UNESCO Heritage Sites Versus Museums: Survey Results for Artefacts Abroad
The big Museums have the greatest advantage when it comes to the artefacts that the UNESCO heritage sites and others want back -- the big Museums have possession. Further, the Museums typically reside in the countries that made the laws governing repatriation. But as cultural tourism continues to be a growing and massive business, the UNESCO sites are making their own big Museums and are able to hire their own lawyers to defend their interests (check Zahi Hawass' Most Wanted List). The complex battle for who controls artefacts is really heating-up now. Perhaps the issue of who owns antiquity is possibly less urgent than who controls it. Yet, what does all this mean to us?
One person commented in the Heritage Key survey (see full results below): "The fact is, that many of these artefacts were saved from oblivion by being brought to European museums and later North American and other important museums around the world." And you might also consider that while some of the pieces are well known, they are also a fairly small percentage of all the artefacts discovered--or to be discovered.
Illegal activity should also be sanctioned: "The fact that museum directors, antiquities dealers, and others in the field still hold out hands while covering their eyes to the black market is a crime that should no longer be facilitated." It was encouraging to see the Louvre (perhaps reluctantly, but eventually) do the right thing when challenged on Egyptian hot artefacts (read > the TT15 wall fragments scandal here).
Is Professor Dimitrios Pandermalis the president of the new Acropolis Museum, right when he suggested that things like the Elgin Marbles belong to the world, serving as a unifying symbol of European civilisation which aren’t owned in a legal sense (since they can’t in reality be bought or sold) but are really the cultural property of humanity. So if antiquity belongs to everyone, then what do we think about distributing objects around the world?
"It is invaluable that different artefacts from different cultures are spread amongst the world as if every egyptian artefact
went back to Egypt, many people will never get the opportunity to visit Egypt and see these important pieces," commented one respondent. Additionally, spreading them out makes the entire set less liable to a single damaging event like a natural disaster or war.
We asked Heritage Key users to share their opinions on "Artefacts Abroad" and below are the results and some further comments. Please join the discussion and add your comments below.
Results from Heritage Key "Artefacts Abroad" Survey
One of the main takeaways from the survey is that whether or not to return popular items from foreign Museums is a difficult issue--but clearly something needs to be done. Many people commented that the specifics of each case need to be considered to really understand what the right actions should be.
Sensibly one person stated: "All artefacts which were taken without permission of the government at that time should be returned . All artefacts that the originating country ask to be returned should also be returned. This is conditional to the artefacts being properly cared for and exhibited . Also must take into consideration any possibility of them being resold for the personal profit of said countries or its agents."
Results Question 1: Hostages or Ambassadors?
HK Asked: "I have very mixed and difficult feelings when I go to a museum overseas and see all these wonderful items taken from Egypt. The objects are giving a good example of Egyptian civilisation to people in different countries so that they then come here to see the Pyramids and tombs." - Wafaa al-Saddiq, the director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, in an interview with the BBC
In general, are 'high profile' artefacts abroad such as the Elgin Marbles, the Rosette Stone and the Bust of Nefertiti ambassadors for their ancient cultures – engaging and teaching people – or should they be considered hostages - away from their roots and inaccessible to their own people?
Responses:
- 35.35% Hostages
- 59.09% Ambassadors
- 5.56% Don't Know
Results Question 2: Return Nefertiti?
HK Asked: The world famous Bust of Nefertiti is the star at the recently re-opened Neues Museum, Berlin, drawing millions of visitors. Should it be returned to Egypt, or is it of more value to world heritage and better off in Berlin?
People responded:
- 47.24% Yes
- 46.23% No
- 6.53% No Opinion
Results Question 3: Should British Museums Return Objects
HK Asked: Do you think any of the artefacts at the British Museum should be returned?
People Responded:
- 36.87% Return None
- 54.55% Yes, Return Some
- 8.59% No Opinion
Results Question 4: British Museum Wanted List
HK asked: If yes, to Question 3 which ones?
Not surprisingly, the most cited object by far that people felt should be returned from the British Museum is the Elgin/Parthenon Marbles (read > how the Parthenon Marbles Got to the BM). Other items mentioned repeatedly included: the Rosetta Stone, Lewis Chessmen, and the Knidos Lion.
Someone said "everything that was acquired since 1850" where another person extended that to "1970".
Results Question 5: Long-term Loans
HK asked: "Repatriation is yesterday's question. Questions of ownership depend on the thought that an object can only be in one place. That's no longer true."- Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum told the Guardian
Dr. Zahi Hawass would love to see the Rosetta Stone in Egypt when the Grand Egyptian Museum opens. Do you think long-term loans are a solution if repatriation is not a possibility?
People Responded:
- 53.50% Yes
- 21.50% No
- 23.00% There are other Options
Results Question 6: Other Solutions
The most offered solution was to make identical copies using the latest technology. These copies would allow for the originals to be returned to the home country. Though how much of "the magic" in an ancient artefact is lost in a replica? Is an icon still iconic if it is a copy? From a practical perspective though, the general public probably would never know the difference just by looking--but maybe the copies could at least be touched?
One of the most interesting ideas: "The artifacts should not be moved. They should be protected along with the entire
cultural heritage in their home country. My solution is to to set aside land in each country, almost the way the Vatican does in Rome, that is under the combined jurisdiction of the country of origin and a special United Nations art preservation entity that is given overseeing authority to insure the protection of the art."
Heritage Key invites you to share you comments and opinions below. What do you think about the results? How should the Museums and the Sites be taking our interests into account? More ancient world discussion topics for you to consider here: heritage-key.com/discuss
Read 3 comments, or leave your own
Comments
It may be interesting to know the public opinion on this matter but since most of the people in Africa cannot read nor write, I wonder whether this survey can be used to deny to those,for example in Benin,whose culrural artefacts have been looted by the British? Besides , are we really going to make the restitution of objects that have been clearly looted or acquired under dubious circumstances dependent of the opinion of those primarily responsible for this situation? Are morality,fairness and justice,United Nations and UNESCO resolution no longer relevant to such issues?
It is only on the assumption that these factors are no longer relevant to looted artefacts or artefacts acquired under dubious circumstance that the Western States , such as Germany,Great Britain can afford to be seen disputing with Egypt and Nigeria. Take Egyptian artefacts for example,how many Egyptian objects are in the West - Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and France? How many European aretfacts are in Egypt and the rest of Africa? Surely a sense of proportion is missing here. How can Germany even discuss with Egypt whether Nefertiti should be returned or not?. The Berlin Egyptian Museum alone has some 100 000 Egyptian aretfacts,including objects weighing over five tones objects. How much more do the Germans need? A look at the British Museum or Louvre will demonstrate what I am tring to say.
James Simon who finaced the expedition to Amarna as a result of which the bust of Nefertiti was discovered and sneaked to Germany under uncleared circumstance, was in favour of returning the bust to Egypt in exchange for other artefacts. Adolf Hitler, that notorius murderous German leader, was against such aproposal which had been agreed by all German specialists consulted. So whose will now prevails, that of Simon or that of Adolf Hitler?
It is noticeable thatt when it comes to discussing cultural artefacts taken by Westerners from other countries,Westerners immediately shut out all priciples of fairness, equity and solidarity. Even if Egypt did not have a right to secure the return of some of her artefacts, would solidarity not dictate that the West accepts to return those the Egyptians are demanding? Or are solidarity and international cooperation irrelenat here?
What about the Benin bronzes which the British looted by force of arms in 1897? Does shame not play any role at all in these discussions? What kind of morality supports the British in their refusal to return some of the Benin bronzes rather than sell them? There is clearly somethink basically wrong with the attitude of many in the West in this matter. I can only surmise that the excessive arrogance of the West and their feeling of superiority prevent them from seeing arguments that are otherwise thoroughly bankrupt from all points of view. It is their might that enables them to keep presenting their current arguments. Most of what is said ob behalf of the West retaining illegally or wrongfull obtained cultural artefacts would not be accepted in most Western universities.
Kwame Opoku.
Dr Opoku--thanks for your very interesting comments. (more about Benin Bronzes here) It would seem that a lot of arguments now about how museums are better caretakers run a bit thin--now that UNESCO sites have worldclass museums and also that places like Cairo are getting massive numbers tourist visits. I guess you might really wonder what kind of an example museums are setting to the many children that visit their collections are wondering why they hold pieces from other countries.
A quick update on Nefertiti in the Neues Museum:
"A Berlin museum chief confirmed Tuesday she planned to meet a senior Egyptian official soon to discuss a long-running dispute over the bust of Queen Nefertiti, an exquisite, 3,500-year-old limestone sculpture. Friederike Seyfried, director the Berlin Egyptian Museum, will meet next month with Zahi Hawass, the Egyptian antiquities chief, in Cairo, her office said, confirming Cairo news reports. The sculpture would be one topic of discussion."
on the 24th of November, on EarthTimes.org
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