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>My counterpoint is wondering how many would have been destroyed by ISIS or civil unrest in some of the less stable regions of the world. This line of thought

by mikrl 2y ago

>My counterpoint is wondering how many would have been destroyed by ISIS or civil unrest in some of the less stable regions of the world. This line of thought is fascinating to me. We should preserve them for all of humanity? Who chooses the custodian? We want a more nationalist case for repatriation to country of origin? If they get destroyed, it’s not the self-professed custodian nation’s problem or loss. Cynical, perhaps, but you need to balance self-determination with preservation. Maybe having their artifacts back will provide a drive to stability for the sake of heritage.

matrix2003 2y ago
I’m actually not sold on my argument, but was rather playing devil’s advocate. I can’t help but feel that all future generations should have the opportunity to learn from artifacts as well, but I’m saying that from a Western perspective. I have no idea how one should fairly choose a custodian or determine what “stability” really means. Maybe as humans touch all corners of the globe, we just accept that historical artifacts are ephemeral things and enjoy them while they last.
TeaBrain 2y ago
>Maybe having their artifacts back The idea that modern Egyptians have any claim over the artifacts when they don't share a culture or civilization with those who created the artifacts is tenuous. The artifacts don't belong to the land itself. They belonged to people of a no longer existing civilization that once inhabited the land.
- mikrl 2y ago
  Consider this though. In the case of Britain, they got the artifacts because they established a protectorate over Egypt and thus were able to excavate and do civil engineering. However, the fact that the artifacts were there to be discovered in the first place was because the Arab and later Ottoman overlords left them there. So who should rightfully claim them? One of the historical suzerains of Egypt? Or the current nation of Egypt who inhabit the ancient Egyptian territory? I can’t think of the ‘right’ (ie just) answer to that question… only practical ones.

by mikrl 2y ago

matrix2003 2y ago

I’m actually not sold on my argument, but was rather playing devil’s advocate. I can’t help but feel that all future generations should have the opportunity to learn from artifacts as well, but I’m saying that from a Western perspective. I have no idea how one should fairly choose a custodian or determine what “stability” really means. Maybe as humans touch all corners of the globe, we just accept that historical artifacts are ephemeral things and enjoy them while they last.

TeaBrain 2y ago

>Maybe having their artifacts back The idea that modern Egyptians have any claim over the artifacts when they don't share a culture or civilization with those who created the artifacts is tenuous. The artifacts don't belong to the land itself. They belonged to people of a no longer existing civilization that once inhabited the land.

mikrl 2y ago
Consider this though. In the case of Britain, they got the artifacts because they established a protectorate over Egypt and thus were able to excavate and do civil engineering. However, the fact that the artifacts were there to be discovered in the first place was because the Arab and later Ottoman overlords left them there. So who should rightfully claim them? One of the historical suzerains of Egypt? Or the current nation of Egypt who inhabit the ancient Egyptian territory? I can’t think of the ‘right’ (ie just) answer to that question… only practical ones.