Indeed, my wife was a docent for a few years. My vitro was toward the naming of her finds as a stolen million dollars.
The finds are priceless, but not in money. And we well know that she worked a lifetime and handed over to the government of Egypt a thousand times more than the trinkets she kept.
Having worked on a dig in Israel, I know first hand the incredible labor archeology is. I also know that there are precious few that will do it. Certainly this government puke that accuses her has never gotten dirt under her fingernails.
If the paltry things she kept were a million dollars worth, Egypt owes her it’s GDP for a few decades.
Without her and people like her Egypt would have nothing of its past. A little gratitude is due.
I did understand your post. But how exciting that you were on digs! What did you get to do? And I’ll bet your wife had a ball at the museum. It’s awe-inspiring to spend hours among things so ancient.
Yes, for all she kept, she gave the major majority back to the country where she was digging. I believe they got first choice of everything and decided what was worth adding to their collection and what wasn’t. There’s only so many pot shards anybody wants.