THIS ASSIGNMENT

CHAPTERS 3.1 -3.5

Mediterranean Worlds choose either TOPIC 1 or TOPIC 2 to research and to answer. Be sure to answer all parts of the topic you choose and include citations/references in support of your statements.

TOPIC 1- Tutankhamen’s tomb

How was the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb and removing its contents not considered grave robbing? Who has the remains now; is this an appropriate place for these remains? What did the archeologists gain? Finally, below are examples of other “archaeological ‘finds’ made in this country. How has the cultural heritage of the affected race of people been impacted by these discoveries?

You may wish to start your Research here:

http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/kingtut.htm

http://www.kingtutone.com/tutankhamun/information/

You may also wish to consider the history of the Native Americans in this country. Their burial grounds were looted for artifacts and even the dead were taken for study by the government. Various Native American Indian tribes have formally requested the return of these sacred artifacts. They have also decried the desecration of their sacred burial grounds. Currently, there are attempts being made by the government in cooperation with these tribes to return sacred artifacts and the bodies for reburial.

For more information see:http://consideronline.org/2010/12/01/returning-native-american-artifacts/

There is also a story of red haired human giants, 12 feet tall — Sitecah(Paiute Indian word) who inhabited the Spirit Cave (also known as theLovelock or Horse Shoe Cave) in Nevada. The Paiutes named the giants “Si-Te-Cah” that literally means “ tule-eaters.” The tule is a fibrous water plant the giants wove into rafts to escape the Paiutes continuous attacks. They used the rafts to navigate across what remained of Lake Lahontan.

Their remains and artifacts now reside in the Humboldt Museum atWinnemucca Nevada and in the Nevada State Historical Society’s museum at Reno. While remains of red haired giants have been reported from many locations in the world, there appear to be no cultural ancestors to claim these artifacts and remains. For more information see:

http://garry-nelson.hubpages.com/hub/Human-Giants

http://ironlight.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/nevadas-mysterious-cave-of-the-red-haired-giants/

http://vimeo.com/478439

Finally, there was a recent excavation on Long Island in New York City when a contractor preparing to build a skyscraper unearthed a slave burial ground.

“GSAʼs African Burial Ground project began in 1991 during excavation work for a new federal office building. Workers discovered the skeletal remains of the first of more than 400 men, women and children. Further investigation revealed that during the 17th and 18th centuries, free and enslaved Africans were buried in a 6.6-acre burial ground in lower Manhattan outside the boundaries of the settlement of New Amsterdam, which would become New York. Over the decades, the unmarked cemetery was covered over by development and landfill.”

For further information on this see:http://gsablogs.gsa.gov/gsablog/2011/10/14/20th-anniversary-of-african-burial-ground-discovery-2/

In many of these cases the cultural heritage of the people may have been negatively affected by the removal of these artifacts and the exhumation of the remains of the deceased. In recent years, governments have become increasingly more sensitive to issues of cultural heritage and of not disturbing sacred ground.

TOPIC 2 – the Parthenon Marbles

2) American actor, George Cloony’s new bride, human rights activist Amal Alamuddin Cloony is now part of a team of lawyers exploring a legal route for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum to Greece. What are the Parthenon Marbles, (the Elgin marbles)? And, How did they end up in England? Why should they remain there? Why do the Greeks want them to be returned? The British Museum states that if they were returned to Greece, this would set a precedent for others to request the return of objects from museums. Is this a bad thing, who might be affected by this?

The British Museum link follow to The Museum follow to The Parthenon Sculptures Facts and Figures. http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/news_and_press/statements/parthenon_sculptures/facts_and_figures.aspx

The link for the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (Greece) is: 
http://odysseus.culture.gr/a/1/12/ea122.html

Regarding topic 2 Parthenon Marbles, (the Elgin marbles)

Have you considered that the Turkish Empire had waged a war with Greece and Turkish soldiers were occupying Greece, as conquerors, at the time that Lord Elginacquired the marble statues? Did the Ottoman Sultan (the occupying Turkish empire) have the right to allow the removal of these Greek artifacts? Since the threat from France no longer exists, should the Greek artifacts be returned or a compromise reached between Great Britain and Greece? If you were a member of the team of lawyers, what kind of compromise would you negotiate?