[WOSG]

It's hugely important. It's central to civilization.

What is central to civilization is civilizing *ideas*.

A photocopy of the US Constitution is of MORE VALUE TO IRAQ"S CIVILIZATION than all the pottery of Sumeria. JMHO.

[RightWhale]

A photocopy of the US Constitution is of MORE VALUE TO IRAQ"S CIVILIZATION

Not likely. It's not their constitution, although they need something like the Bill of Rights in their's.

They need something carved into a pillar in the middle of town. This is the law, period.

Anyway, it's an articulate form of expression and so the object itself is not the paper, but the words, which can be memorized. This is not the case with art objects and other objects of undetermined use or origin.