Student finds 12th century Irish brooch on a Galway Beach

McKenna McFadden, an Irish American film and television major at New York University, is in Dublin for the summer with an NYU program. She was walking on the shore of Oney Island in Connemara in the west of Ireland this week when something sitting in the sand caught her eye. Little did she think it would be a rare artifact from the 12th century.[...]  The artifact, called a kite brooch because of its distinctive shape, is now with the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. The brooch, which would have been used to fasten a cloak or shawl, is one of only a few examples of its kind to ever be found in Ireland. 

Sheila Langan, 'American student finds 12th century Irish brooch on a Galway Beach' Irish Central July 28,2016

Unethical Archeologists and how to deal with them

Dave Welsh exposes the lies and weasel words of the archeology lobby in their fight against collecting (Ancient Coins: 'Archaeologists Unethically Pursue Their Anticollecting Vendetta' Friday, July 29, 2016

Collectors of antiquities and ancient coins, and we who seek to defend their interests, should seek appropriate ways of highlighting their ethics violation, and of pointing out that archaeologists, who so loudly and frequently complain about the "unethical" behavior of those who collect and trade in antiquities including ancient coins, are in a broader sense (as the general public understands ethics) presenting their irrational case against collecting in an unethical and deliberately deceptive manner.

It is difficult to see what would be an appropriate way to do this, but it is something all collectors should be concerned about and engaging with. I am pretty sure though that the appropriate means is not through the tactics with which some of the more hotblooded protagonists have attempted to deal with this issue to date. While mischievously attacking the character, knowledge and motives of individual critics is undoubtedly the easiest route, it may be counterproductive - making it look like the collecting community is dominated by mouthy blowhards. This does a disservice to those of us in the community with a more serious interest in the past. It seems to me that we need to address these people on their own grounds - through reasoned explanation that they are (a) wrong, and (b) misstating the case (and why) in an articulate manner and citing firm evidence which counters their misdirection. It seems to me that the trade associations are all failing us by not seeing that this is the case.
 

Mass Destruction or Mass Deception?

Avocational heritage observers on both sides of the Atlantic weigh in in the "ISIS-funding by looting" model (Mass Destruction or Mass Deception? )

Anti-trade academic Neil Brodie apparently thinks ISIS must be selling coins to fund itself based on the appearance of 23 "new" Syrian Tetradrachms on the market per year since the start of the Syrian civil war. According to the study Brodie cites, this is an increase in the average of 17 "new" coins per year that appeared previously. However, even assuming the increase can possibly be attributed to ISIS as opposed to the Assad regime, the "Free Syrian Army," destitute Syrian refugees selling off their own collections, or some new find outside Syria, the amounts of money sales of such coins could possibly generate won't do much to help fund a terrorist army. So, the appearance of so few "new" coins on the market, if anything, underscores the fact that the amounts ISIS must really be making from antiquities sales is probably quite minimal in reality.

Peter Tompa points out that the archeological lobby is desperate to justify the millions of dollars it has received from the State Department and other sources to "study" the issue and lobby for a further crack-downs on collectors.  English expert, John Howland  UK Treasure Hunter and Collector comments on the threadbare theories of this "academic".

To the casual observer his argument might well appear to be factually academic, but to hard-nosed cynics they are little more than cod science of the type that gives even bull***t a bad name. He goes on at tedious length to promote his cv effectively saying - oh what a smart arse I am - presumably to lend some additional credence to his 'ideas; but when one boils it all down, it's the same old, same old scatology posing as fact.

He goes on to say that archeology as a science is a very inaccurate one and asks whether the world's heritage can "be left in the care of people who spout such utter nonsense". Dave Welsh enlarges on the aspect of the academic's qualifications. He points out that Dr. Brodie can hardly be considered a  practicing archeologist since it can be ascertained that fieldwork tends to be a relatively minor component of his overall activities. Brodie instead has in fact become an "academic archaeologist" whose "research" unhealthily focuses on looting and trafficking in "illicit" antiquities. Mr Welsh adds

I am not an admirer of "academic archaeologists" whose professional identity has become the documenting and criticism of the illicit trade in cultural objects. The reason is that their professional commitment to this subject takes on a life of its own, and their voluminous journal publications upon this subject add relatively little to what archaeology contributes to mankind's knowledge of the past. Focusing (as Dr. Brodie does) so exclusively upon the illicit trade in cultural objects strikes me as special pleading whose purpose is to defend the professional interests of archaeologists. The attainment of "eminence" in the field of archaeology ought, in my personal opinion, to depend upon contributing to mankind's knowledge of the past, rather than study and criticism of the illicit trade in cultural objects. 

Mr Welsh questions what all the current academic study and journal article publications devoted to this subject are actually accomplishing in the way of genuine practical results in the way of reducing the deplorable incidence of looting in source states or suppressing trafficking in illicit objects. Alongside this, the activities of these anti-collecting activists are doing very serious damage to the interests of antiquities collectors and collectors of ancient coins. Among other things they are "encouraging legislation whose purpose is to restrict and discourage the international trade in antiquities and ancient coins". This is why we must fight these people with every means we can.

Will due process concerns trump rigged bureaucratic decision-making?

This is so important:

Hacked emails have  confirmed the suspicions of Senator Bernie Sanders' followers that the powers that be in the Democratic National Committee-- who are supposed to be neutral-- in fact sought to rig the system against him and his campaign. Collectors, both here and in Germany, already know that feeling. In the US, the State Department-- which is supposed to be neutral when it comes to deciding whether foreign requests for MOUs meet the criteria in the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act-- has never rejected one.

Antiquities for Animal Lovers

Peruvian jaguar pot 100-800 AD
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

ACCG Test Case Continues

Respected coin dealer and commentator Dave Welsh comments (ACCG Test Case Continues):

"The lawsuit filed by the ACCG in its attempt to force legal review of anticollecting bureaucratic fiats issued by the State Department's Cultural Heritage Center continues, despite evasion of the ACCG's effort to force public disclosure of behind-the-scenes, secret State Department collusion with the archaeology lobby and nations seeking US import restrictions.

The reader who would like to know the truth can find it clearly and accurately stated here: Cultural Property Observer: ACCG files Motion for Summary Judgment.

If anyone desires to be misled by comments based upon extreme bias, complete ignorance of US law and general misunderstanding of the issues at stake, falsehood can be found here: Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues: ACCG Dealers Still Attempting to Drag Disreputable Numismata Case Through the Courts "

I cannot see why anyone would want to be misled. The text by Mr Tompa seems to cover all the points. It seems this time we cannot lose - and it we do it will expose the corruption within the establishment.

ACCG Test Case Continues

Respected coin dealer and commentator Dave Welsh comments (ACCG Test Case Continues):

"The lawsuit filed by the ACCG in its attempt to force legal review of anticollecting bureaucratic fiats issued by the State Department's Cultural Heritage Center continues, despite evasion of the ACCG's effort to force public disclosure of behind-the-scenes, secret State Department collusion with the archaeology lobby and nations seeking US import restrictions.

The reader who would like to know the truth can find it clearly and accurately stated here: Cultural Property Observer: ACCG files Motion for Summary Judgment.

If anyone desires to be misled by comments based upon extreme bias, complete ignorance of US law and general misunderstanding of the issues at stake, falsehood can be found here: Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues: ACCG Dealers Still Attempting to Drag Disreputable Numismata Case Through the Courts "

I cannot see why anyone would want to be misled. The text by Mr Tompa seems to cover all the points. It seems this time we cannot lose - and it we do it will expose the corruption within the establishment.

Romulus and remus among the Anglo-Saxons

The influence of the Roman Empire in the West lasted well beyond the Fall of Rome:

Silver penny of Æthelberht (moneyer Lul, East Anglia, ca 779-9) copying Roman coins with she-wolf suckling twins

The need for Education

Commenting on a post about use wear of gold coins (Re: gold wear and weight loss ) expert palaeometrologist Rob Tye notes:

Entirely correct and an important point. I can easily dig out examples of Historians, Archaeologists etc who do not understand points that parallel this For instance - a case where a historian assumed that every surviving specimen of a Charlemagne denier had lost 10% weight 'in the ground' Or another case - this time the reverse where a new weight standard was postulated for a group of silver coins that in fact had visibly suffered badly from chloride damage (to the trained eye), and had merely lost about 15% of their weight to corrosion. That is the competence point that is not coming out enough in the interminable debates about heritage issues. By aggressively pushing a claim to an exclusive right to own and interpret old coins, the objects are being passed into the hands of those who do not do the job competently. Its not just politicians who have fallen for a rather superficial analysis of the heritage issues - most beginner collectors seem to have too.

It seems there is scope for some sort of educational effort by the older more experienced collectors to counter the aggressive claims of exclusivity to keep study material like old coins out of the hands of those who do not do the job competently.
 

We need to Fight Islam

Newt Gingrich has called for a sharia law ban in the United States. “Western civilization is in a war. We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background and if they believe in sharia they should be deported,” Gingrich told Fox News. "Sharia is incompatible with western civilisation. Modern Muslims who have given up Sharia, glad to have them as citizens. Perfectly happy to have them next door," he added. He also suggested monitoring US mosques and jailing anyone who visits websites favouring a terror group. "Anybody who goes on a website favouring Isis, or al-Qaeda, or other terrorist groups, that should be a felony, and they should go to jail," he added. He went on, insisting “sharia is incompatible with Western civilization" and blamed such terrorism in part on "Western elites who lack the guts to do what is right, to do what is necessary." Donald Trump has said Muslims should be banned from entering the US.

See the report "Sharia: The Threat for America" by the Center for Security Policy. This shows that Muslims have become radicalized and will subvert the U.S. through Sharia law. Action needs to be taken now to stop this happening.

Arguments about Muslim religious freedoms ignore the issue of whether Islam should even be categorized as a religion.

Because Sharia is a set of governing principles regulating both public and private life, critics suggest that Islam should be considered to be more of a political structure than a pure body of faith. "Islam is not a just a religion … Islam is different," former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said during a Republican debate last fall. Prominent conservative group Family Research Council claims that only "16 percent of Islam is a religion." Ben Carson, another failed presidential candidate, echoed his remarks in January by asserting that Islam is not a religion, but rather, a "life organization system." Carson also believes that a Muslim should not be president. Taken a step further, as Santorum did during the presidential debate in December, then constitutional rights would not automatically apply to those who practice Sharia. "Islam is a religion, but it is also Sharia law, it is also a civil government, it is also a form of government. And, so, the idea that that is protected under the First Amendment is wrong," he said.

(NBC News)

Islamic State has released a new video showing the destruction of Palmyra.

Islamic State has released a new video showing the destruction of Palmyra.

Apparently filmed before the city’s liberation in May this year, the footage depicts extremists smashing ancient statutes and bulldozing human mummies. The video allegedly released by one of Islamic State’s (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) websites, was shot in the form of a documentary. First it shows militants smashing ancient statues on the ground and then come the mummies, which the extremists later bulldoze. A strategically important location, Palmyra had been in jihadist hands since May 2015. The Syrian Army backed by Russian forces managed to recapture the city on March 27, an event largely viewed as a victory and turning point in the war against the terrorists.

1,400 years of Muslim inbreeding has consequences. Stupidity is one of them. Muslims are not "peaceful". Muslims invade, conquer and destroy. That is the way of Islam, the religion of war and death.

German Parliament passes controversial law to protect cultural heritage

The German Parliament passes controversial law to protect cultural heritage

The Cultural Property Protection Law faced opposition from art dealers and collectors as it wound its way through the legislature. By 4 July, more than 48,000 citizens had signed an internet petition calling “for the preservation of private collecting.”

Now probably in the New Order, those who were not careful enough to sign anonymously might wake up one morning to find jack-booted Commissars waiting outside their apartments with dogs and a search warrant. We must fight to preserve our Rights.

Ephesus ruins under the stars

Ephesus ruins under the stars

ArcheoPop ‏@archeo_pop 

 

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