"7,000-year-old enigma" goes on show in Athens

The National Archaeological Museum in Athens.has an exhibition (open until 26 March) called The Unseen Museum - a temporary exhibition of some 200,000 antiquities held in the museum vaults and not on permanent show. By hiding them away, Greek archeologists apparently attempt to avoid having to provide explanations for some of the hidden objects, like one of the items that the media picked up on:

The bird-like object was carved from granite - without the benefit of metal tools, as it dates from the Final Neolithic period. The 36cm (14in) statuette has a pointed nose, round belly and cylindrical legs. But it has mystified archaeologists, who do not know exactly what it is or where it came from. The museum says the figure is asexual, with no sign of breasts or genitals.  But it says it is difficult to say whether that is a result of the challenge of carving granite without metal tools, or whether it was deliberate and could tell us something about the place of gender in Neolithic society. 

The object came from a private collection from northern Greece, whch shows again the role collectors play in preserving rare and interesting archaeological objects.

Siding with the Monsters

When?

New Amnesty investigation reveals thousands methodically and secretly killed in a Syrian military jail, yet archeologists still work together with their regime-based counterparts and artifacts are still seized and sent back to this murderous regime. Syria's Archaeological service is part of the same government that did this -there is no denying it.

Stela of Seti I and Ramesses II

While this stela features King Seti and his son Ramesses, its' purpose may have been to commemorate the careers of the priests on the right. Artefacts like this bring history to life.

Documentary "Saving Mes Aynak"

Documentary "Saving Mes Aynak" now on Netflix

China plans to destroy ancient Buddhist city to get copper bonanza

Two Chinese state-owned mining companies plan to destroy an ancient Buddhist city in Afghanistan in order to get the copper underneath it, according to a new documentary According to the film "Saving Mes Aynak," Metallurgical Group Corp. (MCC) and Jiangxi Copper are in the initial stages of building an open-pit copper mine 25 miles southeast of Kabul. The location is home to a walled Buddhist city that dates back 5,000 years.According to the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the site is also home to the world's second-largest copper deposit. China is an importer of copper and a major global refiner of the industrial metal. In 2007, under the administration of President Hamid Karzai, MCC agreed to pay Afghanistan $3 billion to lease the Mes Aynak area for 30 years. MCC plans to extract over $100 billion worth of copper deposited directly beneath the Buddhist city, according to the documentary. 

Mariam Amini, 'China plans to destroy an ancient Buddhist city to get the copper buried there' CNBC, 1 Feb 2017

China is of course one of the countries with which there is a repatriation MOU. Perhaps they should be made to show they can look after their own heritage before the MOU is extended.

Mosaic from House of Neptune and Amphitrite - Heculaneum, Italy

The “House of Neptune and Amphitrite” is famous for its mosaic nymphaeum, a small cascading fountain built inside a Roman house. The mosaic depicts Neptune and Amphitrite.The floral design wall decorations surrounding the nymphaeum and adjacent rooms are of bright and vivid colors. Also the adjacent well-reconstructed wine shop is thought to be part of the property.

Disgruntled Pompeii workers suspected of a demolition job

Tom Kington, Disgruntled Pompeii workers suspected of a demolition job  The Times February 1 2017,

Italian police are investigating claims that staff at Pompeii tore down part of an ancient Roman house in a clash with management. Officers were called after a 1.5m sq section of wall at the House of the Citharist, a large aristocratic dwelling at the excavated city, crumbled to the ground. It happened a day after guards called an impromptu union meeting to discuss disputes with management. The meeting, scheduled to be held during opening hours, would have shut the site and kept hundreds of tourists waiting at the gates. The plan was thwarted by Massimo Osanna, the site’s head, who found extra members of staff to keep the gates open. “This is not the first time they have done this,” Mr Osanna said. “It’s blackmail…

Typical childish reactions from this impetuous and irresponsible nation. If the Italians cannot look after heritage properly, The President should cancel the MOU with them, so that American collectors can preserve heritage from Italy until such a time as these children grow up a bit. Shocking.