Many historical artifacts have been lost or destroyed over time. Archaeologists should relocate artifacts from their ruins to museums to help keep these pieces of history alive. Relocating the artifacts would ensure they are salvaged and preserved and help guarantee these artifacts would be protected from those who wish to damage or vandalize them. Relocating the relics to a museum would allow the public to value and view ancient pieces of theirs along with other culture’s history. Relocating lost artifacts could ensure they are preserved and restored for future generations. For example, removing artifacts from the RMS Titanic can preserve and help tell the story of the tragedy. According to Dik Barton, vice president of the RMS Titanic …show more content…
For example, ISIS has been ravaging ancient ruins and destroying artifacts. If the ruins were well-secured and the artifacts were relocated, ISIS would have a much harder time destroying them. According to a 2015 CBS article, “The video, which ISIS posted Saturday, shows militants attacking the more than 3,000-year-old archaeological site with sledgehammers and power tools before finally using explosives to blow it up” (“ISIS Raises Fears of Destroying Another Historical Site.” 25 May 2015.). Furthermore, ISIS has raised fears that they may destroy Nimrud, which was the first capital of ancient Assyria between 900 and 612 B.C. Mark Altaweel, who is a professor of archaeology at University College London, stated “Nimrud was a large site, the full potential of which had not been uncovered”(“ISIS Raises Fears of Destroying Another Historical Site.” 25 May 2015.). Sadly many other ancient places have also been obliterated, like the ancient city of Khorsabad, the Mosul Museum, Jonah's tomb, the ancient city of Hatra and many more. If artifacts from places similar to these are not relocated to a safer location, the possibility of them being destroyed and lost forever are very …show more content…
Dik Barton explained, "We currently have three exhibitions around the United States." (Handwerk, Brian. “Retrieval of Titanic Artifacts Stirs Controversy.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society,12Apr.2002,news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/04/0408_020412_titanic_2.html.). These exhibitions allow thousands of people to view these artifacts in person, rather than look at pictures or pay hundreds of dollars to see the wreck at the bottom of the ocean. An article in the New York Times states "Only when a museum has been built to Yale’s specifications would even a portion of the materials return, allowing Peruvians to enjoy artifacts they have never seen."(Karp-Toledo, Eliane. “Opinion | The Lost Treasure of Machu Picchu.” The New York Times,TheNewYorkTimes,23Feb.2008,www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/opinion/23karp-toledo.html.). However, Yale went against the original agreement to keep the artifacts for 2.5 years and kept them for 106 years. They are now allowing the citizens of Peru to view past pieces of their culture. Likewise "And now, alongside the hundreds of thousands of tourists who pass through Cuzco each year to visit the terraced stone ruins of Machu Picchu, the citizens of Peru will be able to see the historic relics many have never seen before." (Orson, Diane. “Finders Not
In conclusion, Pompeii still has unexcavated areas which modern day experts are debating to keep not excavate anymore, and instead leave it for future archaeologists with more advanced technologies than current times. Since the introduction of archaeology in Pompeii in the 19th and 20th century, the city that was uncovered and full of mysteries is now coming back to
However, I feel this act forces archeologists to halt further investigations and possibly damages lost records of history. Returning these artifacts and bones prevents them from being preserved a...
recreational factors in which draws people from around the world to the area of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The museum houses interpretive exhibits depicting 10,000 years of Native American occupation. Over 6,000 artifacts of bone, stone, clay, and shell are found within this museum, as well as the largest collection of Fort Walton Period ceramics in the Southeastern United States. Although every artifact present in The Indian Temple Mound Museum offers clear evidence of cultural sophistication and artistic skill, the more interesting artifacts I encountered were the Ware Human Effigy Urn, the Buck Burial Mound Urn...
James Riding points out this issue in his article, "James Riding In Presents a Pawnee Perspective on Repatriation, 1996."When Riding reported, "consequently, orgies of grave looting occurred without remorse" (p. 491) it brought to mind having seen Indian artifacts for sell. This has been a common practice for many years. It is impossible for me to guess how much loot has been carried off from Indian burial sites over the years. The important point is to note that this has taken place, and Native Americans do want these artifacts
Duncan’s (1991) analysis of western museums is defined through the theme of “durable objects” as a criterion to judge the heritage of American and European art as a ritual of the modern state. In this manner western art museums are built like “temples” as a symbolic and figurative representation of greatness of western culture throughout the world: “[They] are more like the traditional ceremonial monuments that museum buildings often emulate—classical temples” (Duncan 90). This interpretation of American/European museums defines a dominant source of cultural heritage that ritualizes
People go to see artifacts in museums for experience. What could be a better experience than going to the place they are from? Yes, the trip could cost a little more, but you cannot replicate the historical value an object holds in its origin country. The price is nothing compared to the true understanding of the history we gain from going out and visiting the place they should be. The place they should be is their home, where they were found and formed, their origin country.
Archaeology is perhaps the greatest tool to help us understand the past. Of course, with archaeology comes digging things up, and problems can occur here. The problems occur because in many cases, people who claim to have a cultural connection to these things desire to have these artifacts or remains repatriated back to them, so that they can be either reburied, or placed elsewhere. In the United States, there have been ongoing disputes between archaeologists who dig up the remains of ancient Native Americans, and the Native American tribes who lay claim to these remains. Because of the impact that these remains have on Native American culture, the United States should always respect the wishes of Native Americans. This means that if a tribe
The debate over the Elgin marbles has been raging for centuries. When the ancient sculptures were stolen away from Greece’s Parthenon, Grecians were infuriated (Mortimer). Ancient stones are some of all that is left portraying the ancient Greeks’ religious figures. What gives nations the right to pillage each others’ archeological wonders?
SHA, and other archaeological societies, institutions, scholars and archaeologists find it hard to conduct or even to get involved in such shows that are produced for the entertaining of fans and also for gaining revenue. The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is working on clearing-house project that will help in building public awareness about archaeology and the way it is practiced, therefore the project is seeking input from professionals and the interested public, in order to share and contribute information and
Imagine that one piece of history that is taken from a town. This piece of history tells l people how this town was built and all the important people that were apart of the community. “Returning Antiquities to Their Countries of Origin” by Joyce Mortimer can many people about how objects are getting taken from Museums. They should be returned immediately. There are so many artifacts out there that could be so important to people, and if someone can just imagine what it would feel to have one of the most important object taken from a museum and to be never returned again. Many people enjoy seeing these objects so why are they being taken?
The Titanic shouldn't be preserved for these reasons. It will cost billions of dollars. There is no guarantee the ship could be preserved. Fifteen-hundred people died in the ship.
Despite the fact that it has been over two decades since the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the issues of ethical conduct revolving around repatriation are still highly relevant today. The political implications of repatriation show just how delicate the issue can be for both archaeologists and tribal members. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (Public Law 101-601; 25 U.S.C. 3001-3013) describes the rights of Native American lineal descendants, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations with regard to the treatment, repatriation, and nature of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony, referred to communally in the statute as cultural items, with which they can show a relationship of lineal descent or cultural affiliation. Repatriation legislation
In “Whose Culture Is It, Anyway? ”, Kwame Anthony Appiah begins by pointing out that some of the museums of the world, particularly in the West, have large collections of artefacts and objects which were robbed from developing and poor countries. He then raises a question: who owns these cultural patrimony and properties? Our first answer may be that since they make up the cultural heritage of a people, they belong to the people and culture from whom they were taken. Appiah has doubt about this and argues that if some cultural artefacts are potentially valuable to all human beings, they should belong to all of humanity. He thinks that when they make contribution to world culture, they should be protected by being made available to those who would benefit from experiencing them and put into trusteeship of humanity.
The phenomenon of looting has been in existence for centuries. Looting is the destructive and illegal appropriation and trade of artifacts. The act of looting falls into three distinct categories: war looting, archeological removal, and the looting of industry. Archeological removal, the theft of antiquities taken illegally from their environment or designated museum, is the form referred to within this essay (). The consequences of looting artifacts are numerous and affect more than just the culture the artifacts belong to. Museums have a history of promoting looting that, despite ethical codes, they continue to do covertly. However, museums have the ability to do more than they are currently.
From 1912 to 1915, an explorer representing Yale University in Connecticut named Hiram Bingham III was busy researching and excavating ancient artifacts from the forgotten Inca civilization of Machu Picchu. His work resulted in the discovery of thousands of valuable artifacts which were shown to the world through means such as the National Geographic organization. It was agreed upon by the Peruvian government that the artifacts would be loaned out to Yale in order for more extensive research to be done, but that they would be sent back over to Peru whenever requested by government officials. As time went by, Yale took more and more liberty to act as they pleased with the “borrowed” artifacts. After World War I, they returned a very small portion