17th April 2012, 08:19 PM
A bewildering topic on many levels!
I seem to remember the "archaeology" brief on range days on the Plain...don't dig on the mounds (with helpful signs displaying a red line through a picture of a shovel); don;t use them as OPs, don't park your tank on them for a better view and remember where they are when it's dark...
All sound stuff and luckily the majority of the "good" archaeology isn't in the impact area. Then again, if there was any archaeology in the impact area, it ain't there now!
I don't think World Peace would save ancient monuments as long as you have people with enough money to buy antiquities. I have heard of "loot to order" but of course have no evidence whatsoever...but archaeology in the East (Middle or otherwise) only really seems to be at risk when the West gets anywhere near it. And if stand off weapons and long range bombers aren't weapons of mass destruction, then what are they?
And of course there is NOTHING to stop the local dictator/government putting troops and weapons in and amongst World Heritage sites (when they run out of hospitals) just to stop them being blown to bits by the enemy...but that doesn't always work. A very dangerous game of bluff.
Can't really see what archaeolgists can do except support lobbies and make everyone aware of ALL the World's Heritage at risk - and this includes bits the Taliban don't like and destroy with no compunction on religious grounds.
But I think the point is well made that some commercial archaeology companies are just as guilty of archaeological vandalism as the odd uniformed person invading...
I seem to remember the "archaeology" brief on range days on the Plain...don't dig on the mounds (with helpful signs displaying a red line through a picture of a shovel); don;t use them as OPs, don't park your tank on them for a better view and remember where they are when it's dark...
All sound stuff and luckily the majority of the "good" archaeology isn't in the impact area. Then again, if there was any archaeology in the impact area, it ain't there now!
I don't think World Peace would save ancient monuments as long as you have people with enough money to buy antiquities. I have heard of "loot to order" but of course have no evidence whatsoever...but archaeology in the East (Middle or otherwise) only really seems to be at risk when the West gets anywhere near it. And if stand off weapons and long range bombers aren't weapons of mass destruction, then what are they?
And of course there is NOTHING to stop the local dictator/government putting troops and weapons in and amongst World Heritage sites (when they run out of hospitals) just to stop them being blown to bits by the enemy...but that doesn't always work. A very dangerous game of bluff.
Can't really see what archaeolgists can do except support lobbies and make everyone aware of ALL the World's Heritage at risk - and this includes bits the Taliban don't like and destroy with no compunction on religious grounds.
But I think the point is well made that some commercial archaeology companies are just as guilty of archaeological vandalism as the odd uniformed person invading...
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!