90 years later, Peru battles Yale over Incan artifacts

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | 1/10/06 | Danna Harman

[Republicanprofessor]

I guess this story began in December 2005, but I am just catching it now. This was published today in the Monitor, and I thought others might need to catch up as I did.

[Republicanprofessor]

Art ping list.

Let Sam Cree, Woofie or me know if you want on or off the ping list.

[mewzilla]

Gee, the libs at Yale don't want to practice what they preach. Who'd'a thunk it.

[tallhappy]

This would not be giving them back.

Whomever made the artifatcs or whomever they originally belonged to it was most certainly not "Peru" nor the people whining now.

They can't be gien back -- the original owners and makers of them are all dead, for whatever reason.

Yale will cave.

It's nonsense though. They'd either not exist at all anymore or till be unknown.

[newzjunkey]

"... They are a well-meaning scientific organization, not looters."

There's a questionable premise in this justification that is stuck in my craw.

[Varda]

If the the previous government didn't actually transfer ownership, why don't they belong to the descendants of the people who made them?

It looks like these people have a case.

[Republicanprofessor]

I don't know if this story is relevant to your ping lists. (This may be too political, but just in case...)

I don't see how you find so many fascinating stories to post. I can't keep up with them all, but I love being on your ping list all the same.

[Recon Dad]

It's their heritage not Yale's. The Brits and the rest should be turning everything back to the Egyptians and Greeks. It's not finders keepers.

[mewzilla]

Has Yale or any of its profs had a position on the Elgin Marbles? If so, I'd be curious to know what it is.

[muawiyah]

Actually, the ancient Egyptians and Greeks all got in boats and left for Europe millenia ago. Sure, there might be an individual here and there who actually "looks" like one of the statues left behind, but he or she is very rare.

On the other hand recent studies (now being reported) reveal that European people received agriculture from immigrants who came in, settled down with local girls (and guys), and passed on both their knowledge and their genes.

Why these people who are obviously their descendants should have to give up family heirlooms to the newcomers now inhabiting Egypt and Greece is a very good question.

[Varda]

I agree, archaeology has often been a form of plunder. The Elgin Marbles should go back and so should much of the British Museums Egyptian collection.

[elli1]

I'm supposing that if President Bush gave away artifacts discovered in the United States, Yale would be having a cow.

[Republicanprofessor]

The problem is that the original owners (the Greeks particularly) did not take care of their antiquities. If Lord Elgin had not taken those pieces, they would be dust now.

[CIB-173RDABN]

It's their heritage not Yale's. The Brits and the rest should be turning everything back to the Egyptians and Greeks. It's not finders keepers.

---

An interesting take on the subject. If it was not for people like the "Brits" or the archeologist from Yale, much of these "treasures" would not exist (or have been looted or remained "lost").

These cultures that claim ownership had no interest in these artifacts until after they were rediscovered, salvaged, and studied.

I would think these ancient sites could be views as ship wreck where if the ship is abandoned, whoever salvages the cargo owns the cargo.

It was not Egyptians that discovered the secrets to the hieroglyphics nor was it a Peruvian who discovered the history of the Incas.

These cultures ignored their own history until outsiders showed up and re-discovered it for them.

[Varda]

This story includes something that is one of my pet peeves whenever someone mentions New World civilizations there's something like this,
"empire- raiding Spaniards never found"

The Aztec and Incan empire destroying Spaniards were mostly indigenous peoples.

I guess it's not PC to mention.

[Varda]

I was on the Acropolis a few years ago, funny the other artifacts there weren't dust.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

... I also see no difference between looters,
and archeologists - except who funds the expedition
and who benefits financially.

[MinuteGal]

"Possession is nine points of the law, y'all hear?".

(William Jefferson Clinton, Yale Law School graduate, 1973)

Leni

[Porterville]

If it were a Republican college I'd say screw Peru. But since it is a bunch of slimy democrat communist I say give back the loot to its rightful decedents greedy communist pigs.

[starbase]

I agree, archaeology has often been a form of plunder. The Elgin Marbles should go back and so should much of the British Museums Egyptian collection.

Yes, all these things should be sent back. They clearly belong to the descendants of these civilizations. We've got things like light bulbs, computers, and brain surgery to console us, we don't need to rip off everyone else's heritage when we have our own to be proud of.