This is very interesting. Does this mean that sometime in the future this case will be used a precedent when the Iranian Nazi government sues the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to get back artifacts it claims belong to the "Islamic Republic of Iran?"
Court Ruling Protects Persian Artifacts in Massachusetts
Source: National Iranian American Council (NIAC, Washington, DC
A ruling by a Massachusetts District Court yesterday will protect ancient Persian artifacts housed at Harvard University and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts from being seized as part of an attempt collect damages against the Iranian government.
In his ruling, District Judge George O’Toole, determined that the antiquities housed at Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts are not the property of the Iranian government and thus cannot be seized as part of a court case against that government.
While the decision was a victory for the university and museum community and Iranian Americans who do not want to see priceless cultural relics confiscated and auctioned off to the highest bidder, it does not apply to artifacts outside of Massachusetts.
Collections are also being targeted across the country in separate cases in Illinois, California, and Michigan. It will most likely be years before these cases are decided.
The National Iranian American Council has led efforts on behalf of the Iranian-American community to protect the Persian artifacts and supports amending the law to protect cultural property such as the Persepolis tablets.
“Today’s ruling will help protect Persian relics in Massachusetts, but elsewhere around the country the Persepolis Tablets remain threatened,” said NIAC President Trita Parsi. “The only way to ensure the Persepolis Tablets are protected is if Congress fixes the legal loophole that put these items in jeopardy in the first place.”
An amendment to close the legal loophole exists, but has not been passed by Congress. NIAC continues to press for the Persepolis amendment, which would protect all cultural items held by universities, museums and libraries, to be passed into law.
NIAC has also requested the White House’s intervention in order to protect the Persepolis tablets, and has submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the Iranian-American community to the court to ensure the Iranian-American community’s heritage is protected.
... Payvand News - 09/24/11 ... --
Showing posts with label repatriation of artifacts and remains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repatriation of artifacts and remains. Show all posts
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
It's a Stupid Law in the USA and It's a Stupid Law in Great Britain, Too
Legislation forces archaeologists to rebury finds
Bones and skulls from ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under controversial legislation that threatens to cripple archeological research
Ian Sample, science correspondent
The Guardian, Friday 4 February 2011
Human remains from Stonehenge and other ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under legislation that threatens to cripple research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists says today.
In a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, and printed in the Guardian today, 40 archaeology professors write of their "deep and widespread concern" about the issue.
The dispute centres on legislation introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains excavated at digs in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision, which amounts to a reinterpretation of law previously administered by the Home Office, means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance, the academics say.
"Your current requirement that all archaeologically excavated human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or a further special extension, is contrary to fundamental principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice," they write. Signatories include Chris Stringer, head of human origins at the Natural History Museum in London; Stephen Shennan, director of University College London's archaeology institute; and Helena Hamerow, head of archaeology at Oxford University.
The ruling applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but ultimately the bones will have to be returned to the ground.
The arrangements, the archaeologists say, may result in the squandering of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where excavations are continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago.
"If human remains were found at Happisburgh they would be the oldest human fossils in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed," said Mike Pitts, editor of British Archaeology. "This applies to everything. If we were to find a Neanderthal fossil or a Roman skeleton, it would all have to be reburied."
Prior to 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper curation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains, such as those exhumed from the St Pancras Old Church cemetery to build the London Eurostar train terminal. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the ruling was an interim measure, but has so far failed to revise its decision.
Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: "Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.
"Whereas we have museum collections of ancient and prehistoric human remains that have been dug up in some cases hundreds of years ago, we are about to lose all of the well-excavated, well-documented skeletal material that has been excavated since 2008," he added.
The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.
Removing the need to rebury ancient human remains within two years would give archaeologists the option to study excavated bones with new scientific techniques that constantly emerge from research laboratories, the letter says.
Remains from dozens of sites are immediately at risk of reburial, including eight bronze and iron age bodies found at Clay Farm in Cambridgeshire, 50 or so skeletons from the cemetery of a medieval hospital in Bawtry, South Yorkshire, and a remarkable Viking mass burial site excavated during work on the Weymouth relief road in 2009.
"The government is asking us to destroy important materials, not preserve them for future generations, a situation that is against its own heritage policies, contra to the public will and not in the interests of the general public at large," said Duncan Sayer, an archaeologist at the University of Central Lancashire.
"This is a law that was not designed for archaeology and is doing a considerable amount of damage, and because of it we may prevent people in the future from ever being able to explore their past because we have destroyed it."
Bones and skulls from ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under controversial legislation that threatens to cripple archeological research
Ian Sample, science correspondent
The Guardian, Friday 4 February 2011
Human remains from Stonehenge and other ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under legislation that threatens to cripple research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists says today.
In a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, and printed in the Guardian today, 40 archaeology professors write of their "deep and widespread concern" about the issue.
The dispute centres on legislation introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains excavated at digs in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision, which amounts to a reinterpretation of law previously administered by the Home Office, means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance, the academics say.
"Your current requirement that all archaeologically excavated human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or a further special extension, is contrary to fundamental principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice," they write. Signatories include Chris Stringer, head of human origins at the Natural History Museum in London; Stephen Shennan, director of University College London's archaeology institute; and Helena Hamerow, head of archaeology at Oxford University.
The ruling applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but ultimately the bones will have to be returned to the ground.
The arrangements, the archaeologists say, may result in the squandering of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where excavations are continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago.
"If human remains were found at Happisburgh they would be the oldest human fossils in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed," said Mike Pitts, editor of British Archaeology. "This applies to everything. If we were to find a Neanderthal fossil or a Roman skeleton, it would all have to be reburied."
Prior to 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper curation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains, such as those exhumed from the St Pancras Old Church cemetery to build the London Eurostar train terminal. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the ruling was an interim measure, but has so far failed to revise its decision.
Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: "Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.
"Whereas we have museum collections of ancient and prehistoric human remains that have been dug up in some cases hundreds of years ago, we are about to lose all of the well-excavated, well-documented skeletal material that has been excavated since 2008," he added.
The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.
Removing the need to rebury ancient human remains within two years would give archaeologists the option to study excavated bones with new scientific techniques that constantly emerge from research laboratories, the letter says.
Remains from dozens of sites are immediately at risk of reburial, including eight bronze and iron age bodies found at Clay Farm in Cambridgeshire, 50 or so skeletons from the cemetery of a medieval hospital in Bawtry, South Yorkshire, and a remarkable Viking mass burial site excavated during work on the Weymouth relief road in 2009.
"The government is asking us to destroy important materials, not preserve them for future generations, a situation that is against its own heritage policies, contra to the public will and not in the interests of the general public at large," said Duncan Sayer, an archaeologist at the University of Central Lancashire.
"This is a law that was not designed for archaeology and is doing a considerable amount of damage, and because of it we may prevent people in the future from ever being able to explore their past because we have destroyed it."
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Mold Gold Cape
I learned about this ancient Bronze Age object today. It was purchased by and is now kept at the British Museum:
The Mold gold cape
Mold, Flintshire, North Wales, Bronze Age, about 1900-1600 BC
Workmen quarrying for stone in an ancient burial mound in 1833 found this unique ceremonial gold cape, which remains unparalleled to this day. The mound lay in a field named Bryn yr Ellyllon (the Fairies' or Goblins' Hill).
At the centre of the mound was a stone-lined grave with the crushed gold cape around the fragmentary remains of a skeleton. Strips of bronze and numbers of amber beads were recovered, but only one of the beads reached the British Museum.
The cape would have been unsuitable for everyday wear because it would have severely restricted upper arm movement. Instead it would have served ceremonial roles, and may have denoted religious authority.
The cape is one of the finest examples of prehistoric sheet-gold working and is quite unique in form and design. It was laboriously beaten out of a single ingot of gold, then embellished with intense decoration of ribs and bosses to mimic multiple strings of beads amid folds of cloth.
Perforations along the upper and lower edges indicate that it was once attached to a lining, perhaps of leather, which has decayed. The bronze strips may have served to strengthen the adornment further.
The fragile cape broke up during recovery and the pieces were dispersed among various people. Although the British Museum acquired the greater proportion in 1836, small fragments have come to light over the years and have been reunited.
Later detailed study and restoration revealed the full form of the cape, which at one time had been interpreted as a peytrel (chest ornament) for a horse. It also became apparent that a second, smaller object in matching embossed style was present in the grave.
From the dailypost.co.uk
North Wales MP wants Welsh historic cape back
Mar 16 2010
ONE of the most important bronze-age discoveries in Europe must be returned to the people of Wales, the government has been told.
The 3,400-year-old Mold Gold Cape was uncovered by a gang from the local workhouse in 1833 and was sold to the British Museum three years later.
But Plaid Cymru’s Parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd has argued it is time to hand back the precious find because it is part of the Welsh "collective memory" and likened it to the battle over the Elgin Marbles.
In Westminster Hall the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy MP told culture minister Margaret Hodge: "We talk about the Elgin Marbles and so on, but an artefact from North Wales – a famous early Welsh gold cape – is in the British Museum and will not be released back to Wales.
"Such artefacts are part of our collective national memory. They are important, and should be returned."
The cape is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Europe and is currently being featured in the BBC series The History Of The World In 100 Objects.
Workmen digging for stone in a mound at Bryn yr Ellyllon, Mold, found the cape with a skeleton that later disappeared. The local vicar recorded the find but it was the tenant of the land on which the cape was uncovered who kept the largest part of the cape and later sold it to the museum in London.
It was eventually restored and was found to be too small to fit the body of a grown king or warrior as previously thought – it most likely belonged to a slim woman or child.
During the debate in the Commons’ second chamber the culture minister insisted she "profoundly disagreed with the underlying premise that culture is to be enjoyed only by the nation most closely identified with it".
Ms Hodge added: "Our national museums are centres of excellence and scholarship and part of a wider international web of information sharing.
"It is not about promoting nationalism; the focus is on promoting an understanding of our shared past so that we can better deal with the present and tackle the problems of the future.
"Furthermore, if beautiful artefacts are created, they should be enjoyed as widely as possible, not just in one nation.
"They do not enhance the lives of just one community, but of all of us in all our communities.
"The advent of digitisation enables us to share more widely the wonderful treasures that we are privileged to enjoy in our great national museums.
"The British Museum was one of the first institutions in this country to be named "British", but its objective is to have collections representing the whole world under its roof, so as to enable everyone to enjoy its experiences which, of course, are free of charge."
Mr Llwyd said: "If they persist in taking all our treasures then obviously no one will come. Imperialism has gone, it is time for the Gold Cape to be repatriated."
The Mold gold cape
Mold, Flintshire, North Wales, Bronze Age, about 1900-1600 BC
At the centre of the mound was a stone-lined grave with the crushed gold cape around the fragmentary remains of a skeleton. Strips of bronze and numbers of amber beads were recovered, but only one of the beads reached the British Museum.
The cape would have been unsuitable for everyday wear because it would have severely restricted upper arm movement. Instead it would have served ceremonial roles, and may have denoted religious authority.
The cape is one of the finest examples of prehistoric sheet-gold working and is quite unique in form and design. It was laboriously beaten out of a single ingot of gold, then embellished with intense decoration of ribs and bosses to mimic multiple strings of beads amid folds of cloth.
Perforations along the upper and lower edges indicate that it was once attached to a lining, perhaps of leather, which has decayed. The bronze strips may have served to strengthen the adornment further.
The fragile cape broke up during recovery and the pieces were dispersed among various people. Although the British Museum acquired the greater proportion in 1836, small fragments have come to light over the years and have been reunited.
Later detailed study and restoration revealed the full form of the cape, which at one time had been interpreted as a peytrel (chest ornament) for a horse. It also became apparent that a second, smaller object in matching embossed style was present in the grave.
************************************************************************
Interestingly, the British Museum shows the cape being worn by a man. But evidently it is too small for a man, and may have, instead, been worn by a woman or possibly a child. A child? So says this article - reporting on a move by at least one politician in Wales to repatriate the Cape back to Wales! Hey - I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!From the dailypost.co.uk
North Wales MP wants Welsh historic cape back
Mar 16 2010
ONE of the most important bronze-age discoveries in Europe must be returned to the people of Wales, the government has been told.
The 3,400-year-old Mold Gold Cape was uncovered by a gang from the local workhouse in 1833 and was sold to the British Museum three years later.
But Plaid Cymru’s Parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd has argued it is time to hand back the precious find because it is part of the Welsh "collective memory" and likened it to the battle over the Elgin Marbles.
In Westminster Hall the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy MP told culture minister Margaret Hodge: "We talk about the Elgin Marbles and so on, but an artefact from North Wales – a famous early Welsh gold cape – is in the British Museum and will not be released back to Wales.
"Such artefacts are part of our collective national memory. They are important, and should be returned."
The cape is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Europe and is currently being featured in the BBC series The History Of The World In 100 Objects.
Workmen digging for stone in a mound at Bryn yr Ellyllon, Mold, found the cape with a skeleton that later disappeared. The local vicar recorded the find but it was the tenant of the land on which the cape was uncovered who kept the largest part of the cape and later sold it to the museum in London.
It was eventually restored and was found to be too small to fit the body of a grown king or warrior as previously thought – it most likely belonged to a slim woman or child.
During the debate in the Commons’ second chamber the culture minister insisted she "profoundly disagreed with the underlying premise that culture is to be enjoyed only by the nation most closely identified with it".
Ms Hodge added: "Our national museums are centres of excellence and scholarship and part of a wider international web of information sharing.
"It is not about promoting nationalism; the focus is on promoting an understanding of our shared past so that we can better deal with the present and tackle the problems of the future.
"Furthermore, if beautiful artefacts are created, they should be enjoyed as widely as possible, not just in one nation.
"They do not enhance the lives of just one community, but of all of us in all our communities.
"The advent of digitisation enables us to share more widely the wonderful treasures that we are privileged to enjoy in our great national museums.
"The British Museum was one of the first institutions in this country to be named "British", but its objective is to have collections representing the whole world under its roof, so as to enable everyone to enjoy its experiences which, of course, are free of charge."
Mr Llwyd said: "If they persist in taking all our treasures then obviously no one will come. Imperialism has gone, it is time for the Gold Cape to be repatriated."
Monday, April 21, 2008
Native American Tribe Wants to Promote Ignorance
The tribal leaders who are promoting this agenda are disgusting. They want to repatriate remains and artifacts from a museum and rebury them (indeed, from the sound of the article, they want to repatriate everything in every museum in the country, and deprive everyone in the United States any access to the pre-European history of this country), so that people can no longer look, study and learn. That stance is nothing less than the willful promotion of ignorance. If this tribe truly wants Native American remains to be reburied (assuming they are Native American), fine - but the artifacts belong to everyone, to be available for learning and educating everyone on the history of mankind.
From United Press International
Tribe wants university to return remains
Published: April 17, 2008 at 7:47 PM
DETROIT, April 17 (UPI) -- A group of Native Americans is demanding that the University of Michigan return the tribal remains and artifacts it has acquired.
Led by the Saginaw Chippewa of Mount Pleasant, Mich., the Native Americans say hundreds of human remains, and the funerary objects buried with them, are being wrongly held, and they want to rebury them, The Detroit News reported Thursday.
The controversy pits one of the nation's most renowned archeology departments against one of the nation's most wealthy tribes.
"This is a first step. The University of Michigan was a logical move," said Shannon Martin, director of the tribe's Ziibiwing Center, a $9 million museum on the Chippewa's reservation. "We thought we would go with the most difficult (institution) and stake our claim and position."
David Hurst Thomas, the curator of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, said the controversy is simple. "It's about power and control of the past and who gets to tell the story of the past," he said.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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Consider the wider issues. This isn't just about reburying remains.
James Cuno is president and director of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the author of “Who Owns Antiquity? Museums and the Battle Over Our Ancient Heritage,” published by Princeton University Press in 2008, writes about the issues and problems in Who Owns the Past? - Antiquities from great cultures belong to humanity, not nation states that emerged centuries later (April 21, 2008).
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