Archaeology and the Public Flashcards
Archaeology is not always peaceful digging but there may be a certain identity question involved in the site. Illustrate this on the basis of the cases of Masada (nationalism) and Palmyra (ideology)?
Masada is considered a national symbol of Israel as it demonstrated their (the zealots) stand against the Romans. Jewish War of 73, Zealots were a small stream of Judaism.
The temple of Palmyra was seen by ISIS as pagan worship and did not fall in line with their ideology, so they blew up the temple in 2015.
Why is the use and reuse of the Aya Sofia in modern Istanbul a good example of the combination of nationalistic and ideological issues related to a site?
Aya Sofia originally started as a church under the rule of Emperor Constantius II in the 4th century, was then turned to a mosque in 1453, was then turned into a museum by Kemal Ataturk in 1935 and allowed the seperation of church and state (more so political thought), and in July 2020 became a mosque once again by Erdogan. Shows the switch between nationalist and ideological wants depending on who is in control.
War is mostly not good for the preservation of archaeological heritage. Illustrate this with an example.
The Treasure of Priam was taken by Schliemann and illegally shipped away to Berlin. It was taken by the Soviets in 1945 (compensation of the destruction caused by the Nazi reign) and then eventually ended up in Moscow in the 1990s. It lies in Moscow now in the Pushkin Museum, but there is the question of should the artifact be sent back to Germany or to Turkey?
Give one example of a case which was indeed good for the archaeological heritage. Say why this is so.
Napoleans attack on the Egyptians allowed for the Scholars he brought with him to map and chart the land and the description of Egypt.
Give at least 3 arguments for the Elgin Marbles having to stay in London or 3 arguments for them having to return to Athens.
On One hand… (For London)
- Earl of Elgin had legal permission of Sultan.
- Earl of Elgin saved the sculpture from worse (Air pollution in Athens_.
- The British Museum cannot legally give away the marbles to Greece.
On the other hand… (for Greece)
-Earl of Elgin took advantage of Ottoman rule of Greece, and the Sultan not being interested in the marbles.
- Marbles originated in Athens and therefore belong in Athens.
- New Acropolis Museum at foot of Acropolis: it can equally well place the marbles without them being polluted or damaged.
What issue is involved in the display of human remains?
Cons = don’t want to display human remains to the public, unethical, do we have consent of the Pharoh’s, specific burying rituals of the mummies in families take the body out of context.
Pros = displays national heritage, shows us what Mummies look like and can study them.
Mention three ways in which Canadian archaeology differs from the sites we discussed in the rest of the class, mostly from the Mediterranean.
Nature of the settlements from the Mediterranean are different than those in Canada.
- No monumental castles or churches in Canada to excavate.
- Characteristics of the sites are different (More wood in Canada).
Geology/climate of the sites:
- Mediterranean = dry climate.
- Canada = cold wet climate for half the year.
Tools and equipment for excavation:
- Up in the north, need to bring a gun (polar bears).
Mention at least one archaeological site in the Ottawa Valley.
Lac Leamy Park
Dr. Pilon mentioned in his lecture that archaeology is always destruction. Why do you think I did not include a field trip to one of the sites in the Ottawa Valley in this course?
Lack of training, more likely that we would not properly excavate and could further destroy the site.
What is the official point of view of the Canadian Museum of History with regard to the return of the first nations material remains they possess?
If First Nations ask for any of there material remains back, the Canadian Museum of History is forced to return them.
Needs to be a justification for it.
