[nickcarraway]

Italy has returned the 3,000 year old religious monument to the holy city of Axum, from where it was stolen by dictator Benito Mussolini in 1937.

[Spktyr]

Somebody say Tomb Raider?

[rdl6989]

Ping.

[pabianice]

A continuing problem...

[cherry_bomb88]

This is a HUGE problem. Iran (and all of what is considered "Mesapotamia") is very rich in archaeological history. Unfortunately, for years and years due to a corrupt government (yeah, I know, what am I talking about, there is no corruption in the government of Islam...geez *rolling eyes*) much of the national treasures there have been dug up and sold off to private collectors...citizens regularly loot sites there. It's a huge problem.

[PzGr43]

Looting and tomb-raiding is an ancient trade and there is nothing newsworthy in this man's statement. Preservation of ancient buildings and similar is a modern concept exported to the Orient dating from perhaps 1860. For example, the Coliseum was being quarried by wealthy 19thC Romans who thought it fashionable to front their houses with the marble blocks. There has always been a huge trade in flogging looted artifacts to Grand Tourists.

If we introduced the death penalty for all involved in the trade from start to finish then this would help to stem it while we thought of a more more appropriate punishment.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks rdl6989. Tried to find a topic on the Taliban's destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues using Google but didn't find anything specific.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)