Zahi on the war path

[Rokcet Scientist]

A Case in Antiquities for ‘Finders Keepers’
November 16, 2009

Zahi Hawass regards the Rosetta Stone, like so much else, as stolen property languishing in exile. “We own that stone,” he told Al Jazeera, speaking as the secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Last month, after Dr. Hawass suspended the Louvre’s excavation in Egypt, the museum promptly returned the ancient fresco fragments he sought. Then the Metropolitan Museum of Art made a pre-emptive display of its “appreciation” and “deep respect” by buying a piece of a shrine from a private collector so that it could be donated to Egypt.

Now an official from the Neues Museum in Berlin is headed to Egypt to discuss Dr. Hawass’s demand for its star attraction, a bust of Nefertiti.

These gestures may make immediate pragmatic sense for museum curators worried about getting excavation permits and avoiding legal problems. But is this trend ultimately good for archaeology?

Scientists and curators have generally supported the laws passed in recent decades giving countries ownership of ancient “cultural property” discovered within their borders. But these laws rest on a couple of highly debatable assumptions: that artifacts should remain in whatever country they were found, and that the best way to protect archaeological sites is to restrict the international trade in antiquities.

In some cases, it makes aesthetic or archaeological sense to keep artifacts grouped together where they were found, but it can also be risky to leave everything in one place, particularly if the country is in turmoil or can’t afford to excavate or guard all its treasures. After the Metropolitan Museum was pressured to hand over a collection called the Lydian Hoard, one of the most valuable pieces was stolen several years ago from its new home in Turkey.

Restricting the export of artifacts hasn’t ended their theft and looting any more than the war on drugs has ended narcotics smuggling. Instead, the restrictions promote the black market and discourage the kind of open research that would benefit everyone except criminals.

Legitimate dealers, museums and private collectors have a financial incentive to pay for expert excavation and analysis of artifacts, because that kind of documentation makes the objects more valuable. A nation could maintain a public registry of discoveries and require collectors to give scholars access to the artifacts, but that can be accomplished without making everything the property of the national government.

The timing of Dr. Hawass’s current offensive, as my colleague Michael Kimmelman reported, makes it look like retribution against the Westerners who helped prevent an Egyptian from becoming the leader of Unesco, the United Nation’s cultural agency. But whatever the particular motivation, there is no doubt that the cultural-property laws have turned archeological discoveries into political weapons. [...]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/scien ... ef=science

[kbs2244]

I am sorry, but as much as it may seem the original countries have the moral right to all this stuff, the simple fact is that if the “looting” Europeans had not removed them and put them in museums, they wouldn’t be known to exist now.

And they would never have been subjected to the kind of study they have been.

The Elgin Marbles were being use for target practice by the Greek Army before they were taken to London!

The Istar Gate, even if its location was known, would still be buried at best.
A more likely fate would be its being looted brick by brick by the locals.

These treasures are from parts of the world that may have been truly great in their day,
but that now are improvised and populated by people that will sell their history for a dinner.

Instead of demanding them back, they should be sending the museums Thank You cards.

[Digit]

Instead of demanding them back, they should be sending the museums Thank You cards.

There is, I fear, a great deal of truth in that, but I doubt that Zawi would agree, Much of his enthusiasm is based IMO on nationalism. These despised museums, and foreign amateurs, founded the discipline that he now lords it over.
He should aso remember that without exhibits museums would be unlikely to fund digs in his country.

Roy.

[Sam Salmon]

There is, I fear, a great deal of truth in that, but I doubt that Zawi would agree, Much of his enthusiasm is based IMO on nationalism. These despised museums, and foreign amateurs, founded the discipline that he now lords it over.
He should aso remember that without exhibits museums would be unlikely to fund digs in his country.

Yes it's hard to find much sympathy for the man.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Don't forget Zahi is the no.2 guy in Egypt, next only to Mubarak, the president. Because Zahi brings in the bucks! Antiquities is about the only worthwhile 'product' that sandbox has on offer. The only thing that brings in foreign money: dollar$ and €uros to finance the lifestyles of the elite. And Zahi presides over them. He is a mighty man in Egypt!

[Minimalist]

Instead of demanding them back, they should be sending the museums Thank You cards.

There is, I fear, a great deal of truth in that, but I doubt that Zawi would agree, Much of his enthusiasm is based IMO on nationalism. These despised museums, and foreign amateurs, founded the discipline that he now lords it over.
He should aso remember that without exhibits museums would be unlikely to fund digs in his country.

Roy.

QFT

But don't confuse ardent nationalists with the facts.

[uniface]

I don't recall where I read it, but an exceedingly well-researched article on the bust of Nefertiti concluded, and pretty convincingly, that it was manufactured to order when the tomb was being excavated.

To start with, it isn't listed in the catalogue of items found in the tomb. For another, it seems to have been kept on the archaeologist's desk throughout his life, only subsequently becoming widely known, and so on.

Now they want it back . . . LOL !

[Minimalist]

Here you go, Uni.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/05/09/72373.html

[Rokcet Scientist]

Here you go, Uni.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/05/09/72373.html

LOL!