Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, and the Antiquities Trade

Foreword

Foreword There is an international heritage crisis: archaeological sites are being looted at an increasing rate and the illicit antiquities trade is escalating throughout the world. Looting and the antiquities trade severely affect those who wish to know the social history of a place and culture. As plunder escalates, so do the number of participants in the trade, and the battle for heritage protection becomes increasingly personal for all those involved. Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, and the Antiquities Trade provides many in-depth case studies in which the authors show the complex realities of a tough and sometimes losing battle. With the growing interest in heritage throughout the world, many people and governments are becoming more aware that archaeological sites and objects of antiquity are components that may be used in the creation of group and national identities. The Harris Poll sponsored by the Society for American Archaeology in 2004 provides some indication about what Americans think about archaeology. Overwhelmingly, people are supportive of archaeology and endorse laws that protect archaeological sites and artifacts. They believe that archaeology is important to our society: almost all of those interviewed believe that archaeological resources on public lands should be protected by laws. Americans also believe that public funds should be used to protect and preserve archaeological resources, and almost two-thirds of those interviewed believe that objects of antiquity should not be removed from a foreign country without permission from the government of the relevant country. The poll showed also that about one-third of the American public has been to an archaeological site, and the majority of those polled have visited museums with archaeological materials. While the public sees archaeological objects as important and worthy of saving, the illicit trade and the destruction of archaeological sites continue at a significant rate. Most people understand the value of archaeological objects, but they are often unaware of the fact that without context, the objects lack the critical correlates that would aid in understanding the social past. This lack of understanding of context is often reinforced by art museums when they display artifacts as “art” objects. The goal of these “art” exhibitions is to foster an appreciation of the objects for their aesthetic value rather than to interpret the larger story they can help unfold when their context is clear. Some museums also exhibit looted objects and monuments, and several authors in this volume address the ethical issue of acquisition and display of these materials. An ethical dilemma is how museum policies differ from the more general trade in antiquities as practiced in the private sphere. In this same vein, several of the chapters in this volume pose difficult questions with regard to the perceived value of antiquities before and after museum exhibitions of such materials. Museum displays that emphasize the aesthetic value of artifacts help to create a demand for these objects. The wealthy museums, thus, become agents that can set the agenda for the illicit trade of antiquities. It is clear that professionals and professional organizations dealing with antiquities need to make a better effort to share with interested communities the value of context and the importance of scientific techniques to record the context of artifacts. Only a common understanding about the value of archaeological remains can translate into beneficial public policy with regard to museum exhibition . Many other complex issues related to the antiquities trade are addressed in this book. For instance, those who remove antiquities from an archaeological site without regard to scientific methods are often seen as looters and are condemned by professionals archaeologists. Does the profession have a right to dictate how descendant communities use archaeological resources, especially in the case of “subsistence digging?” Do indigenous peoples have a right to use these resources as they see fit? Does economic relief justify the extraction of archaeological materials? Should the outside developed communities impose their views on how to use the material remains of descendant communities? These are all questions without clear answers, and they present a challenge for the professional community. The war on cultural heritage is alive, and destruction of significant cultural resources may be a devastating loss to a nation as well as to the world. For instance , the demolition of the two Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban was an effort to erase the history of Buddhism in Afghanistan. In much the same way, the looting that occurred immediately after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime helped to destroy a significant portion of the Iraq’s...