Afghan gold: How the country's heritage was saved

BBC ^ | March 1, 2011 | Alastair Lawson

[decimon]

A miraculous tale of human ingenuity and bravery lies behind an exhibition of treasures from Afghanistan that opens at the British Museum this week.

In 17 years of war after the 1989 Soviet withdrawal, and five years of Taliban rule, most of the Afghan national museum's riches were looted and some were deliberately destroyed.

But the most valuable items survived, in a vault deep beneath the presidential palace, thanks to five men - among them museum director Omar Khan Massoudi.

"He kept his nerve during the Taliban's rule of Afghanistan and displayed enormous courage in not submitting to their demands and threats to reveal its location," says British Afghan expert and member of parliament Rory Stewart.

"It was an act of extraordinary courage and he performed an amazing service to his country."

[decimon]

Key men ping.

[OpusatFR]

I saw the Afghan exhibit in DC a few years ago. Magnificent. It is such a wonder that these precious artifacts are preserved from the barbarian Taliban.

The gold necklaces and jewelry are incredibly ornate and the glassware is as sophisticated and, in some cases, more so than modern pieces. The Greek influence in elegance and grace is present in these pieces.

It was enthralling and that’s not over-the-top comment enough.

[SueRae]

I saw a documentary a few years ago on some of this effort, I’m pretty sure it was the same man. Truly remarkable, especially some of the ingenious ways people went to conceal works of art in plain sight. COnsidering the penalties from the barbaric Taliban if they had been caught, these were ultimate acts of defiance in the face of utter tyranny. If this is the same man, he’s an archaeologist still looking for a hidden staue calling the ‘reclining Buddha’. I wish them much continued success.

[SunkenCiv]

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[bigheadfred]

Picture link

Might as well call it a picture link link

[decimon]

How much link could a picture link link if...

Thanks.