Recent Posts
- Busy Day
There’s still some dispute about how the world started. Scientists have observed galaxies flying apart from each other across the universe. From this they have deduced that in the past the galaxies must have all been much closer together. In fact go back far enough in time, they say, and you’ll find the universe must [...]
- Loot by Sharon Waxman
In short, the best archaeopolitics book I’ve read since Edward Fox’s Sacred Geography. I was kindly sent a review copy by the publishers and I have a feeling that they were hoping for a bit more than that, so I’ll add a bit more.
It’s subtitled “The Battle over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World” [...] - Do you need a note from a criminal to prove an artefact is stolen?
Looks nice, but are looks enough?
This is the death mask of Ka Nefer Nefer. I can tell you she was connected with Rameses II in some way, but not a lot else. It hard to find information about her lie on the web because her death mask is the big story as far as Ka [...] - Spanish police seize looted amphorae (pay attention, there will be a test)
From TypicallySpanish comes the news two men have been arrested in connection with rhe Bou Ferrer wreck off the Costa del Sol.
- Should we pass on the PAS?
Treasure hunter. Photo (cc) Elsie esq.
I’m slightly late to be commenting on Derek Fincham’s paper, in the International Journal of Cultural Property, A Coordinated Legal and Policy Approach to Undiscovered Antiquities: Adapting the Cultural Heritage Policy of England and Wales to Other Nations of Origin. There’s a few reasons for that, but the major one [...] - Why context matters
Finding burials is not always easy and their visibility can vary for a number of reasons. One reason in particular is the wealth of the deceased. As a result our understanding of the past can be skewed in favour of the social élites. That’s one reason why archaeologists get so excited about large cemeteries.
- Illicit Antiquities linked to Islamic terrorists – Who’da thunk it?
It shouldn’t be news. I mentioned the possibility in 2005, and again late last year. When you buy unprovenanced antiquities you don’t know who you’re buying them from. Now the Ashland Daily Tidings reports on the work by Matthew Bogdanos, which he says shows that the connection between the trade in illicit antiquities and Islamic insurgents is undeniable.
- Mixed news from New Zealand
The medals including a double Victoria cross which were stolen from a New Zealand museum late last year have been returned thanks to a $300 000 dollar reward. It’s nice they’re back, but the cost is too high.
Waiouru Museum director Ray Seymour said he hoped the thieves “don’t get one goddamn cent” of the reward.
I [...] - Vandalism of an African archaeological site
Vandalism, Lajuad. Photo (cc) Western Sahara Project.
Via the Megalithic Portal comes news of vandalism of rock art. The culprits are soldiers, but in a twist they’re not American. From the graffitti scrawled over the walls of the shelter they’re Russian, Croatian, Kenyan and Egyptian. Along with name and rank the perpetrators also left tags saying [...] - Are Sainsbury’s mis-selling energy?
I was stopped in the bread aisle today by a nice lady who wanted me to switch my energy supply to Sainsbury’s. It’s a common thing in the UK and the energy companies are collectively known for the ethical standards they employ when selling their energy plans. It’s not a surprise so many of them [...]
- Busy Day
