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Date: | Thu, 5 Jan 1995 08:56:08 EST |
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I picked up on this thread of discussion rather late, so I am not sure
how it started. However, I have two comments:
1. Did the western museum professionals/archeologists discuss with the
Iraqis about the distruction and looting of the Kuwait National
Museum? Did they try to get any commitments to track down and
return these collections to the people of Kuwait? Among the
cultural patrimony destroyed in the Iraqi invasion was the sole
surviving dhow, a arab ship that sailed the Persian Gulf. It seems
that Iraq is eager to complain about the traumas they have had to
endure, but unwilling to acknowlege the suffering they have
inflicted on others. Academics should not allow themselved to be
used by the present Iraqi government.
2. There is another side to this cultural patrimony issue. While
these artifacts have been removed from their native counties, the
artifacts have also been disbursed. This means that the artifacts
are not concentrated in one place (the national museum) and
prevents the destruction of an entire cultural patrimony through
war, major accidents, natural disasters and acts of God. If one
collection is destroyed, at least examples of that civilization
will survive in other places.
Alan Hawk
National Museum of Health and Medicine
[log in to unmask]
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