|
Newsletter archive |
Cultural heritage in dangerWhy should we care?
Why should anyone care about ancient cultures? And why should a citizen in the United States, for instance, care what happens to an object buried in China, Iraq, or another distant location, for thousands of years? Because antiquities are among the few survivors of early cultural history. Objects uncovered in their original contexts, properly interpreted, provide insight into the way our ancestors lived, their societies and their environments. They complete our view of ancient life and enrich our understanding on many levels. As such, antiquities comprise an essential part of our global cultural heritage. Amidst political turmoil and tremendous humanitarian needs, why should we worry about culture and antiquities? One answer is that “wars end, and shattered lives, communities and societies must be rebuilt.” (Nature, Vol 423, 29 May 2003) In other words, the physical fabric of the past is vital to the moral and spiritual fabric of the present and future. The idea that our children might not be able to walk into a museum, examine a piece of antiquity, and be inspired by it is unthinkable. Because the ancient past belongs to all of humanity, we must share stewardship and responsibility for protecting cultural antiquities no matter where they are found.
|
“The single largest source of destruction of the archaeological heritage today is through looting— the illicit, unrecorded and unpublished excavation to provide antiquities for commercial profit.” Professor Lord Colin Renfrew, director of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
Destruction at the 12th century Khmer city of Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia. The latest looting involved the use of pneumatic drills to chop statues from their bases and heavy lifting equipment to dismantle tons of priceless stone bas-reliefs (the photo above shows the result of the looting on a bas-relief)
|
