Trade Professionals Speak Common Sense

The respected voice of Peter Tompa's blog discusses the unreasonable demands for documentation of the anti-collecting league: ''Peter Tompa's Trade Professionals Speak Common Sense ':

The Ivory Tower academics of the archeological lobby often speak about requiring "provenance information" and "export certificates" as proof that items are not the products of recent looting. However, those with actual practical experience in the international trade of cultural goods have once again demonstrated that coming up with such documentation is easier said than done.

Numismatic professional Alfredo de la Fe has written about the lack of provenance information for most coins and antiquities dealer James Ede has explained the impossible task of supplying export certificates that simply don't exist.

Hopefully, decision makers will give much needed consideration to these practical concerns raised by those in the know.

Palmyra Falls to Jihadists

Scott Neuman 'Fears Grow That ISIS Might Target Palmyra's Ancient Treasures' NPR May 21, 2015

Following the self-declared Islamic State's capture of Palmyra, concern today is turning to the security of the ancient Syrian city's archaeological sites and fears that the Islamist extremists might try to destroy them, as they have done elsewhere. As we reported on Wednesday, UNESCO has described the city of 50,000 people as "one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world." [...] The New York Times says Palmyra, located about 130 miles northeast of the Syrian capital, Damascus, is "home to some of the world's most magnificent remnants of antiquity

As being suggested by collectors rights representatives, the time is right to rethink the wisdom of repatriating artifacts to failed states like Syria and Iraq.  If anything, artifacts of cultural significance from such war zones should be removed and given temporary safe harbor, something suggested by the AAMD.

Flawed Assumptions of Anti-Looting Activists

Peter Tompa raises some important questions (Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 'More Transparency and Inclusion Needed') about the well-funded and well-connected "Antiquities Coalition" and the conference they have helped promote and organize in Cairo to address the problem of looting in times of civil unrest and war. Unfortunately, the conference relies on flawed assumptions:

1. That state ownership and control over everything "old" is justified because nation states are always the best stewards of cultural artifacts;
2. That the only groups that "count" are governments, law enforcement, archeologists and state sponsored museums; and
3. That panels of experts representing these same interests, blog posts, press releases and articles meant to shape public opinion can substitute for transparent decision making.

The Egyptian Military Dictatorship's sponsorship of the Cairo conference and the unclear nature of the Antiquities Coalition's relationship with the Egyptian Government means that legitimate questions should be raised about this endeavor.

Bulgaria's Police State Jails Coin Collectors

Two collectors were arrested in Bulgaria, they had their collection confiscated by the police state (including coins struck in Romania in 1879 and 1882,and coins of Empress Maria Theresa). Archeologist Ivan Dikov rejoiced last month that "History Museum in Bulgaria’s Sliven Receives Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Austrian Coins Seized from Treasure Hunters" (April 23, 2015). Contrast this with the way Great Britain treats people who pursue their interest in the past using metal detectors.

In any case these repressive tactics are simply not working. Dikov admits that:

Treasure hunting and illegal trafficking of antiques have been rampant in Bulgaria after the collapse of the communism regime in 1989 (and allegedly before that). Estimates vary but some consider this the second most profitable activity for the Bulgarian mafia after drug trafficking. One recent estimate suggests its annual turnover amounts to BGN 500 million (app. EUR 260 million), and estimates of the number of those involved range from about 5000 to 200 000 – 300 000, the vast majority of whom are impoverished low-level diggers.

Financing the Saving of the Past

Dave Welsh has some typically relevant views on the issue of financing the saving of the past. He makes reference to Mr Maupin's excellent idea of raising money from the sale of redundant antiquities in museum storerooms. He adds:

A great deal has been said in the archaeological blogosphere regarding ethical objections to selling artifacts. The perspective upon which this "moral judgement" is based appears to be a belief that unearthed artifacts are inherently the common property of all mankind, and should not be owned, or traded in, by private individuals. [...] It isn't clear to what extent [...] believers in the "iniquity" of private ownership of artifacts and the existing antiquities trade realize the economic, social and political implications of their perspective.

Mr Welsh raises a crucial question which it seems the blinkered ideologues in the archaeological world opposed to private collecting have not asked themselves, if their possession by private collectors, and exchanges via the antiquities trade, are deemed to be "unethical", who provides the custody, storage and display of ancient art and artifacts?

There seems to be general agreement that existing institutional resources, such as museums and universities, are overburdened and unable to take on responsibility for additional holdings without increased funding. It also seems apparent that throughout the world, governments are likewise overburdened, and unable to take on responsibility for increasing funding to existing institutional curation resources, or creating new public resources. Doing so would require cutting back services in other important areas, or increasing taxes which are already perceived as being too high. So who will pay for the custody, storage and display of artifacts, if private collectors, the antiquities trade and privately held museums are deemed to be "ethically unacceptable?"

Confiscation of material currently held by collectors and circulating in the trade, if anti-collecting archeologists get their way, would lead to excessive burdens on the state.  As a consequence, Dave Welsh makes the important point:

It seems to this observer that such theorizing upon the "ethics" of private ownership of antiquities, and the antiquities trade, without providing any workable fiscal alternative is not an acceptable basis for public policy decisions, and that government officials should not accept arguments based upon "moral theorizing" of this sort without first determining and making responsible provision for the consequent financial, social and political effects.

He is absolutely right. Those who want to abolish private collecting need first to address the consequences.

Sell Artifacts to Save the Past

Chris Maupin asks why not sell artefacts to save the past?  Museums in nationalist retentionist countries  should deaccession duplicate artifacts from stores.  This increasingly becomes a necessity for cash strapped cultural establishments in places like Greece, Italy and Egypt.