrote an as usual off-point critique of my original post rather than a critique of the auction itself. See
http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-part-of-phrase-export-licence-dont.html

One wonders if this may have to do with the fact that the auction's organizer seems to have good relations with Saving Antiquities for Everyone.
See http://www.savingantiquities.org/feature_page.php?featureID=6 (post attributed to auction organizer who was instrumental in the return of other icons associated with Morphou to the Orthodox Church).

IADAA Presents Pro-Collector, Pro-Trade, Pro-Museum Views on Cultural Property Issues: So What?

The International Association of Dealers in Ancient Art (IADAA) has offered the opinions of some scholars who are friendly to museums, antiquities dealers and collectors in the debate over cultural property issues on its website. See http://www.iadaa.org/en/cultural-property-1

Apparently, that is controversial in some circles. But, I find it a more than a bit ironic that archaeo-bloggers David Gill (see http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/2010/03/iadaa-makes-its-position-clear.html) and Paul Barford (see http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2010/03/international-association-of-dealers-in.html) feel so free to criticize the IADD for publicizing views in sync with those of its members. Anyone who has read the fare on the Gill or Barford blogs will be hard pressed to find any collector-friendly views expressed therein. Indeed, Gill even feels free to engage in ad hominem attacks in the Blogosphere without giving his targets the opportunity to comment. See http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2010/02/unposted-comments-to-gill-posts.html

The IADAA is free to post what it wishes on its website on this subject. The views the IADAA expresses are no more unbalanced than what one finds on the websites of pro-archaeological groups like the Archaeological Institute of America or Saving Antiquities for Everyone. Gill's and Barford's complaints to the contrary are just plain silly.

AIA and SAFE Outreach Programs: Education or Indoctrination?

Nathan Elkins' "scholarly" hatchet job on Ancient Coins for Education ("ACE") and its program to teach kids about ancient history through coins (see below at http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2010/02/elkins-treasure-hunting-101-in-americas.html), got me to think about the Archaeological Institute of America's ("AIA's") and Saving Antiquities for Everyone's ("SAFE's") own outreach programs to youth.

A link to the AIA programs can be found here: http://www.archaeological.org/webinfo.php?page=10260

A less well-developed link to SAFE's programs can be found here: http://www.savingantiquities.org/education.php

I'll let the reader decide to what extent each organization's programs reflect a desire to educate versus a desire to indoctrinate.

Oscar Muscarella, SAFE and the "Fifth Columnn" of the "Plunder Culture"

According to former Met senior research fellow Oscar Muscarella in an article publicized on the SAFE website, there is a "Fifth Column" within the archaeological community, that purports to decry looting, but is all too willing to facilitate a "plunder culture." See: http://safecorner.savingantiquities.org/2009/10/oscar-muscarellas-fifth-column-of.html

Muscarella names names, including current AIA President Brian Rose. After reading Muscarella's denunciations of Rose and others for their alleged lack of purity, one might ask why Muscarella accepted paychecks from the "evil" Met as long as he did.