Emperor Tacitus

Elected on this day in AD 275, Tacitus was the last emperor to be chosen by the Roman senate.

New Antiquities Museum in Basra

Iraqi citizens can now learn about how to preserve
our past in this museum founded by Europeans

Iraq opens new antiquities museum in Basra

Iraq opened a new antiquities museum in the southern city of Basra on Tuesday with pottery, coins and other artifacts dating back more than 2,000 years [...]. It will showcase artifacts dating back to 400 B.C. that tell the history of the oil-rich city on the Persian Gulf. There are plans to open other wings that would exhibit Babylonian, Assyrian and Sumerian artifacts from across Iraq dating back to 3,300 B.C. [...] The museum is housed in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces, which had briefly served as a mess hall for British troops after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that overthrew him. Al-Obaid said the location was chosen in order to "replace the themes of dictatorship and tyranny with civilianization and humanity." The museum was conceived in 2008 after the British withdrawal, and was partly funded by a U.K. charity. The hall that opened Tuesday cost an estimated $750,000, of which $500,000 was provided by the oil company BP, which operates in Basra. 

Cambodia’s Forestry Officials Foil Suspected Looters

 

After a car chase, Cambodian officials caught two looters who had stolen 10th-century sculptures (Cambodia’s Forestry Officials Foil Suspected Looters ) The Cambodia Daily reports that forestry official Mom Bun Lim, chief of the Banteay Srei division, seized two tenth-century sandstone sculptures after pursuing a car on rural roads for several hours. He noted that the vehicle seemed overloaded, and suspected the two occupants were carrying a load of illegal timber. He called for reinforcements to cut the driver off when he neared a populated area. The illegal cargo turned out to be two ancient sandstone sculptures that may have been stolen from the remote site of the Koh Ker temple in Preah Vihear province, which is located about 75 miles away, since the region around the Angkor Archaeological Park is well guarded. Anthropologist Ang Choulean of the Royal University of Fine Arts said that antiquities thefts were “a pretty frequent occurrence in the 1990s, but it’s been years since we’ve heard talk of thieves.” To read more, go to "The Battle Over Preah Vihear."

Appliqué of Ptolemy I as Dionysus.

Appliqué of Ptolemy I as Dionysus. 3rd Century BC. Greco-Roman. From Egypt, via @walters_museum

No Longer Innocent...

By advocating for an international convention that would reverse the burden of proof and place it on auction houses selling antiquities, Cyprus has turned further away from its past Common Law traditions as part of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Nothing New Under the Sun: Roman multi-tool

3rd century AD Roman army multi tool,
precursor to the Swiss Army Knife, complete
with a knife, spatula, fork & a pick

France announces $100m fund to protect cultural heritage in the Middle East

François Hollande announces $100m fund to protect cultural heritage in the Middle East 

Culture Crime News database

Culture Crime News database 

Marble Figure from Turkey

A marble figurine that may date back as far as
|10,000 years has been unearthed in Turkey

Our Refugee Problem

More Junk Science From Live Science

"Owen Jarus and Live Science are at it again.  Last time it was Egypt.  Now it is Turkey.  This time the trade data allegedly shows an increase in the exports of gold coins from Turkey that supposedly supports the proposition that they are being looted in Syria and shipped to the US from Turkey".

Read more here

Eakin Criticizes Establishment Approach

Hugh Eakin, writing for the New York Review of Books, criticizes the approach of the US and other governments to cultural destruction in Syria.  That approach has focused almost entirely on import restrictions, criminal sanctions and giving millions to archaeological groups to "study" the issue.  In contrast, efforts to protect objects on a local level (like an initiative of the University of Pennsylvania and Smithsonian) lack much needed funding.

Read more here.

Islamic Iconoclasm in Persepolis

A mighty Lamassu in Persepolis. The ancient art has been attacked by Islamic  iconoclasts, taking out his face. Their barbarism goes back a long way.