The PAS has reported the find of an exceptional Roman Cavalry Helmet by a metal detectorist. See http://www.finds.org.uk/news/stories/article/id/195
There has been some controversy because Christie's Auction House evidently restored the helmet before the artifact was reported. The time lag has even led at least one bitter opponent of PAS to suggest that the artifact was actually found on the Continent and given a fake British provenance. As preposterous as this sounds, PAS officials have had to spend valuable time and effort countering this charge.
I think it's better to celebrate this find and hope the money can be raised so that it can be displayed at a local museum. The opponents of PAS within the archaeological community (mostly outside of the U.K. itself) are missing the larger point. If the artifact had been found outside of Britain, it is unlikely we would now know much of anything about it at all. Though I'd rather that the finder had immediately reported it to the authorities, we also shouldn't lose sight of the fact that due to the PAS details of this important discovery have come to light.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Looting Matters: Protecting the Archaeological Heritage of Greece--For the Benefit of All Who Value Knowledge About the Past?
Archaeo-Blogger David Gill quotes AIA VP Sebastian Heath as stating a MOU with Greece is in the interests of all Americans and, indeed, anyone who values knowledge about the past: Looting Matters: Protecting the Archaeological Heritage of Greece
If so, what about the views of coin collectors who have expressed concerns in their comments to CPAC about the impact of any MOU on their continued ability to preserve, study and display historic Greek coinage? Don't they also value knowledge about the past? Indeed, if anything, I would submit because collectors come from all walks of life, their views best reflect the interests of the general public in such matters.
If so, what about the views of coin collectors who have expressed concerns in their comments to CPAC about the impact of any MOU on their continued ability to preserve, study and display historic Greek coinage? Don't they also value knowledge about the past? Indeed, if anything, I would submit because collectors come from all walks of life, their views best reflect the interests of the general public in such matters.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Unresolved Questions: Looting Matters: Protecting the Archaeological Heritage of Greece
Archaeo-blogger David Gill has issued another one of his "PR Newswire" press releases: Looting Matters: Protecting the Archaeological Heritage of Greece.
Gill's release raises several questions. First, Gill should disclose any funding sources for his releases and any contacts he might have with the Greek government that may have influenced his decision to issue this press release.
Second, Sebastian Heath and the AIA seem to have confirmed that they will press for restrictions on any artifact of Greek manufacture because such artifacts may be found in Greek contexts. Heath suggests that such restrictions are necessary to ensure artifacts are imported legally, but how does this square with the fact that import restrictions authorize Customs to detain and seize artifacts purchased openly in legitimate markets in countries like the U.K. and Germany merely because importers cannot document the item did not come from Greece?
Will all this further archaeology or merely the nationalistic view that anything Greek, wherever in the world, belongs to Greece?
Gill's release raises several questions. First, Gill should disclose any funding sources for his releases and any contacts he might have with the Greek government that may have influenced his decision to issue this press release.
Second, Sebastian Heath and the AIA seem to have confirmed that they will press for restrictions on any artifact of Greek manufacture because such artifacts may be found in Greek contexts. Heath suggests that such restrictions are necessary to ensure artifacts are imported legally, but how does this square with the fact that import restrictions authorize Customs to detain and seize artifacts purchased openly in legitimate markets in countries like the U.K. and Germany merely because importers cannot document the item did not come from Greece?
Will all this further archaeology or merely the nationalistic view that anything Greek, wherever in the world, belongs to Greece?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Repatriated Iraqi Artifacts Go Missing
The New York Times reports that substantial numbers of artifacts repatriated to Iraq have gone missing. See http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/world/middleeast/08iraq.html?hp
A witch hunt ensued after the looting of the Iraqi National Museum that led to the repatriation of many artifacts, some of which at least probably never came from Iraq in the first place.
In Saddam's Iraq, Baathist leaders sometimes traded in stolen antiquities without interference. It is unclear whether the artifacts that are now missing have shared a similar fate or have just been temporarily misplaced.
Last year, one of the Iraqi Prime Minister's relatives was detained in Dubai with Sumerian artifacts he was allegedly trying to smuggle to the United States. See http://www.culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2009/10/iraqi-pms-relatives-are-said-to-be.html That story quickly disappeared from view, but perhaps this news item will prompt some additional investigation.
A witch hunt ensued after the looting of the Iraqi National Museum that led to the repatriation of many artifacts, some of which at least probably never came from Iraq in the first place.
In Saddam's Iraq, Baathist leaders sometimes traded in stolen antiquities without interference. It is unclear whether the artifacts that are now missing have shared a similar fate or have just been temporarily misplaced.
Last year, one of the Iraqi Prime Minister's relatives was detained in Dubai with Sumerian artifacts he was allegedly trying to smuggle to the United States. See http://www.culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2009/10/iraqi-pms-relatives-are-said-to-be.html That story quickly disappeared from view, but perhaps this news item will prompt some additional investigation.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
"Whatever is Greek, wherever in the world, we want back."
Greece's former Minister of Culture is quoted as saying, "Whatever is Greek, wherever in the world, we want back." See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jul/11/parthenon.arttheft
Obviously, this request for an MOU is part of this push, but how does Greece and the State Department really define "whatever is Greek?"
Is it:
Artifacts proven to be illicitly excavated in Greece?
And/or is it:
Artifacts for which there is undisputed scholarly evidence they could only have come from Greek contexts?
And/or is it:
Anything that could have been manufactured in Greece?
It will be important for Greece (and the AIA) to clearly and publicly define "What is Greek" for purposes of CPAC's upcoming review of the Greek MOU.
Obviously, this request for an MOU is part of this push, but how does Greece and the State Department really define "whatever is Greek?"
Is it:
Artifacts proven to be illicitly excavated in Greece?
And/or is it:
Artifacts for which there is undisputed scholarly evidence they could only have come from Greek contexts?
And/or is it:
Anything that could have been manufactured in Greece?
It will be important for Greece (and the AIA) to clearly and publicly define "What is Greek" for purposes of CPAC's upcoming review of the Greek MOU.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Unconfirmed Report on Italian MOU Underscores Need For Greater State Department Transparency
Archaeo Blogger Paul Barford has revealed that coins have again received an exemption from import restrictions in the US-Italian MOU. See http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2010/09/coins-not-in-italy-cultural-agreement.html
If true, this demonstrates that Italy and the State Department seriously considered the concerns of coin collectors that any benefit from import restrictions would be far outweighed by the serious damage they could do to the preservation and study of ancient Greek and Roman coins, the appreciation of Italian culture and people to people contacts between American and European collectors.
On the other hand, it would also once again demonstrate that State Department secrecy may keep information from the public at large, but that such information is indeed often shared with members of the archaeological community either through personal contacts with Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs staff or members of foreign cultural establishments.
Coincidentally, the United States Court of Appeals will soon address such issues as initial briefs in the ACCG-IAPN-PNG FOIA case are due next week.
Addendum: I've asked Mr. Barford to provide some specifics as to the sourcing of his report. We'll see if he responds.
If true, this demonstrates that Italy and the State Department seriously considered the concerns of coin collectors that any benefit from import restrictions would be far outweighed by the serious damage they could do to the preservation and study of ancient Greek and Roman coins, the appreciation of Italian culture and people to people contacts between American and European collectors.
On the other hand, it would also once again demonstrate that State Department secrecy may keep information from the public at large, but that such information is indeed often shared with members of the archaeological community either through personal contacts with Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs staff or members of foreign cultural establishments.
Coincidentally, the United States Court of Appeals will soon address such issues as initial briefs in the ACCG-IAPN-PNG FOIA case are due next week.
Addendum: I've asked Mr. Barford to provide some specifics as to the sourcing of his report. We'll see if he responds.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Question of Presumptions
There were several responses to my last post that suggest that the AIA and archaeologists do not support treating Roman Denarii struck in Italy as presumptively Italian, but at the same time it was also suggested that it is okay to presume that an unprovenanced Roman denarius is indeed presumptively Italian because, not surprisingly, such coins can be found in Italy.
To me, this is a fine distinction without much of a difference. And, for that matter, not a very helpful one. Certainly, using such an analysis one could also presume that Roman denarii are the cultural property of any number of modern nation states in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and even the Far East where they are found, including places where it is okay to collect them.
If, on the other hand, the AIA and other responsible archaeological bodies would abandon supporting such presumptions and instead limit their support for the repatriation of artifacts proven to be taken from illicit investigations, that would be a major step forward to bridging the gap between collectors and archaeologists.
To me, this is a fine distinction without much of a difference. And, for that matter, not a very helpful one. Certainly, using such an analysis one could also presume that Roman denarii are the cultural property of any number of modern nation states in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and even the Far East where they are found, including places where it is okay to collect them.
If, on the other hand, the AIA and other responsible archaeological bodies would abandon supporting such presumptions and instead limit their support for the repatriation of artifacts proven to be taken from illicit investigations, that would be a major step forward to bridging the gap between collectors and archaeologists.
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