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.

True Colors

The AIA has again shown its true colors.  It's unclear what bylaws the St. Louis Society actually violated, but it is clear the Society has become the victim of the fanaticism of the AIA  for the "crime" of selling well-provenanced artifacts for the benefit of archaeology.   And what of that declining number of wealthy AIA supporters who believe the AIA has said its "okay" to collect well-provenance pieces?  It's finally time for them to recognize the AIA is unalterably opposed to all collecting, not just the collecting of unprovenanced artifacts.  No more checks for these fanatics.

Paying People to Loot?

Archaeologist/children's author Jordan Jacobs suggests that the UK pays people to loot.   But what the UK does instead is to give the State a right of first refusal for artifacts found on private land that are properly reported to the authorities.  That's called fair compensation for a taking.

Doesn't Jacobs believe the State should compensate people for what it takes?  After all, the alternative is state sanctioned theft of the sort found under Communism.  Does Jacobs really believe the State should steal from its own citizens?  Or, has he not thought through his tweet?

ACCG Ahead of the Curve?

The New York Times reports that Republicans are challenging the White House in the Courts alleging that President Obama has exceeded his executive authority in his administration of our laws.  The ACCG made similar arguments in the Fourth Circuit only to have its challenge to import restrictions on "coins of Cypriot type" and coins "from China" dismissed.  It remains to be seen whether the Republicans-- who no doubt will utilize far better funding to "forum shop" and file multiple lawsuits in different jurisdictions-- will have any more success with a federal judiciary increasingly dominated as it is today by attorneys who formerly practiced as government lawyers or state court judges.

Economist on ISIS Funding

According to the Economist, ISIS terrorists derive most of their funds from hot oil, taxation, extortion and ransoms.  Fanciful claims that looted artifacts provide ISIS' second largest funding source or that $36 million was derived from looted antiquities in one Syrian locality alone are no where to be seen.  Good for the Economist not to be taken in by such nonsense.  

Archaeological Lobby's Latest Heroine in Trouble with Egyptian Military Dictatorship

Amal Clooney, the archaeological lobby's latest heroine for her calls for the return of the Parthenon marbles, is now in trouble with the Egyptian military dictatorship for her views on the lack of independence of Egyptian courts.  So, can Ms. Clooney count on the archaeological lobby's support? Not a chance.  After all, open support for Clooney may put precious excavation permits at risk.

Archaeological Snobs Criticize Significant Reported Find

While the rest of the world is celebrating the discovery of a large hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins that was excavated with the help of a trained Portable Antiquities Scheme finds liaison officer, the archaeological snobosphere is going full out criticizing everything about the find.  Yet, the finders were detecting on private land with the permission of the landowner.  It's highly unlikely that any British archaeologists would have ever surveyed the site on their own and if the find were made in a country like Greece it's also highly unlikely any such find would ever have been properly reported much less recorded.