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15th November 2005, 12:07 PM
I've seen pictures of sites here that sound like those described above. It makes me wonder why DCMS doesn't press for stronger, and above all more public, prosecution of people who do this. It would help if a: there was an archaeologist in DCMS and B: that there was a coherant legislative framework for punishing those who destory our nations heritage. As the article says "They are ruining the history not just of a nation but of human civilisation. They think filling their stomachs is more important than the blood of their ancestors."
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15th November 2005, 01:07 PM
I think part of the problem is that some people just don't see the relevance of their heritage. e.g. "To us the city of Jondishapour is of no value ...do you think it is worth depriving the 10,000 people of our town of their means to a living just so the cultural heritage department can see if there's an ancient city under here?"
Its all well and good for us to stand on the soapbox and scream about protecting our heritage, but what good will that do if no one else cares enough to bother?
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15th November 2005, 01:42 PM
Well, it has been done in the UK. I know of at least one case where a peer of the realm was prosecuted and subjected to a 5-figure fine for ploughing a SAM. Some years ago, though...
On the case in Iran, it is one thing if some farmers are plundering the site - I'd want to see the guilty individuals prosecuted hard. However, if this is used as the basis to deprive a whole community of peasant farmers of their land (guilty and innocent alike), making their families destitute, that is another matter. The land has already been cultivated, so continued farming at the same level of intensity presumably won't cause more damage.
I would rather see a more imaginative management approach, that creates the potential for the local community to benefit from the presence of the archaeological site without plundering it.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
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16th November 2005, 07:12 PM
Without the western markets in stolen antiquities and the behaviour of a certain website-would it not be questionable as to whether looters would be out of a job? Have seen what modern looters did and continue to do in the near east and its not pretty. Seems to be the case that the major markets for raped heritage exist in a country that can`t (aledgedly) point to itself on a world map
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I think Iran has the right idea-heritage belongs to everyone and should not be seen as an individuals monetary asset.Harsh consequences can be the only way to deter this growing disease.Good for Iran.Same here please.
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17th November 2005, 06:10 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by troll
Without the western markets in stolen antiquities and the behaviour of a certain website-would it not be questionable as to whether looters would be out of a job? Have seen what modern looters did and continue to do in the near east and its not pretty. Seems to be the case that the major markets for raped heritage exist in a country that can`t (aledgedly) point to itself on a world map.
I think Iran has the right idea-heritage belongs to everyone and should not be seen as an individuals monetary asset.Harsh consequences can be the only way to deter this growing disease.Good for Iran.Same here please.
If that's the website I'm thinking of, their allowal of blatently illegal trade in historic artifacts is why me, my fiance and our families don't use it. Last time I checked someone was selling a very nice chinese bronze dragon that stands about 60cm high. Half of the people on it actaully say that the stuff is plundered!
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17th November 2005, 06:30 PM
My knowledge is a bit out of date on this, but isn't the UK yet to sign up to the UNESCO treaty on trade in artefacts because of the damage to trade [:0]
Please somebody tell me it ain't so no more
(I really have worked in the field)
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17th November 2005, 07:27 PM
i think you may be right, but haven't heard about it recently. Most worrying thing I ever saw for sale on a certain auction site was some human skulls, obviously archaeological, that the seller described as coming from Russia but didn't give any more details...
++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++
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18th November 2005, 12:04 AM
I recently pointed out that it may be a tad ironic/unfortunate that a certain television archaeology show is/was sponsored by said website........or do I remember wrong?
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18th November 2005, 03:15 PM
I think I remember the discussion, and I believe that the sponsorship was of a more general kind relating to repeats of several programmes not on their original channel. I think...
As for unesco, I was relieved to stumble across this:
http://www.axa-art.co.uk/law/law005.asp
very late in the day (20 years late), but still.
(I really have worked in the field)
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24th November 2005, 06:33 PM
I would just like to point out that I know which site 1man1desk refers to when he mentions the 5 figure fine. Sadly said peer claimed penury and had it reduced to a very low figure.
