**Summary Nugget – The Elgin Marbles Controversy and Potential Resolution:**

The Elgin Marbles, a collection of ancient Greek sculptures, were removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and are now housed in the British Museum.

Their presence in London remains the subject of longstanding controversy and diplomatic dispute between Greece and the UK.

Greece has repeatedly called for their return, arguing the sculptures are integral to Greek cultural heritage and identity, and that their original context is the Parthenon.

The UK, and the British Museum, have historically argued they acquired the marbles legally and that their display in London offers a universal context accessible to a global audience.

The dispute is deeply connected to issues of ownership, cultural heritage, and the legacy of colonial-era collecting.

Some see the marbles’ relocation as a form of cultural appropriation, while others highlight the preservation and wider access provided by their presence in a major museum.

Technological advances—such as digital and augmented reality displays—are expanding access to cultural treasures and may, in the future, offer ways to “share” heritage objects without physical relocation, though this is not seen as a substitute by all parties.

Potential resolutions have been debated for years.

They include the full return of the Marbles to Greece, a long-term loan, or joint exhibitions that share custody.

So far, no formal agreement has been reached.

The controversy touches on the broader ethics of archaeological practice: respecting the cultures and localities from which artifacts come, while balancing global scholarship and access.

This is a central issue for aspiring archaeologists, highlighting the importance of transparent research, community involvement, and sensitivity to cultural claims and historical context when handling discoveries with national or cultural significance.

**Summary Nuggets on Archaeological Discovery, Preservation, and Cultural Respect (with Elgin Marbles Context):**

1.

**Independent Research vs. Myths:** The text highlights the importance of independent research in archaeology—examining primary sources like maps, annals, and artifacts, rather than accepting "pseudo-historical myths" from textbooks.

This echoes the debates around the Elgin Marbles, where competing historical narratives influence claims of rightful ownership.

**Contested Artifacts and Cultural Significance:** Several discoveries—ranging from treasures in Sweden, religious artifacts, and statues in Egypt—demonstrate that archaeological finds often become subjects of national pride and international contention.

The value attached to items like the Elgin Marbles isn't just historical or artistic but deeply entwined with cultural identity.

**Artifacts as Learning Tools:** Discoveries like Sweden’s gold ring or Egypt’s Ramesses II statue offer insights into religious practices, societal structure, and historical events.

This mirrors arguments for the retention of the Elgin Marbles in museums for public education and global access, versus returning them to their cultural context for holistic understanding.

**Preservation and Local Benefit:** Egyptian authorities emphasize not only the study of their heritage but its preservation and integration into the local economy—acknowledging issues like environmental damage (e.g., groundwater threats) and the need for sustainable tourism.

The Greek case for the return of the Elgin Marbles often references their desire to reunite artifacts in their original setting, arguing for both cultural wholeness and national benefit.

**Uncertain Fate of Discoveries:** Even significant finds, such as the Ramesses II statue, sustain ambiguity about their future—whether they remain in situ or are relocated to a museum.

Similarly, the resolution of the Elgin Marbles controversy remains unsettled, with ongoing negotiations and no clear agreement on return or retention.

**Re-Contextualization and Modern Usage:** Archaeological finds frequently gain new meanings—through media (e.g., films, poetry), museum exhibitions, and educational reinterpretation.

This cultural repurposing is a key point of dispute for both sides of the Elgin Marbles debate.

**Ethical Archaeology and Community Engagement:** The narrative around Egyptian archaeology underscores modern ethical standards: involving local experts, prioritizing conservation, and viewing archaeology as a partnership with host countries.

This aligns with contemporary calls for ethical handling of contested artifacts, like the Elgin Marbles, including respectful negotiation and consideration of the source community.

**Elgin Marbles Controversy—Potential Resolution:**
The ongoing dispute revolves around Greece’s claim for return—citing cultural reunification and historical justice—and the British Museum’s emphasis on global access and the legal context of acquisition.

Possible ways forward include:

- **Long-term loan agreements:** Allowing Greece to display the marbles while technically not transferring ownership.

- **Joint stewardship or rotating exhibitions:** Promoting collaboration over possession.

- **Institutional dialogue and international arbitration:** Involving UNESCO or other bodies to mediate.

**Conclusion:**
The extract demonstrates that archaeological discoveries spark debates around cultural identity, ownership, and ethical practice, directly relevant to contemporary issues like the Elgin Marbles.

As you advance in archaeology, understanding this complex interplay between cultural respect, preservation, education, and international cooperation is essential for responsible stewardship of the world’s heritage.

Certainly!

Here are concise nuggets of information based on the provided extracts, focusing especially on the themes that relate to the controversy of cultural heritage, ownership, and preservation—as are relevant to the Elgin Marbles case:

---

**Cultural Heritage and Preservation**

- There is broad recognition of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, as seen in initiatives like Abu Dhabi Tourism's efforts with clay architecture and research into ancient stone structures in Saudi Arabia.

- New archaeological findings highlight the advanced craftsmanship and cultural practices of ancient societies, underlining the importance of protecting such finds within their cultural context.

**Cultural Coexistence and Restoration**

- Studies on regions such as Mosul emphasize that heritage matters not just for its own sake, but also for fostering social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, and for aiding in economic and cultural recovery after conflict.

- Reconstruction and recovery after crises often prioritize the safeguarding and revitalization of local traditions and tangible heritage as a means to rebuild identity and community.

**Attitudes Towards Removal of Cultural Objects**

- There’s a recurring motif in the text that calls for the cessation of the practice of “removal of monuments”—that physically erasing cultural symbols or artifacts is not a true solution and can even erode civic education and collective memory.

- It is suggested that the value of artifacts is not only in their artistic or economic worth but in their connection to place, local heritage, and societal narrative.

Removing artifacts can result in a loss of meaning for the originating culture.

**Ownership, Civic Responsibility, and Global Context**

- The discussion touches on the blurred lines between government (state ownership) and citizen ownership of cultural heritage, arguing that everyone has a role in respecting and safeguarding heritage.

- Acts of removing or relocating cultural objects are described as potentially problematic, especially if done without regard to their significance or without clear, commonly agreed rules.

**Relevance to Elgin Marbles Controversy**

- These insights mirror the core contemporary arguments in the Elgin Marbles debate: Greece’s claim is based on the marbles’ integral role in its heritage and identity, and the argument that removal diminished them and their context.

- Many now advocate for cultural treasures to remain or be returned to their place of origin, given their deeper meaning within that locality—similar to the arguments against "vacuuming" monuments elsewhere.

- There is acknowledgement that returning items can aid in healing historical wounds and promoting global cooperation, as well as respect for the originating society’s rights and values.

**Potential Resolution Approaches**

- Emphasis on dialogue, mutual respect, and international standards (such as UNESCO conventions) could guide decision-making.

- Cooperative solutions—like joint stewardship, rotating exhibits, or cultural exchanges—are sometimes suggested as ways to honor both global scholarly interests and local cultural significance.

- A critical underlying principle is that decisions about cultural heritage should balance global access with local rights, always striving to "leave what is more valuable"—the connections and meanings that artifacts have for their source communities.

---

These summary points reflect broader themes that inform both the academic and ethical dimensions of the Elgin Marbles controversy, relevant to archaeologists concerned with both discovery and respectful preservation.

Certainly!

Here’s a summarization of nuggets of information from the provided text, focusing on insights relevant to archaeological work and heritage controversies such as those surrounding the Elgin Marbles:

1.

**Archaeological Excavation as a Time-sensitive, Detailed Task**: At Sanxingdui, archaeologists emphasize both the rich informational value of soil layers and the need for speedy yet methodical excavation, suggesting the responsibility to document and understand context as fully as possible before removal or exposure.

Discoveries (like gold residue at Sanxingdui) underscore the ongoing, iterative nature of archaeological research.

**Summary Nugget – The Elgin Marbles Controversy and Potential Resolution:**

The Elgin Marbles, a collection of ancient Greek sculptures, were removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and are now housed in the British Museum.

Title:

Content: News, Views and More

Could Snapchat have a solution to the Elgin Marbles dispute? | Science and technology news

The developers of the popular app that most people associate with wearing silly filters specialize in culture and art, offering museum visitors new ways to experience history in some of the world's most famous museums and galleries.

From Tom Acres, technology reporter

Saturday 2 December 2023, 2:50am, UK

Rishi Sunak is known for loving technology. So could it offer him a way out of his unpleasant diplomatic dispute with Greece over the Elgin Marbles?

Augmented Reality (AR) is exciting Snap think it could.

The developers of the app that most people associate with wearing silly filters specialize in culture and art, offering visitors new ways to experience history in some of the world's most famous museums and galleries.

Snaps AR has been used to reinvent exhibitions Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, Miami's trendy Art Basel fair, London's Design Museum and most recently the legendary Louvre in Paris.

The museum's Egyptian Antiquities Department now offers 3D reconstructions of long-lost works of art and other historical monuments, viewable via QR codes or the Snapchat camera on mobile phones.

If it's good enough for the Louvre, could it be good enough for the British Museum and enable the return of the Elgin Marbles? Greece?

Read more:
What are the Elgin Marbles and why are they in the British Museum?

What is the Elgin Marbles dispute about?

History in your hands

“We started conversations,” jokes Donatien Bozon, head of Snap’s AR studio in Paris.

Its 14-person team was founded last year with a mission to bring AR to arts, culture and education and prove that Snapchat's technology can go far beyond giving your friends virtual dog-ears.

Cultural institutions expressed interest in tapping into the app's 750 million user audience and offering new experiences to regular visitors – all without requiring additional physical space.

“We felt confident that we could leverage not just the front camera of the phone,” he says, pointing to Snapchat’s common use case as a selfie-driven messaging app, “but also the back camera.”

“You can expand the world,” he adds. “And it opens up so many possibilities.”

Also in the Louvre is a digital twin of the 222-ton granite Luxor Obelisks. Built during the reign of Ramses II for the Egyptian Luxor Temple, one was later moved to the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

However, a spot in the Louvre's courtyard was originally considered. And so, in its own attempt to rewrite history, the museum worked with Snap to “remove the constraints of physics” and have one installed virtually.

Point your phone's camera at the spot where it might have been standing and this is how it appears.

Picture:
A Luxor obelisk stands in the Louvre and uses augmented reality technology. Image: Snap

Where tradition meets technology

Not that AR could ever really replace the original.

“It’s in the name,” says Bozon. “It enhances the experience, not replaces it.”

Probably not a truly satisfactory solution to the Elgin-Marbles dispute.

But the British Museum has dabbled in AR. Aimed primarily at children, it allows guests using Samsung tablets to take AR-controlled tours of the Roman Empire and Parthenon.

The British Library has also used the technology for your own exhibitionsas some of the world's oldest institutions are proud of their traditions and try to keep up with the times.

Qi Pan, director of computer vision at Snap, says AR allows them to “do things that weren’t possible before.”

Its London team is responsible for how the company's technology actually works, both on phones and in a hypothetical future where millions of us walk around wearing futuristic glasses.

“Nowadays, a lot of AR happens on mobile devices, where we are limited by the view of a small rectangle,” he says.

“With AR glasses you can see it directly in the world around you.”

Unfortunately, as this is a limited version of the story, this content is not available.

Open the full version

Accessible artwork

Despite previous attempts with such lenses from people like Google And Snap yourself Pan is confident that AR is on the cusp of a “hardware paradigm shift” as it has failed to achieve mainstream breakthrough.

Apple's upcoming mixed reality headset might prove him right, although at a price of £2,800 probably not.

The appeal of AR artworks, for now, lies in their accessibility — not just to users who only need a phone to experience them, but also to the creators behind what they see.

By teaching himself how to create AR art at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, British artist Doddz managed to earn a six-figure salary after struggling at school.

Traditionalists may cry foul, but his success seems to be evidence of a new interpretation of artwork that people can view and take with them wherever they go.

Bozon says, “Ten years ago, you wouldn’t have bet that being a YouTuber was a real job.”

“In ten years, building in AR will be a real job for thousands of people.”

Let's hope the series of marbles is over by then.

Their presence in London remains the subject of longstanding controversy and diplomatic dispute between Greece and the UK.

Greece has repeatedly called for their return, arguing the sculptures are integral to Greek cultural heritage and identity, and that their original context is the Parthenon.

Title:

Content: The 1719 Museum’s Herr House – the oldest original Mennonite meeting house still standing in the Western hemisphere, according to the museum’s website – helps tell the story of early pioneering life in Lancaster County. But many of the details of 18th century sandstone house’s story are hidden beneath the land.

The soil, which has been plowed over, worked and farmed for 300 years, contains a jumbled record of centuries of life at the Willow Street property. That includes the early days of the pioneering Herr family, as well as the Indigenous cultures that came before them.

In the fall of 2020 and 2021, a group of 40 Millersville University archaeology students, led by Dr. Timothy Trussell, director of the university’s archaeology program and the co-director of the Millersville University Atlantic World Center, which oversees the school’s international excavations, gathered at the site to get some real-life field work and excavate about 90 3-by-3-foot and 5-by-5-foot test units of the five-acre property. They unearthed 40,000 historical artifacts, which Trussell shared information about during a recent presentation at Mennonite Life – the historical organization which operates the 1719 Museum as well as an archive and library on Millstream Road in Lancaster.

“It was enormous,” says Trussell. “I estimated we moved 4,500 tons of earth by hand. Every bit of it hand-dug, hand-screened and excavated stratigraphically.” (For non-archaeologists, stratigraphically means to examine vertically layer by layer.)

The purpose of the dig, according to Trussell, was to get a sense of the material that survived through the centuries, and hopefully discover remnants of the original settler’s cabin predating the historic sandstone house.

“Unfortunately we did not find that,” says Trussell. “My suspicion is they probably built one of the late outbuildings overtop of it and basically destroyed all of the evidence. If I had to guess, I would say the barn due east of the Hans Herr house is probably the most likely location.”

Trussell says the artifacts represent a typical cross-section of material from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and beyond. (Some of the projectile points are estimated to be from as far back as 5,000 years ago.) The findings provide context and reveal details about life on the property.

Tiffany Fisk, administrator at the 1719 Museum, says she was particularly impressed by the students and made a point to check in on the digs daily.

“I get really excited,” says Fisk. “It’s like being a kid on Christmas morning.”

Fisk was particularly thrilled when students discovered what appeared to be chisel marks on a layer of sandstone, which may have been used as a quarry when the stone house was being built.

“That was one of those moments when the story came to life,” says Fisk.

Trussell says the experience was successful on multiple levels.

“For me, every time I do a project, there are two things: number one is the research and number two is the training,” says Trussell. “You never know what you’re going to find. Sometimes it’s great, and sometimes it’s pretty much what you expected. But the training is invaluable for our students. We were really grateful to the 1719 Museum because this was a tremendous training opportunity.”

Trussell took some time last week to describe and give historical context to some of the items – which are currently being stored and cataloged at the University – that were excavated from beneath the 1719 Museum property.

19th century ceramic pieces

The pieces of broken ceramics the students discovered provide a record of the sort of household goods various generations owned.

“We found thousands of these,” says Trussell of the broken pieces of late 18th and 19th century ceramics.

According to Trussell the blue piece comes from some late 18th or early 19th century hand-painted pearl ware which would have been used as tableware. The smaller red piece comes from the 19th century and the design process is a bit more sophisticated.

“They would basically take a printing press, print an image in ink on wax paper put it onto the glaze and then fire it in the kiln and the image gets transferred perfectly,” says Trussell.

Piece of Moravian-style pottery

In the 18th century, German Moravian potters settled in Central Pennsylvania, around the Bethlehem area and began making their own red wares, says Trussel, and the little dots of green on this piece of pottery were a decorative style favored by the Moravians.

“This suggests they were trading with other German immigrant settlers who were making pottery and then they were buying it from them,” says Trussell.

Several pieces of pottery discovered on the pottery indicate the family’s taste for the finer things, and Trussell says that might go against the stereotype people have of historic German Swiss Mennonite families being understated and plain.

“They have a number of pieces here that are quite decorative,” says Trussell. “What the ceramics were telling us was that they were more than happy to have some of the more expensive, higher-end, decorative ceramics.”

Philadelphia red ware

Trussells says he believes this piece of Philadelphia-style red ware pottery probably dates to the mid-to-late 1700s.

“The Philadelphia potters were working throughout the 18th and early 19th century,” says Trussell. “That one is not particularly fancy. It’s a utilitarian ware, but it demonstrates their trade connections and where they’re buying things from.”

Trussell says much of the provisions at the time came from English traders working out of Philadelphia or German wagon masters bringing items into the area. According to Trussell almost all the ceramics found on the property were English and colonial American pieces.

“They are buying things from the supply lines that existed at the time and that was primarily connections to England in the 18th century,” says Trussell.

Decorative pipe

The students excavated this decorative pipe dating back to about 1710-1740 says Trussell. Discovering a pipe stem, Trussell says, is fairly common, but finding one with the decorative bowl intact is unusual.

“In that era, face pipes were relatively rare for English pipes, they appear to be more common for German pipes,” says Trussell. “So it’s one of the few items that I suspect actually is linked to their traditional homeland in the German Swiss low country.”

The pipe is made of white kaolin clay and the decorative face is about the size of a quarter.

“I always tell my students, we don’t find everything that they had, we only find the things they had that didn’t rot,” says Trussell. “One of the nice things about ceramic is it doesn’t rot, so it will preserve in the soil for thousands of years.”

Bronze sleeve links

A pair of bronze dime-sized cuff links, known then as sleeve links, that Trussell estimates date to about 1740-1790, indicate whoever owned this had a sense of style.

“Just to know that they would have very nice brass cufflinks and would be dressing in a manner that required cufflinks shows a degree of fashion consciousness that again might go a little bit against our stereotype,” says Trussell. “But these are people who didn’t mind dressing nicely for the time period.”

The anchor motif, Trussell says, is associated with Philadelphia’s maritime economy.

“A lot of the decorative items, particularly buttons, were made deliberately with nautical themes because the sailors were a very big market for them to sell to,” says Trussell. “So, to find those here, is kind of interesting.”

Projectile points

The oldest items among the assemblage of artifacts include Indigenous projectile points dating as far back as 5,000 years ago. These items are a bit harder to date or determine what groups were using them, but they are evidence of indigenous people living in the area.

The small reddish color one is called a late woodland projectile point and it’s a style commonly used about 1,000 to 300 years ago, says Trussell.

“What’s interesting is it’s made of jasper and they aren’t really good sources of jasper here,” says Trussell. “This was probably traded from a Mississippi culture in the Ohio River Valley so it was hundreds and hundreds of miles away, but it probably made it’s way through Native American trading networks sometime in the last thousand years or so.”

The larger gray projectile point is called a transitional archaic.

“That would be from about 5,000 years ago to 1,800 years ago,” says Trussell. “It’s a much older piece.”

Visit mennonitelife.org to find ticket prices, hours and more information about the 1719 Museum and the Herr House.

What to Read Next

The UK, and the British Museum, have historically argued they acquired the marbles legally and that their display in London offers a universal context accessible to a global audience.

The dispute is deeply connected to issues of ownership, cultural heritage, and the legacy of colonial-era collecting.

Some see the marbles’ relocation as a form of cultural appropriation, while others highlight the preservation and wider access provided by their presence in a major museum.

Technological advances—such as digital and augmented reality displays—are expanding access to cultural treasures and may, in the future, offer ways to “share” heritage objects without physical relocation, though this is not seen as a substitute by all parties.

Potential resolutions have been debated for years.

Title:

Content: GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.

X

University of Colorado Boulder study digs into geological mystery of the Great Unconformity

PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

A new study led by University of Colorado Boulder researchers sheds light on one of the world’s great geological mysteries: a missing chapter of the earth’s rock record known as the Great Unconformity.

There are places around the world where great chunks of the earth’s geological story have disappeared altogether, including in the Grand Canyon, where some sections are missing more than 1 billion years’ worth of the rock record.

There are plenty of hypotheses around what caused the Great Unconformity, said lead author and CU Boulder graduate student Barra Peak, and plenty of debate among the scientific community. Could it be shifting tectonic plates or worldwide glaciers?

The study, published in August in the journal Geology, aimed to test those hypotheses by looking at the timing of erosion.

“What we have found is that even though the Grand Canyon is not that large geographically, it has a very complex history related to the Great Unconformity and spatially with what the landscape was experiencing,” Peak said.

For example, rocks near the western part of the canyon seem to have an erosion history that corresponds with the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Rodinia. But on the eastern area of the canyon there doesn’t appear to be a single erosion event, and tectonic faults are preserved where sediments were deposited in them and unable to escape.

“It’s the same cause but it’s not a single, one-time event,” Peak said. “It’s a process that’s been happening over millions of years and related to tectonic activity associated with Rodinia.”

In the past, the Great Unconformity has been thought to be caused by a single event, said co-author and CU Boulder professor Rebecca Flowers.

“What Barra’s study does is illustrate that even over a small area in the Grand Canyon, it has a more complicated origin than that, that it is likely caused by multiple erosion events with different causes that are ultimately responsible for this knife-sharp feature we see in geological records,” she said.

The study is also unique in that it looks at a relatively small geographic area and also uses a process called low-temperature thermochronology, Peak said. As rocks form below the earth’s crust start to rise to the surface, they cool and begin a process of radioactive decay. One of the byproducts of that process is helium, and measuring the helium in rocks in relation to its radioactive partners means scientists can date the rocks.

Using this kind of method allows scientists to interrogate that missing record, Flowers said.

“We can see the thermal imprint of material that used to be there and was eroded away, and we can begin to go into gaps in geological record and decipher the history of them using minerals,” she said.

Understanding this geological mystery is in many ways key to understanding the beginning of modern earth, Peak said.

“The time period when the Great Unconformity formed is a really pivotal point in earth’s history, or we think it is,” Peak said. “It’s a hot topic because there’s a lot we don’t know about it, but we do know there was a lot of transition going on.”

Researchers involved in the study, including Peak, will continue to study areas of the Great Unconformity, such as in Colorado and Canada.

They include the full return of the Marbles to Greece, a long-term loan, or joint exhibitions that share custody.

So far, no formal agreement has been reached.

The controversy touches on the broader ethics of archaeological practice: respecting the cultures and localities from which artifacts come, while balancing global scholarship and access.

Title:

Content: Making Archaeology for Everyone

Written by Gabi Daniels, SCDNR Archaeology Intern, 2023.

When you initially hear the term ‘archaeologist’ you may think of brave adventurers wielding whips and big hats working to uncovering ancient artifacts made of gold and precious gemstones. However, this common misconception is often a by-product of popular media and a lacking educational structure for archaeology and anthropology in our schools.

So, how do we go about trying to eliminate this misunderstanding? Public archaeology! During my six-week internship with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Archaeology team, I became well acquainted with the idea of public archaeology and how the future of our field relies on it.

Public archaeology refers to the outreach and education of archaeology to the general population. Archaeology at its fundamental level is for people, as everything we unearth and interpret weaves a larger tapestry of human history. This directly coincides with how we all understand our own heritages and how we understand people who have a different background than we do. By educating the public to archaeology and how it can be significant to their own lives, we can give a voice to histories which have been lost to time and facilitate an environment of open dialogue about our pasts.

Often, though, this can be a rather daunting task. Archaeology is full of jargon, data, and scientific processes that are not simple to understand unless you are another PhD in the field. This, however, makes public archaeology even more vital! Knowledge of community members is fundamental when interpreting sites and artifacts. It is important for us to break down these barriers with public archaeology to make our work more accessible.

But how exactly do you engage the public with archaeology? Well, luckily for us, there are just about an endless number of opportunities!

SCDNR archaeologist Lelia Rice introduced my cohort of interns to how public archaeology can be utilized with students and young children. She initially began the demonstration of her work with an activity called ‘Pottery Re-fit’ which tasked children with decorating a small garden pot, smashing it, and meticulously piecing it back together with Elmer’s glue just like an archaeologist might.

Activities such as this one engages a student by allowing them to be creative but also introduces them to how an archaeologist would think—letting them become a mini archaeologist! As I decorated my own pot during the exercise, I found myself appreciating the work and craftsmanship of potters and the patience of archaeologists even more than I had before.

Furthermore, I also volunteered one day to participate in the agency’s engagement program for children in which we handed out mini excavation units. These units consisted of crumbly plaster blocks with one or two sherds of pottery inside. It was wonderful to work with the children as they (somewhat) carefully dug away at the plaster and pulled out sherds. From there, we encouraged them to imagine how the different pieces might have fit together and what kind of vessel it may have come from. This activity sparked a lot of questions as well as excitement, and it was wonderful to be able to see the parents and guardians light up just as much as the kids! I was especially exhilarated by how the kids would theorize whether or not they had discovered a piece of a bowl or cup.

Hopefully, as public archaeology is entering the spotlight more than ever now, we can all continue working to engage the public and create a better environment for people to be involved in their own histories and the histories of the global population through material culture.

This story originally appeared on the South Carolina Wild blog.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on South Carolina Wild are solely those of the authors, and do not reflect official policies, positions, or endorsements of activity or products by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

This is a central issue for aspiring archaeologists, highlighting the importance of transparent research, community involvement, and sensitivity to cultural claims and historical context when handling discoveries with national or cultural significance.

**Summary Nuggets on Archaeological Discovery, Preservation, and Cultural Respect (with Elgin Marbles Context):**

1.

Title:

Content: 8 March 2024, Friday, 17: 39
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In Sweden, found a treasure with more than 30,000 unique artifacts
Among the most interesting finds is a gold ring of the 15th century engraved with Christ.
During recent archaeological research in the Swedish city of Kalmar, a sensational discovery took place - a treasure trove of more than 30,000 antiquities.
The project, which lasted two years under the direction of Magnus Stibeus of the State Historical Museum, discovered not only the ruins of buildings, underground rooms and streets, but also a huge number of artifacts.
This large-scale study allows us to look into the life of different segments of the population of the past – merchants, artisans, civil servants, parishioners, both rich and low-income citizens.
Among the most interesting finds is a 15th century gold ring engraved with Christ, probably a female ring.
Similar rings have occurred in Northern Finland, Ostergetland and Uppland, which indicates fascinating historical connections of the time.
This is reported by Heritage Daily.
No less valuable is the identification of a rare glass alsengemet - a small glass stone associated with the church context.
In the XIII-XIV centuries, such amulets were used by pilgrims.
The Alsengemet found in Kalmar has three delicately carved figures, making it an unusual and especially valuable find.
In addition to the relics, archaeologists discovered traces of the Kalmar War of 1611 between Danish-Norway and Sweden over trade routes and tolls.
Burnt estates, cannonballs, musket balls and swords testify to the attack of Danish-Norwegian troops on the city.
This discovery helps to understand the life of different segments of the population and the impact of historical events, such as the Kalmar War, on the city.
The Golden Ring and especially the Alsengemet give a vivid insight into the cultural and religious practices of the time.
As researchers continue to analyze and document artifacts, the potential for new discoveries and understanding of the history of Kalmar remains high.
This archaeological project not only enriches knowledge of the past, but also demonstrates the importance of preserving and studying antiquities.
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**Independent Research vs. Myths:** The text highlights the importance of independent research in archaeology—examining primary sources like maps, annals, and artifacts, rather than accepting "pseudo-historical myths" from textbooks.

Title:

Content: Secrets...
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Real and fake maps of Mr. Mercator.
Indeed, once again I am convinced in practice that it is not necessary to blindly believe in pseudo-historical myths written in history textbooks, because as soon as you begin to explore and study independently various historical documents: annals, maps, atlases, etc.
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This echoes the debates around the Elgin Marbles, where competing historical narratives influence claims of rightful ownership.

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Content: Encyclopedia of Techniques
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The discovered objects caused heated disputes between experts because they acted as direct evidence of the existence of a highly developed civilization.
Not so long ago, a group of archaeologists found some interesting artifacts.
The objects found caused heated discussions among experts because they are direct evidence of the existence of a highly developed civilization.
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Content: enciclopediya-geografa
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FUNtastic gaslighting-2023.
Day 1 and 2.
The Miracles of Conversion, Intimate Building and Purification by Fire
Get to the starting point. Introduction.
In particular, before sitting down for a short chronicle of a mountain hike in the 2nd grade from which I had just returned, I reread last year ’ s “March of the Disabled. ”
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**Contested Artifacts and Cultural Significance:** Several discoveries—ranging from treasures in Sweden, religious artifacts, and statues in Egypt—demonstrate that archaeological finds often become subjects of national pride and international contention.

The value attached to items like the Elgin Marbles isn't just historical or artistic but deeply entwined with cultural identity.

**Artifacts as Learning Tools:** Discoveries like Sweden’s gold ring or Egypt’s Ramesses II statue offer insights into religious practices, societal structure, and historical events.

This mirrors arguments for the retention of the Elgin Marbles in museums for public education and global access, versus returning them to their cultural context for holistic understanding.

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Content: smi.today
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The scale of predatory excavations in recent years has increased tenfold
The task of archaeology is to study the ancient and medieval history of the Far East, to restore the periods that have sunk in.
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**Preservation and Local Benefit:** Egyptian authorities emphasize not only the study of their heritage but its preservation and integration into the local economy—acknowledging issues like environmental damage (e.g., groundwater threats) and the need for sustainable tourism.

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Content: In Egypt, archaeologists have unearthed the upper half of the statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II, the bottom of which was found almost a hundred years ago
The discovery was made during the study of the ruins of the ancient city of Hermopolis
CAIRO.
A team of scientists led by a researcher of classical literature from the University of California, Boulder, excavated the upper part of a huge ancient statue of the pharaoh Ramesses II, the lower half of which was discovered in 1930, according to the online publication Phys.org.
Ramesses II was immortalized in Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ozymandias.
In 1930, German archaeologist Günther Röder excavated the lower half of a huge statue depicting Pharaoh Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, the ruler of Egypt who reigned around 12 centuries BC.
Almost a century later, an Egyptian-American archaeological team led by Yvona Trnka-Amrain, an assistant professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Colorado at Boulder, discovered the top of a huge statue while exploring the ruins of the ancient city of Hermopolis, about 150 miles south of Cairo.
The top half, 12.5 feet long, depicts a seated pharaoh wearing a double crown and a headgear topped with a royal cobra.
The researchers determined that at the time of construction, the complete statue was about 23 feet tall.
“We knew it might be there, but we didn ’ t specifically look for it, ” says Trnka-Amrain, who collaborated with Basem Gehad, an archaeologist at Egypt ’ s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Trnka-Amrain, papyrus specialist, PhD.
After completing her dissertation at Harvard University, she researched a "virtually lost Greek novel" about the pharaoh.
She has sought to conduct research in Egypt since studying papyri at Oxford University as a graduate student.
In 2022, Gehad offered her access to a papyrus study that turned out to include 98 lines containing "substantial passages" from the two lost works of the Greek playwright Euripides.
Soon, Trnka-Amrain invited CU Boulder Classics professor John Hibert, a specialist in tragedy, to further investigate this unusual find.
After they met, Gehad asked her to lead a group of field explorers in Hermopolis.
Gehad submitted a proposal and obtained all the necessary permits to begin work on the facility.
It was the first major excavation at the site since the British Museum in the 1980s.
“Hermopolis is the second most productive place for finding Greek papyri, ” says Trnka-Amrein. –“ In addition to research, our goal is to preserve this place and make it a viable part of the Egyptian economy. ”
Trnka-Amrain was in the United States awaiting the birth of a child when the sculpture was found upside down in January.
She and her fellow explorers were delighted, but they had to temper the excitement in anticipation of further excavations.
“One of the problems with Hermopolis is that it is near the Nile River.
After the construction of the Aswan Low Dam, the groundwater level became a huge problem.
There was no guarantee that the stone would be all right.
Sometimes sandstone is found.
But, in fact, it ’ s just sand or degraded limestone, ” says Trnka-Amrain.
Additional excavations have shown that the Pharaoh ’ s face is remarkably well preserved.
The team even found traces of ancient blue and yellow pigment, which can be analyzed to better understand the period of time and circumstances of the creation of the statue.
“It would be very interesting to do a scientific analysis of the pigment, ” says Trnka-Amrain, noting that soil mixed with paint will also be scrutinized for“ clues to the history of Egypt. ”
Ramesses II is one of the few Egyptian pharaohs widely known to non-specialists in the Western world.
He was the inspiration for Percy Bysshe Shelley ’ s famous poem “Ozymandias ”, played by Yul Brynner in Cecil B. DeMille ’ s film“ The Ten Commandments ” and voiced by actor Rafe Fiennes in the animated film “The Prince of Egypt ”.
The lower half of the statue remained in place, and Gehad presented a proposal to reunite the two parts, which Trnka-Amrain expects will be approved.
It is not known what will happen to the re-assembled statue, but it is likely to remain in place or be placed in a museum, she says.
Meanwhile, a team of researchers is continuing an intensive study of the statue, and Trnka-Amrain hopes they will publish an article about their work sometime this year.
Trnka-Amrain says he hopes to attract more CU Boulder graduate students to the project.
“I came to the University of California after receiving my PhD because the Department of Classical Literature is a really beautiful place where everyone is ready to think outside the box; it is less canonical than the typical departments of classical literature, ” she says.
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The Greek case for the return of the Elgin Marbles often references their desire to reunite artifacts in their original setting, arguing for both cultural wholeness and national benefit.

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Content: smi.today
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The scale of predatory excavations in recent years has increased tenfold
The task of archaeology is to study the ancient and medieval history of the Far East, to restore the periods that have sunk in.
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**Uncertain Fate of Discoveries:** Even significant finds, such as the Ramesses II statue, sustain ambiguity about their future—whether they remain in situ or are relocated to a museum.

Similarly, the resolution of the Elgin Marbles controversy remains unsettled, with ongoing negotiations and no clear agreement on return or retention.

**Re-Contextualization and Modern Usage:** Archaeological finds frequently gain new meanings—through media (e.g., films, poetry), museum exhibitions, and educational reinterpretation.

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Content: smi.today
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The scale of predatory excavations in recent years has increased tenfold
The task of archaeology is to study the ancient and medieval history of the Far East, to restore the periods that have sunk in.
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This cultural repurposing is a key point of dispute for both sides of the Elgin Marbles debate.

Title:

Content: smi.today
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The scale of predatory excavations in recent years has increased tenfold
The task of archaeology is to study the ancient and medieval history of the Far East, to restore the periods that have sunk in.
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**Ethical Archaeology and Community Engagement:** The narrative around Egyptian archaeology underscores modern ethical standards: involving local experts, prioritizing conservation, and viewing archaeology as a partnership with host countries.

This aligns with contemporary calls for ethical handling of contested artifacts, like the Elgin Marbles, including respectful negotiation and consideration of the source community.

**Elgin Marbles Controversy—Potential Resolution:**
The ongoing dispute revolves around Greece’s claim for return—citing cultural reunification and historical justice—and the British Museum’s emphasis on global access and the legal context of acquisition.

Possible ways forward include:

- **Long-term loan agreements:** Allowing Greece to display the marbles while technically not transferring ownership.

- **Joint stewardship or rotating exhibitions:** Promoting collaboration over possession.

- **Institutional dialogue and international arbitration:** Involving UNESCO or other bodies to mediate.

Title:

Content: History and archaeology: The mystery of the mysterious Solovetsky labyrinths, or was there a common civilization for Northern Europe
Ancient labyrinths laid out of stones are scattered in large numbers along the coast of the White Sea.
These mysterious megalithic figures are like part of some plan that we, modern people, do not know.
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**Conclusion:**
The extract demonstrates that archaeological discoveries spark debates around cultural identity, ownership, and ethical practice, directly relevant to contemporary issues like the Elgin Marbles.

As you advance in archaeology, understanding this complex interplay between cultural respect, preservation, education, and international cooperation is essential for responsible stewardship of the world’s heritage.

Title:

Content: smi.today
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The scale of predatory excavations in recent years has increased tenfold
The task of archaeology is to study the ancient and medieval history of the Far East, to restore the periods that have sunk in.
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Certainly!

Title:

Content: Roots
Sponge Traps in the Arabian Gulf (2-1)
T + T - normal size
Since Britain established its hegemony over the Persian Gulf region, its authority in the region has stabilized with military force, political savvy, administrative control, organizational mastery, follow-through, beating opponents, and turning enemies against each other.
This was accompanied by a realistic handling of events, facts, persons and property.
In addition to conducting appropriate studies in various fields, and in various fields, and to see the course of events through reality.
These studies and surveys are part of a complete survey of the region, even if not carried out or not completed, the results remain preserved in drawers, and the places of archives provide researchers with valuable information on a topic of interest to specialists, and opens a door for them to date, record and analyze.
In addition to recognizing a description of nature, an explanation of reality, an explanation of an incident, or a diagnosis of a thing.
Kirkpatrick Report
Among these archived surveys is a report by Randolph Kirkpatrick, one of the most important naturalists and wildlife scientists in the British Museum ’ s Department of Natural History.
He has many studies in this field.
He was born in 1863 and died in 1950.
He is a British scientist specializing in sponge therapy, pharmacology and biology.
He worked as an assistant conservator of lower invertebrates at the British Natural History Museum from 1886 until his retirement in 1927.
Kirkpatrick has published a number of papers on sponges in Antarctica and the Indian Ocean.
He specialized more on a species known as Merlia, a type of coral sponge (a sponge that secretes a limestone skeleton resembling a coral).
He was the first to correctly interpret, analyze and study this unusual sponge.
He published a book containing unconventional ideas about the history of life on Earth.
This was titled The Nummulosphere: An account of the organic origin of so-called fiery rocks and deep red clay, printed in 1912 in four volumes.
Between Sponge and Coral
Sponges differ from corals in terms of nature, composition, composition and life. Sponges are primitive aquatic animals that filter water for food and oxygen and contain a soft porous body, while corals are marine animals that form colonies and secrete calcium carbonate to form a solid outer structure resembling rocks.
Gulf Sponge Potential
Randolph Kirkpatrick reported in November 1905 on the commercial possibilities of establishing sponge fisheries in the Persian Gulf.
This scientist prepared his report in a focused and coordinated manner, according to a documented scientific framework.
He is understood to have made a field trip on a boat from Basra to Karachi, and apparently visited the islands of Bahrain and the coast of Muscat and conducted operational surveys.
Field survey and research samples
He began by denying that there had been any previous studies of sponges in the Gulf.
He stated that the Natural History Museum had solid samples of Gulf sponges.
Some of them he picked up himself during his cruise.
He says there is nothing to indicate the economic abundance of this type of sponge.
He also states that at the time of writing this report, there is no active sponge trade in the region.
He compares that in 1810 there was no trade in sponges in the West Indies, but by 1905 thousands of men from that region were engaged in the extraction of sponges.
In other words, with the passage of time, people began to appreciate the economic importance of this new profession, which they had only entered 95 years ago.
Here, he almost insinuates that it would take the Arabs of the Gulf a similar amount of time to become convinced of this new profession, which their ancestors did not know before those who spent their lives diving on pearls.
Description of the Gulf
The Gulf is then called the Green Sea, and this is perhaps a glimpse of what the Gulf enjoyed of purity and clarity in its waters in an era that did not know pollution and destruction of the environment.
He says that it is from the shallow seas that are almost closed compared to other bays of the world.
At its deepest, it reaches no more than 55 fathoms, equal to 100 metres and 65 cm.
It has hundreds of islands from north to south.
And that the floor of its depths is full of mud, dust, mud and stones, which is a suitable environment for the growth of sponges.
This compares to the coast of Muscat, which stretches many fathoms to greater depths.
And under the title: Conditions suitable for the growth of the sponge to be within the prevailing economic situation:
He points out that water temperatures at a high rate help the growth of this marine organism.
Depths should range from 10 (= 18 meters and 30 cm) to 55 fathoms.
The presence of marine stones and coral reefs also helps the growth of sponges.
And under the title: Conditions suitable for the growth of sponges in the waters of the Arabian Gulf to be a popular trade:
It is noteworthy that the northern part of the Gulf, near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, abounds in muddy land, which does not help much for its growth.
He then insinuates that the winds of the north or the northwest move huge amounts of dust into the waters of the Gulf, increasing the sludge of its land, and thus forming a special kind of marine life.
He points out that the temperature of the Gulf waters is one of the greatest factors for the growth and purity of the sponge, even the temperature of the atmosphere interacts with the heat of the water.
This compares to the waters of Florida, as well as to the seawater temperature of the islands of Bahrain and the coast of Muscat.
Title: Ways to Bring Sponge
Here are four known methods for extracting sponges from the seabed:
The men dive, wearing only what covers their nakedness, as they dive on a pearl oyster, and hang on their feet a heavy stone that drags them down, perhaps ten feet deep.
When they arrive, they stay for a maximum of two or three minutes, cutting the sponge.
2 - Diving using some tools that help them stay longer, and to a depth of 20 fathoms equal to 36 meters and 60 cm.
3 - Diving using a special tool to remove the sponge, represented by a fork with a very long trunk of the handle and an end with two or three forks.
This method is widely used in the West Indies.
4. Use a mesh to pick up sponges made of camel dander, with an iron frame at the opening, which helps to keep them open.
Sponge collectors were putting it in.
And this grid he mentions doesn't explain how it's made.
And where are they made?
Is it specific to Gulf Arabs or not?
Damage and preservation
Then he wonders, can you collect sponges without damaging the bottom of the oyster at the same time?
He answers that there may be some damage to oyster growth sites.
It may affect young oysters that are not yet fully developed.
Here, he points out that any of the four methods are suitable for collecting sponges in the waters of the Gulf and do not affect the pearl shells should be followed, provided that the extent of the damage is known.
Position of Gulf Arabs
Here, too, he hints that Gulf Arabs may object to collecting sponges because it is not the most important crop in their lives, but pearl diving is the most important and the first.
He points out that in the year of writing his report, 30,000 men were working on five thousand dive boats, which constitutes a huge social and economic organization for the people of the Gulf between June and October of each year.
It is nice to note that even in the Mediterranean basin and in the waters of the Americas, the entry of a new profession in their lives is a major problem that may change a lot of lifestyle, but they understand its importance and its economic role, and the magnitude of its positive impact on their lives.
Here, his speech touches on the Gulf reality, by not introducing a new profession to the people unless they realize its great future importance in their lives.
So when he referred to the sponge-collecting profession in the West Indies, he stated that it took at least nine decades for them to become common.
CONCLUSION
He was frank when he said that the author of this report could not fully confirm that the Gulf sponge represents an economic feasibility that can be relied upon in extracting this material and spending money on it.
And harness the potential to extract it.
However, he stressed that the waters of the Arabian Gulf are a suitable environment for the growth of sponges to be a popular trade provided that the general economic situation of the people of the Gulf is taken into account.
In other words, getting to the collection, export, and benefit mode takes a bit of time.
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Here are concise nuggets of information based on the provided extracts, focusing especially on the themes that relate to the controversy of cultural heritage, ownership, and preservation—as are relevant to the Elgin Marbles case:

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**Cultural Heritage and Preservation**

- There is broad recognition of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, as seen in initiatives like Abu Dhabi Tourism's efforts with clay architecture and research into ancient stone structures in Saudi Arabia.

Title:

Content: Gulf News / UAE News
Abu Dhabi Tourism supports the preservation of the heritage of clay architecture
Abu Dhabi - Saif Al Yazid - The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi led a series of successful training programmes and partnerships in 2023, as part of its mission to preserve, disseminate and promote the emirate ’ s cultural and heritage heritage.
In this context, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has collaborated with the So-Hath Foundation for Building Craftsmen to implement a training program in the field of mud construction for its workers entitled “Re-learning ”.
This program has helped 42 artisans of different levels and experience to hone their conservation skills to preserve the clay heritage sites in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
This training program supports the strategic objectives of the Department by enhancing the expertise, skills and knowledge of artisans working in the field of preserving and preserving the heritage of clay architecture in the region.
The program, which included several lectures and workshops, contributed to the creation of three guidebooks for the preservation of cultural heritage in four languages: Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi, which include the principles, techniques and traditions of clay construction.
Jaber Al Marri, Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi ’ s Historical Environment Department, said: “Preserving historic buildings and training craftsmen is critical to protecting our emirate ’ s cultural heritage and urban heritage. We are committed to working with partners to support and nurture artisans, workers and professionals through training programmes that ensure the transfer of traditional building practices and the sustainability of clay heritage. ”
In 2023, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi collaborated with Dabbagh Architecture, the architectural design studio in the United Arab Emirates, to design a special installation for the second edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, which concluded in March 2024.
The artwork, “From Dust to Dust, ” explores the close relationship between memory and material elements, and is constructed using clay blocks without any structural supports.
The creation of this work was based on the experience and skills acquired by the Department's craftsmen from the clay construction training programme.
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- New archaeological findings highlight the advanced craftsmanship and cultural practices of ancient societies, underlining the importance of protecting such finds within their cultural context.

Title:

Content: Rock beauty sculptures in Saudi desert date back more than 7,000 years
The authors of the study, details of which have been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, see this site as an example of “an era in ancient history in which the shepherds of northern Saudi Arabia were rotting on rocks and making huge stone structures. ”
Rock carvings of camels and other camels discovered in northern Saudi Arabia date back at least 7,000 years, much older than previously thought at the time they were unveiled a few years ago, according to an international study.
These 21 outstanding sculptures, engraved in three rock outcrops in the Al Jawf Desert, represent a true size beauty.
In 2018, archaeologists estimated it to date back to the beginning of earlier eras, due to similarities with other sculptures at the nearby site of Petra in Jordan dating back to the Nabataean civilization (169 BC – 106 AD).
A research program launched in the context of a collaboration between the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the German Max Planck Institute for Science and Human History and the National Institute for Scientific Research in France, relied on a range of scientific techniques such as tool mark analysis, rock erosion analysis and radiocarbon screening to accurately date these works, especially as their condition has deteriorated sharply over the years, according to a statement issued by the Max Planck Institute.
The scientists concluded that some of these sculptures were engraved in the sixth millennium before our era, by stone tools in the middle of Savannah, where trees and lakes were scattered, later turned into desert.
All this data coincides with the fact that the sculptures were made using stone tools, at the latest during the 6th millennium BC.
The authors of the study, details of which are published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, see this site as an example of “an era in ancient history in which pastoralist groups in northern Saudi Arabia flocked to rocks and made huge stone structures. ”
The effort to create these rock sculptures may have required the laying of scaffolding and the bringing of stone tools from 15 kilometers away, and required collective work that could be part of an annual ritual for a Neolithic community.
There may be considerable symbolism in some camel sculptures, which have implications for a breeding cycle linked in turn to those of wet and dry seasons.
Scholars consider this site to have been particularly symbolic for its inhabitants and have not yet determined what it is, with multiple interventions over a long period of time to refine the sculptures.
Lead author of the research, Maria Ganyan of the Max Planck Institute, said: “Neolithic groups have regularly returned to the site, demonstrating that its symbolism has lasted for several generations.
Source: French + Websites
About this story
In a new study, Professor Esposito offers a multi-dimensional treatment of the explained root causes of both extremism and Islamophobia, by examining the cultural construct supporting radical discourses.
20 / 6 / 2021
This article deals with the phenomenon of graffiti in our Arab-Islamic heritage; it monitors, through the ages, the manifestations of its use in the lives of people, from the disclosure of the potential of the soul in the texts of literature and the inscriptions of memories to the field of politics and episodes of mysticism.
20 / 10 / 2020
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**Cultural Coexistence and Restoration**

- Studies on regions such as Mosul emphasize that heritage matters not just for its own sake, but also for fostering social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, and for aiding in economic and cultural recovery after conflict.

Title:

Content: European study advises attention to peaceful coexistence and religious freedoms in Mosul
Translated by Hamed Ahmed
A European study called for attention to culture, peaceful coexistence and religious freedoms within the reconstruction efforts of Mosul, stressing the importance of restoring the ability of social components to return to the practice of their activities.
According to a Swedish study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on post-war reconstruction efforts in Mosul and the Nineveh Plains, “promoting and reviving the aspect of culture, agriculture, social coexistence and the practice of religious customs among the different communities of the people of Mosul is very necessary and must be focused on in conjunction with the reconstruction of buildings, houses and infrastructure of the city. ”
“Considering the unprecedented rate of destruction, it will take many years and huge resources before Nineveh and its people can recover from the painful experience of what they experienced during the occupation of Daesh terrorist gangs, ” she added.
“Massive reconstruction and reconciliation efforts are needed to address the cumulative social, cultural and economic impacts on different ethnic and religious communities in Nineveh. ”
“Post-war reconstruction efforts should not focus solely on the aspect of physical reconstruction and the re-establishment of economic architecture. ”
“Efforts should also attach equal importance to restoring the ability of the social components to return to their cultural and religious activities and traditions and to reform and restore the relations of coexistence and social integration, ” she said.
“This trend in Nineveh may call for the restoration of agricultural activities as an integral part of reconstruction efforts, ” the study said.
She pointed out that "these efforts are of both economic and cultural importance and at the same time carry implications for internal societal coexistence."
“The restoration of agricultural activities is important to address other current challenges such as the impacts of climate change and water scarcity. ”
According to the study, 216 individuals, including tribal leaders, civil society activists, farmers, villagers and displaced people, were surveyed on the extent to which different cultural, religious, economic and agricultural aspects of the Nineveh Plain interact to help rehabilitate economic and living activities, restore cultural and religious practices and promote community harmony.
She stressed that "the survey included interviews of 892 farmers and villagers in Hamdaniya, Talkef and Bashiqa," follow-up, that "the conclusions showed that farmers made strenuous efforts to recover agricultural activities because of the lack of financial resources to enable them to buy materials that support agriculture such as equipment, seeds and fertilizers."
The study went on to say that "the decline of rain and drought added to them have a limited ability to introduce irrigation systems, in an area where agriculture depends on rain for irrigation has been lost, resulting in a significant decline in the financial income of the people with economic difficulties."
“Restoring people ’ s ability to integrate into cultural and religious practices is vital for the post-war era, ” she said.
The study continues, "The conclusions showed that the ability to integrate cultural and religious practices have a great connection with the identity of people and their sense of belonging to their region and to Iraq in general, for many people is a motivation to return to their areas after the stage of displacement."
“Issues related to identity, religion and culture are vital to efforts to promote community harmony and ease internal tensions between different communities in Nineveh, ” she said.
“The restoration of agricultural activity and the re-establishment of religious and cultural practices are key areas requiring assistance, and in these efforts it is necessary to recognize the strong links between the economy and culture and between agricultural activities and cultural dimensions. ”
Focusing heavily on the cultural and social importance of agricultural practices allows reconstruction agents to identify effective ways to address multiple aspects of local needs and pave the way for the restoration of life in Nineveh.
She stressed that “these findings in the Nineveh Plain and the trends and concerns of local people can be harnessed to support post-war reconstruction efforts, which include taking into account the needs of the affected people in order to restore their living standards in accordance with the facts on the ground and restore their ability to integrate with their cultural and religious practices and strengthen cooperation and community coexistence. ”
“Reconstruction efforts should be seen as an opportunity to address problems and issues that are not directly related to the war but are vital to strengthening the recovery side, as well as an opportunity to promote resilience and tolerance over the long term. ”
The study continued, "A three-year occupation period under the control of ISIS left deep wounds in the province of Nineveh."
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions forced to leave their homes to seek refuge elsewhere inside or outside Iraq.
The study continues, “These conditions have caused the destruction of the living conditions of communities and communities, the effects of which are still present today. ”
She added that "joint estimates of the World Bank and the Iraqi government estimated the cost of the destruction of historic religious buildings to the extent of 56.2 billion Iraqi dinars ($47 million)."
"The destruction of religious monuments has caused deep sadness and suffering for local people because of its symbol stuck in their minds and representing their identity and belonging," the study said.
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- Reconstruction and recovery after crises often prioritize the safeguarding and revitalization of local traditions and tangible heritage as a means to rebuild identity and community.

**Attitudes Towards Removal of Cultural Objects**

- There’s a recurring motif in the text that calls for the cessation of the practice of “removal of monuments”—that physically erasing cultural symbols or artifacts is not a true solution and can even erode civic education and collective memory.

Title:

Content: Political sweeping and before it cleansing and fogging and dropping idols and loyalty to the homeland and the inclusion of all joints and differences
Jassar Saleh Mufti
Sources familiar with the movement within the Islamic Dawa Party said that the current leadership has so far failed to reunite itself, in light of its lack of a plan or project that can be relied on to attract public support, specifically from the young segments.
The Lebanese newspaper “Al-Akhbar ” said in its issue today, quoting those sources, that the leadership of the party was faced with three options“ bitter dreams, and will lead in one way or another, in the end, to the decline of the party star. ”
The first of these options is to call for the election of a new leadership, including members of the Shura Council (50) and the Political Council (11), provided that these 61 are young people, while historic leaders retire, advisers are retained, and then the reform process begins.
But this proposal collided with the possibility of the failure of the new leadership to promote itself, and the possibility that it will take years to achieve a breakthrough interaction in the Iraqi street.
The second option was to postpone the conference, so that the current leadership could mature its vision for the future of the party and its mechanisms of work, but the problem that emerged in this context was the possibility of failure of the stakeholders to produce a “draft vision ”, which means that the party will automatically enter a“ clinical death ”, in light of its inability to produce new leadership on the one hand, and crystallize its project on the other.
As for the third option, in which the “call ” seems to be proceeding, it is the convening of the General Conference before the middle of this year, although“ the date has not been set yet, because the preparations for it need more time, ” in the words of one of the party leaders.
According to the newspaper's information as in its report, the leadership of the "call" is expected to re-elect itself, with limited change in a number of sites in favor of young faces at the expense of current faces.
The congress will be followed by a workshop on reforms of the party ’ s organizational structure, and a paper outlining the party ’ s vision and project.
The information indicates that the latter scenario was developed after consulting regional parties that advised to maintain the unity of Dawa, which was also recommended by the circles of the supreme religious authority (Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani), which prefer to keep the map of political parties in its current form, especially within the Shiite House...
It can no longer be complicated. ”
In the midst of this, and in light of the party ’ s lack of a broad mass base that can rally around it in its ordeal believing in its principles, and not in its ability to secure jobs for those who want them, the opponents of the “call ” bet that the moment of the last“ split back ” is near.
A bet based on a number of factors, starting from the loss of the party ’ s position as prime minister, which it has monopolized for 13 years, through suspicions about its leaders regarding involvement in corruption and its generalization, to the failure of the party to promote itself on the one hand, and the formation of its historical leaders parallel parties on its banks, eat of its popularity, and invest in its street.
A few weeks ago, satellite channels and various social media circulated a scene of a lawmaker accused of corruption, trying to escape the large crowds, which were chasing him near the parliament building, and after he was arrested by the angry, he was carried and put in a garbage container.
Regardless of what this (Ukrainian) MP did, he certainly did not come to do what some of the Iraqi politicians, who sit in the chairs of responsibility and governance at the top of the pyramid?
Where the order reached some of them to be a tool of the external agenda, which wanted and want to flood Iraq with chaos and instability, and resolve sectarianism, but they were a tool of terrorism Daeshi and before him the base, by providing political and legal cover for killers and criminals, taking advantage of their access to the customary or legal immunity granted to those in the legislative or executive power.. Incubators of domestic or imported terrorism (if you will).
This is through material, moral and media support for all tendencies hostile to the political process in Iraq after the US occupation, and what happened in the sit-in squares and platforms, which preceded the Iraqi June setback in 2013.
And supported by the senior leaders of the parties in the provinces of the Sunni Arabs, to conclusive evidence of what I say, where the aforementioned squares and their platforms, which are notorious and notorious, turned into a headquarters and a corridor for the dispersion of horizons and preachers of Satan, and even to kill innocent soldiers unarmed of weapons, and under the sight and hearing of the crowds present, and amid the cries of (Takbir) Daeshi. And prepared in advance in the corridors of the intelligence of regional countries brother and friend of Iraq, to bring down the political process in it, and turn back the clock.
But by the grace of God, and the fatwas of the great references, and the energy of the honorable people of the popular crowd and the security forces, disappointed and lost their bets, and the magic turned on the magician.
The process of political sweeping must start preparing for it from now, coinciding with the liberation and cleansing of the occupied territories from ISIS.
By showing the facts and holding accountable the wrongdoer, the negligent, the corrupt, the thief and the forger, in every detail of the Iraqi state and under any title held by this violator of the law, regardless of his religion, nationality and doctrine, terrorism is not the only one that brought us to what we are in political, economic and social crises.
But it was part of a large series of mistakes, which accumulated and magnified and produced calamities and impurities on this wounded country, especially the system of (quotas), which we have suffered since the fall of the previous regime until now.
It is a call to the people of the areas hit and occupied by terrorism, in Mosul, Anbar, Salahuddin and Diyala.. To tell those who elected them and brought them to the top of the political pyramid: Stop the conspiracies, intrigues and false pretensions, which brought Iraq, especially your provinces and their inhabitants to what happened and is being destroyed and ruined. To tell the leaders there that we are part of Iraq, and that the preservation of the rights of the smaller country does not prevent the granting and preservation of the rights of the larger country.
And that they should treat their partners in the homeland as a partnership of brotherhood in destiny, not as the partnership of the merchant who threatens to break the partnership at all times, and for what reason?
Remember that a tree, no matter how high or large, is fixed by its roots, not by the length of its branches or the abundance of its fruits.
It is an invitation to the people of the center and the south to tell their leaders and representatives: Expose the corrupt and the theft of public money, expel them from their positions and jobs that you gave them, and clean your parties of some ignorant climbers and parasites who abused or abused parties that had the honor of fighting injustice and dictatorship.
It is a call for all the Iraqi people to be loyal to the blood and souls of the martyrs, which flowed every day over the holy land, the land of Iraq, to defend it and liberate it from the desecration of terrorism.
Is there a responder??
Before we look at the political sweepers that abound these days, it was necessary to consider the sweepers themselves and the extent of their ability to sweepers that they promise once they win the elections and become prime minister.
The sweep promised by its current advocates will be limited to removing the vestiges of the ruling party, the National Congress alone.
Of course, this process of sweeping will only be carried out by those who will take over the reins of power from the competing parties, and thus qualify him to sweep what he deems necessary from the ruling party, and keep what he wants.
These parties calling for sweeping others, it is regrettable that they did not reach a conclusive opinion on the way to reach power, which is not possible to achieve except through the next elections, as these parties are still in a state of continuous “rot and rot ”, whether they will accept to contest those elections or boycott them?
Every morning there is a new opinion for these parties.
The latest, the memorandum sent to the Presidency of the Republic, demanding the postponement of the elections until next November, the amendment of laws related to freedoms, the formation of a national government, and the restructuring of the National Elections Commission, and then gave the Presidency one week to respond to their demands or they will work on « Hijwa or Dbaybina », boycott the elections.
We ask these parties what is new in these demands that they have been demanding from time to time, especially the idea of the national government, which did not find the least amount of acceptance, let alone respond to any official of the National Congress, and some of them described the demand as an attempt to reach power without effort is to run elections to despair of winning them?
Therefore, we are determined from now on not to pay attention to this memorandum by the Presidency of the Republic, which will be seen as a game to waste time, which the President of the Republic, the candidate of the National Congress for the presidency, is investing in his readiness to compete in the elections, and will not waste him in words and demands that are impossible to achieve.
Moreover, the preparations for the elections have gone a long way, and have cost everyone a great deal of effort and money, which is difficult to replace or obtain again, especially for the same parties calling for the postponement of the elections, which complain to the bricks of the earth of their impotence, poverty and lack of power.
Then how do they expect that the National Elections Commission will be dissolved now, and has been patient on their part since its formation and announcement and throughout the previous period, until they discover today the lack of impartiality and bias of the National Conference that formed it, discovered « Yadoop » now and then they saw the call to dissolve and reconstitute it, without explaining who will reconstitute if not the same National Conference?
What we admire is the continued threat of these parties to boycott the elections, as if someone would care about it after it was repeated more than once and without taking action.
These parties, called more than one name, Juba parties or the parties of the alliance or the parties of the national consensus, which are still running behind the mirage, demanding all impossibilities, some of them have gone out on them and become exposed, especially as the parties that have gone out of importance so that any action they threaten in case of failure to respond to their demands will be worthless in the absence of solidarity of the parties that reject them, especially the popular movement. She calls for this, after her candidate for the presidency of the Republic has made all those strides in his readiness to run.
As long as there are large parties, such as the Popular Movement, which will not accept the boycott, or the Popular Congress, which explicitly announced that it will not boycott the elections, the threat of boycott by the alliance will become useless, but will be in the interest of the National Congress, as we have said before, because the competition will decrease, especially when competitors with heavy weight such as the National Umma Party candidate.
This is, of course, assuming that the Juba parties will indeed boycott the elections, despite their reputation for saying what they do not do, if their demands sent to the presidency of the Republic, which of course are not and will not be answered, and we fear that the decision to boycott from the end of this week, the date that was set to be taken, will move to a new date, as we are used to each time.
These parties in all this « Jihaja » talk about the idea of   sweeping the effects of the Salvation Government, although the sweep of the impact of any government must be through the election fund, so that the party gains the seats that qualify him to sit on the seats of power after the removal of his predecessor, and not otherwise, although we reject the use of the word sweeping from its basis, because it is used to get rid of dirt, and we will not make any of any of any of any of any governments no Although there is political dirt that deserves to be swept away, such as corruption, nepotism, injustice and others, the generalization of the act without discrimination greatly harmed the idea.
We heard the subject of sweeping the monuments of the regimes for the first time in 1985 after the fall of the May regime, when Imam Sadiq al-Mahdi launched the idea of sweeping the monuments of May then, and began to implement it after he came to power.
Unfortunately, the synagogue practiced by Mr. Sadiq al-Mahdi did not exceed the removal of the foundation stone of some of the buildings built by May, which is considered one of the most distinctive effects left by May, such as the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, under whose roof he continued to announce his call to remove the effects of May, as well as the People ’ s Assembly in Omdurman and many others.
We said then that to erase the effects of any system, if this idea is accepted, is only to leave what is more valuable than it and not to remove the name of the person who made it.
Monuments in all parts of the world are one of the most important things that must be preserved, without any tampering with it either in its form or content, so that this helps in the process of recording the history of the country and sequencing it without interruption for the sake of future generations.
The positive history of the country is not required to be recorded and overcome the negative, so as not to create gaps in that history.
If May has its mistakes, which it has like any other system of government, it does not mean that the May era of the history of the country removed that mistake, but it is required to reverse its mistakes with all the honesty and honesty required, at the same time that its positives are reflected with all honesty and honesty as well.
We have not heard of the removal of the effects of any judgment by those who follow it, except for those of us who are accustomed to the creation of adversity.
In the context of the removal of the monuments of May, some have tried to change the names of some places that bear their name, and to name them others, and this attempt is considered a political theft that should not be practiced.
But the Sudanese people, who do not miss such plots, insisted on using the real name despite the nose of change.
Moreover, the removal of any trace of the effects of May means misleading the new generation, which has not lived with it and therefore does not know the facts, and has the right to know all that surrounded it negatively or positively, and when some facts were hidden from him after their removal, what he knows of the history of Sudan and the march of governance in it becomes wrong.
The call for removal also included people who worked for, or collaborated with, the system.
Their removal was similar to the referral for the public interest practiced by the current Salvation Government, but it is amazing that the same people who were swept within the ruins of May and thrown into the dustbin of history are the same people who were used by Imam Sadiq al-Mahdi, the owner of the idea of   sweeping, and placed at the top of his institutions in the Umma Party.
Therefore, we do not find any justification to return to this slogan, was it on the part of Imam Sadiq al-Mahdi or those who took in his tradition from others, vacuuming the regime is impossible to achieve as long as the rule of that regime or Fasrat, vacuuming means removal, which is not possible to do any of the vacuums of the world.
Mr. Sadiq al-Mahdi spent most of his years of rule preoccupied with sweeping the effects of May, and did not succeed until the third democracy was completely swept by the coup of June 1989.
Therefore, we did not hope that His Excellency would repeat the same series to become the sweeping of the effects of the rescue, among the priorities of his electoral programs, although he was excluded from sweeping bridges, bridges, dams and roads of course.
And the question becomes, what will be swept away by the effects that do not include all of this?
I do not believe that it is possible to remove the effects of a rule that has been in power for two decades and more, and wherever the citizen turns, he finds a trace of its effects.
Therefore, it is desirable that the idea of   removing errors become in the style of government and some of its practices, and that everyone move away from this story of removal of monuments.
In the style of government, discrimination among citizens must be eliminated because of loyalty to the party, for example, or preference of kin over others.
The success of any party in achieving justice among citizens alone is enough.
We say this because there are some of the leaders of the other parties have started to raise the same slogan, sweeping the traces of the National Conference, and before these parties sink in the face of that slogan, we hope that they will overcome it and talk about others, as the days have proved its failure and futility.
I believe that the attempt to sweep the effects of the regimes is what encouraged some to sabotage everything that these regimes do, as this is in the field of sweeping their effects.
I was surprised today that there are “vases ” with some seedlings intended to beautify one of Bahri ’ s main streets.
Someone smashed it.
Despite the ugliness of these vases, their unsuitability for decoration, and their entitlement to removal, the one who did the smashing of them is more ugly than he did.
Such an act may be repeated in other places and for other things, and it contains conclusive evidence of the misery of our civic education, where the citizen does not distinguish between what belongs to the government and what belongs to him - as a citizen - must be preserved.
Those who sabotage on the grounds that doing so helps to remove the ruling regime, do not know that they will be the ones who will pay the cost of repairing what they sabotage and from their own money, not the money of the government, and these sabotage operations will not affect the system of government.
Surprisingly, all traces of interest and value were made during the totalitarian era, from the government of November 58, through May 69, to June 89, while none of the governments are found in the democratic era.
This may be due to the fact that military governments, especially those of May and June, continued to govern for a long time, enabling them to implement all their plans and programs, while democratic governments were too short to implement any of their programs or plans.
This may be true to some extent, but it does not negate the fact that partisan governments often waste time in political squabbling among themselves and in how to erase the effects of the military rule that preceded them until they are overrun by another.
Why should any government not seek to build on what its predecessor has built, and stop the story of erasing the traces of the other to start again, which has prevented us from catching up with the world, as long as we do not take a step forward without following it back.
Amebia, whales, black scorpions, dung beetles, the power of militias, the power of political Islam, the power of assassinations and repression, the representative of the petty bourgeois class that lives on the oppression of the masses and plunder their wealth, and it kills in cold blood peaceful demonstrators.
This authority is terrified of the masses, terrified of its revolutionary will with patience, steadfastness and the perpetuation of the uprising, terrified of losing its privileges, influence and corruption, it relied on the hardened criminals of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and mocked all their repressive organs of the security of the Popular Mobilization Forces, militias and national security headed by Faleh al-Fayyad, who is the actual coordinator between the Popular Mobilization Committee. And tried through stupid plays media escalation and military skirmishes with the United States of America and show its defense of the so-called national sovereignty when Soleimani and the engineer were killed and raised the banner of the exit of foreign forces at a time when their representatives in parliament chanted Soleimani, who killed what killed through his snipers dozens of peaceful demonstrators, and cut off the Internet in the past night and this morning As a new attempt to suppress the protests, and all those efforts to distort and distort the demonstrations and thus strike and suppress them.
This dirty power has shown that its real enemy is not America or foreign forces, but the masses that are hungry for freedom, the peaceful masses that have demanded nothing more than a decent life free of poverty and want, confronting them with live bullets, poison gas, snipers and silencers.
The power of the ruling militias in Iraq imposed itself on the masses of Iraq by the strength of their militias, and that their legitimacy is falsified par excellence, and tries to continue through killings, kidnappings, assassinations, fabricating political plays and blatant labor.
This authority is the third party that the criminal Adel Abdul Mahdi talked about in the bloodshed of the masses, and all its leaders must be brought to trial on charges of killing peaceful demonstrators in addition to dissolving their gangs under any name.
All the forces of the political process talk about the constitution, and boast of addressing the masses that they should not violate the constitution while their militias kill, kidnap and assassinate and there is no deterrent to them without asking whether they commit crimes recommended by the constitution!
Their defense of the Constitution is their defense of their fake and criminal power, a power that without killing and silencing will not last a day.
Such power must be swept away from society; without it, society will take a step towards security, stability, freedom and prosperity.
The alternative to this power is the establishment of a provisional government that guarantees freedom, security and equality.
You will be swept away, scavenged, sterilized, and replaced with his coat, and before him trim his nails and cut his tail, even if it is a cover for him, but this is the creation of God!!!
The religious establishment in Najaf closed its doors, widened its voice, distanced itself and rebuked the leaders of the deep state on more than one occasion.
The deep state is a group of interests that do not care what the homeland and the citizen suffer..?
Many suspicions of corruption gnawed the body of Iraq carried out by the deep state is to impose its will with a piece of paper imposed on Prime Minister Brother Mustafa?
The underdog on his own?
a piece of paper to turn the table because the prime minister & apos; s office is taking a cut
Appointments in important, essential and sovereign positions are imposed on the prime minister with a piece of paper from the leaders of the deep state.
When will we be free from the domination and influence of the leaders of the deep state who slaughtered Iraq by imposing their will..
solution from my point of view.
Is the liberation of minds from the influence of leaders of blocs and corrupt political parties and the dissolution of parliament and sweep the leaders of parties and political blocs corrupt and without exception..!?
The Republican presidential system of government and a courageous independent national leader who leads Iraq.
It is the best solution in imposing the prestige of the state and the rule of law, silencing mouths and freedom of opinion.
The imposition of the will of the state, the rule of law, the dissolution of parliament and a presidential system of government requires a popular movement, the liberation of minds and a massive popular revolution that obeys the corrupt political class and their deep state and the political impasse that cracked our heads.
They say, “Beware of women who talk about honor a lot, ” and by the same measure we should be wary of those who raise their voices high in love of the homeland and the fight against corruption.
The people have always threatened with warning the traitors and the fallen to throw them one day in the dustbin of history when history writes about these people and their treacherous attitudes.
Of course, the writing of history and reference to the biography of men remained dependent on the hands of the victor and those who have power and the scepter and sit on the throne and dictate what he wants from the descriptions of those rulers through pens and writings and praises of the sultans to whiten the faces of those blackened by treason, mercenarism and selling the destinies of peoples. Involved in corruption.
In Ukraine, a corrupt politician and money manipulator threw a lawmaker from the party of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych into a garbage container. * ^ * ^ * * On Tuesday, Ukrainian demonstrators threw Vitaly Gorabsky, a lawmaker from the Party of the Regions, into a garbage container during a rally in front of the parliament in Kiev.
The demonstrators grabbed “Gorabski ”, while leaving the parliament building, and threw him in a garbage container they brought in front of the building, and the demonstrators prevented the exit of“ Gorabski ” from the container briefly, accusing him of causing bloodshed in the country, “for having played a leading role in the issuance of many controversial laws during the period of the previous government. ”
The demonstrators, who belong to the Union of Freedom for All Ukrainians and other nationalist movements, demanded to announce the content of a law granting special status to some cities in the east of the country, as well as the passage of a law punishing members of the former Ukrainian government.
I wonder how much we need in Iraq.
This is what must be done in all our parliamentarians and officials, starting from the top of the pyramid of al-Qaeda and without exception, and recover all the money stolen by them and use the International Interpol agency for that!!!!
And then to prison because they did to us double what this guy did to the Ukrainians.
This is the lesson of the Iraqi parliamentarian all corrupt and corrupt and servants of corruption, injustice and tyranny by using parliamentary immunity as well as their domination over the goods of the country by using influence and exploiting all public places and getting bribes or entering into projects with a share if you want to get the license...
Even if we get a chance to throw them away, where are the trash cans?
When the Ukrainians threw him into the container, they insulted him the most because they were civilized and everything had its rules.
But we, our parliamentarians, our government and all the layers of our society, rich and poor, are cutting the streets
Our main cities and garbage accumulated on the sides, but in the alleys it happened and there is no embarrassment and do not see containers only in the neighborhoods “high-end ” buildings, but the residents of the city, and in this sense, the containers we have a prestige and parliament do not deserve it, and even decorated with plastic packages of all colors have become part of the decor of our neighborhoods and do not want to be spoiled by one, especially parliamentarians And it rots because the landfill is relatively cleaner than them.
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- It is suggested that the value of artifacts is not only in their artistic or economic worth but in their connection to place, local heritage, and societal narrative.

Removing artifacts can result in a loss of meaning for the originating culture.

**Ownership, Civic Responsibility, and Global Context**

- The discussion touches on the blurred lines between government (state ownership) and citizen ownership of cultural heritage, arguing that everyone has a role in respecting and safeguarding heritage.

- Acts of removing or relocating cultural objects are described as potentially problematic, especially if done without regard to their significance or without clear, commonly agreed rules.

**Relevance to Elgin Marbles Controversy**

- These insights mirror the core contemporary arguments in the Elgin Marbles debate: Greece’s claim is based on the marbles’ integral role in its heritage and identity, and the argument that removal diminished them and their context.

- Many now advocate for cultural treasures to remain or be returned to their place of origin, given their deeper meaning within that locality—similar to the arguments against "vacuuming" monuments elsewhere.

- There is acknowledgement that returning items can aid in healing historical wounds and promoting global cooperation, as well as respect for the originating society’s rights and values.

**Potential Resolution Approaches**

- Emphasis on dialogue, mutual respect, and international standards (such as UNESCO conventions) could guide decision-making.

- Cooperative solutions—like joint stewardship, rotating exhibits, or cultural exchanges—are sometimes suggested as ways to honor both global scholarly interests and local cultural significance.

- A critical underlying principle is that decisions about cultural heritage should balance global access with local rights, always striving to "leave what is more valuable"—the connections and meanings that artifacts have for their source communities.

---

These summary points reflect broader themes that inform both the academic and ethical dimensions of the Elgin Marbles controversy, relevant to archaeologists concerned with both discovery and respectful preservation.

Certainly!

Title:

Content: People 's Daily Online > > Economy and Technology
(Youth Party)
Sanxingdui archeological front line of young people
Our reporter Li Changyu Wang Mingfeng
September 03, 2023 08: 23 | Source: People's Daily - People's Daily
Small number
A bronze head with a gold mask in the new museum of Sanxingdui.
Photo by Xinhua reporter Liu Kun
On July 26, the new Sanxingdui Museum opened.
The mysterious golden mask, the strange shape of the tortoiseshell grid, and the complex shape of the bronze bird foot statue... not long ago, the half-hidden in the soil of the Sanxingdui "heavy instrument" stunning appearance, the size of the huge, complex structure, the strange shape, amazing.
In 1986, the discovery of the Sanxingdui "sacrificial pit" once "awakened the world."
After more than 30 years, from 2020, the Sanxingdui site launched the excavation of six newly discovered "sacrificial pits", and more than 15,000 cultural relics such as ivory, bronze, gold and jade were newly unearthed, which once again made a sensation in the world.
In the Sanxingdui archaeological line, after 90 picked up the girder.
Nearly 200 people participated in the excavation of the Sanxingdui Archaeological Sacrifice Area, of which more than 150 are post-90s.
While inheriting old skills from the archeological predecessors, they skillfully applied new technologies and grew into talents in the field of archaeology, becoming witnesses, participants and promoters of "archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese style".
Excavation:
Not leaving out any historical details.
The new Sanxingdui Museum is full of tourists.
In front of a bronze statue of the statue, tourists stopped to watch.
The exaggerated shapes and strange decorations of portraits bring people's thoughts back to the ancient Shu civilization thousands of years ago.
Speaking of the bronze statue, Xu Danyang, a member of the post-90s archaeology team of the Sanxingdui Institute of Archaeology of Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, was talking about an old friend.
The bronze statue, which was unearthed in the "sacrificial pit" at No. 4, was excavated by his hand.
As the "pit head" responsible for the excavation and cleaning of pit No. 4, Xu Danyang spent most of the year soaking in this pit of about 8 square meters, and every corner and corner here was dug out by him and his colleagues with a small shovel.
"Archaeological excavations are not 'excavation' for most of the time, but 'excavation'." Xu Danyang said that the soil layer contains rich information, which is an important basis for inferring the formation date and process of the ruins. "Every inch of soil should be carefully screened, and no historical details should be missed."
In order to restore as much as possible the formation process of the "sacrificial pit", at the time of the excavation, the No. 4 pit was divided into a small square of 30 × 30 cm, and everyone counted the grid, lying on the ground for a week, and only dug 10 cm deep.
Xu Danyang said that in the process of cleaning up, experts in soil environment, geology and other fields were also invited to participate in the "consultation", and even invited fire experts from the fire brigade to study whether the ashes were burned in the pit from the perspective of the fire site. Burning out of the pit again.
This process allowed him to gain a lot of interdisciplinary knowledge.
"At the excavation site, ordinary earth blocks will be bagged, numbered, and stored in a warehouse known as the 'future space'." Xu Danyang said, these small earth blocks may be wrapped in the truth of history, waiting for people to peel off layer by layer.
Of course, the most exciting part of the excavation is the moment when the artifacts are unearthed.
"At first, the statue was superimposed by ivory and other artifacts, but from a patch of copper green revealed in the gap, it was a bronze artifact," said Xu Danyang, who was not aware of the fact that the artifact was covered with copper rust when it was first unearthed. It was a bronze figure, thought to be a bird-shaped device.
But as the cleaning continued, Xu Danyang suddenly found that the exposed parts were a bit like the tip of a person's nose, and then, the eyes were also exposed, cleaning up along with the characteristics of the human body, and saw the ears and chin.
It was not until all of them were cleaned up that Xu Danyang discovered that the bronze figure was very different from the previous one: the face was more realistic, and the figure was staggered with V-shaped lines, feather crowns, and dovetail lines, which were new artifacts that had not been seen before.
"I am very excited and have a feeling of witnessing history," Xu Danyang said.
In Sanxingdui, not all archaeologists have the luck to catch up with the "sacrificial pit" excavation of such a big event.
Li Huiqing, also a member of the post-90s archaeological team, came to Sanxingdui, where the field excavation work of the "sacrificial pits" has come to an end.
The first excavation she participated in was to search for the remains of the production and life of the ancient Shu people in Moon Bay not far away.
In Li Huiqing's view, compared with the excavation of the eye-catching "sacrificial pits", the pace of work in Moon Bay is the norm for most archeologists: Dotting, laying, digging soil layers, drawing, writing work logs... The work in the fields is orderly, but there is no lack of joy.
Once, she unearthed a "bird's head spoon" pottery products, although it is nothing compared to the "heavy ware" of the "sacrificial pit", but this "strange, lovely love" artifact dug up by hand also made her happy for a long time.
"There are still many places to be excavated in Sanxingdui, and if we continue to do so, we may not be finished in this lifetime," Xu said.
As a first-line young archaeologist, he is "both looking forward and full of confidence."
Protection:
Experience the charm of scientific and technological archaeology
Unlike most of the previous archaeological excavation methods of "first excavation and later protection", a major feature of the Sanxingdui "sacrificial pit" archaeological excavation is that the protection of cultural relics is front-facing, while excavating and protecting.
In order to protect cultural relics simultaneously, the Sanxingdui Archaeological Research Institute has created an exploratory working chamber, which is equipped with a small frequency conversion environment control system and a high-pressure micro-fog humidification system.
At the same time, the excavation site also housed a row of cultural protection work "huts" full of scientific and technological elements, equipped with emergency detection and analysis room, organic cultural relics emergency protection room, inorganic cultural relics emergency protection room, etc., unearthed cultural relics can be protected and studied in the first time.
The soil environment has a great impact on the preservation of cultural relics.
Every 10 cm excavation, Xiao Qing and colleagues will do a scan and soil sample extraction, on-site detection of soil density, pH, water content and other parameters, for the subsequent extraction and protection of cultural relics to make a decision basis.
The most difficult thing is the rescue protection of unearthed ivory. "At this time, you can not work slowly, you must race with time," Xiao Qing said.
The ancient Shu people sacrificed to the gods, and ivory was one of the most precious sacrifices.
After thousands of years of burial in a humid environment, the ivory is full of water, although the appearance is still a whole root, but it is as soft as a biscuit, and it is easy to break.
Among the ivory and with the surrounding bronze artifacts and other artifacts are often interlaced and squeezed together, extraction and protection are very difficult.
"Some ivory laminated together, the most difficult to extract." Xiao Qing said, the first to use wire with cotton thread, gauze through the gap to find a good fixed stress point; and then to wrap a layer of cling film for ivory, "one side lock the water in the ivory to prevent shortening, while isolating external pollution." Then the gauze and cotton thread that passed through the ivory are tightly tied to the polymer bandage, so that the ivory can be extracted intact.
"When I took out a complete ivory for the first time, I felt like I was holding a newborn child, excited and happy," Xiao said.
This ivory extraction and protection not only uses traditional methods, but also uses new technologies such as polymer bandages for the first time, which in his view is a perfect integration of traditional crafts and modern technology.
If the whole ivory extraction test is careful, then the extraction of ivory fragments test is patience.
In the excavation of Pit No. 5, Xiao Qing's colleague Li Sifan, who is also a post-90s cultural protection worker, discovered that unlike other "sacrificial pits", there are few large objects unearthed in the small pit, which is only about 3 square meters.
"Some of the pieces are less than one centimeter long, but they are carved with exquisite patterns such as clouds and thunder, which makes it very difficult to clean and extract them," Li said.
When you successfully extract the tusks and put them under a microscope and look at the lines that are thinner than the hair, it feels like all the effort is worth it.
What makes Li Sifan feel deeply is the charm of scientific and technological archaeology.
For example, the use of 3D printing technology for large-scale bronze cultural relics to wear a silicone film made of "soft Hedgehog armor", so that it can be extracted from the excavation to avoid damage; isotope tracing technology, for the study of the source of cultural relics to open a wider perspective... "
Repair:
Let the relics shine.
During the excavation, a large gold mask was discovered in Pit 5.
The restoration of the golden mask has caused heated discussion on the Internet.
Although he is just in his early 30s this year, Lu Haizi is a veteran of gold restoration and research.
Before coming to Sanxingdui, Lu Haizi was responsible for the cultural relics protection and restoration site of Jiangkou sinking silver ruins, and participated in the orthopedic work of Jiangkou water goldware. At the end of 2020, the gold residue was found during the exploration of Sanxingdui No. 4 pit. Lu Haizi received a notice from the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology to do the site.
"The restoration of cultural relics is a long process, and a lot of cleaning and research work needs to be done before the restoration can be carried out."
Lu Haizi said that after extracting the gold artifacts, the first thing to do is to sample and analyze the soil and the attachments on the gold artifacts, and then draw a map of the diseases of the cultural relics according to the damaged condition.
"Sanxingdui gold tools are very damaged, and it is basically impossible to completely determine the original shape when they are first unearthed."
Lu Haizi said that he still remembers that when the gold mask of Pit 5 was first discovered, it was crushed by mud to form a piece less than two centimeters thick and was quietly buried in the pit.
Before the arrival of experts from the National Museum, he carried out relevant preparatory work for several days, extracted the relevant components of the gold mask for testing, judged the feasibility of orthopedic, and provided basic data and technical support for the later work.
From the beginning of the orthotics to the complete unfolding of the gold mask, it took about a week for Lu Haizi and the experts of the restoration team.
"Some wrinkles may be left in the original production and processing, it can not be flattened, and it is necessary to retain its most primitive information from the perspective of archaeology." Lu Haizi said, "Looking at the gold mask from a lump of knots gradually stretch out, slowly reveal the mouth, nose, eyes, cultural relics regain their charming brilliance, pride in the heart. I feel like I'm alive."
At the Sanxingdui Museum Cultural Relics Restoration Center, about 1.5 kilometers from the site of the sacrificial area, Yang Ping, a young cultural relics restorer, is carrying out the cleaning and restoration work of cultural relics and other cultural relics under the leadership of Master Guo Hanzhong.
Yang Ping said that the restoration of cultural relics should not be rushed, before the restoration of sufficient research, to develop a perfect plan, "today anxious to repair the defective parts, who knows if the completed part, in a few years will not be unearthed original goods?" Yang Ping, for example, this time from the No. 8 pit "top snake body bronze statue" and 1986 No. 2 pit unearthed a "bronze bird foot statue" It is a relatively complete collection that spans more than 30 years.
In Yang Ping's view, the restoration of cultural relics is a delicate work of art, which requires great patience, impatience and impatience.
In the Sanxingdui Museum, he is most admired by Master Guo Hanzhong, who has been engaged in the restoration of cultural relics for nearly 40 years, and has been awarded the title of "National Craftsman".
"I have been engaged in the restoration of cultural relics for more than 10 years, and I deeply understand that every cultural relics can not be copied and irreplaceable.
Yang Ping said that the most important thing for him now is to continue to train his skills and let the Sanxingdui relics bloom in the best condition through his hands in the future, so that visitors to the museum can better appreciate the brilliant bronze culture created by the ancient Shu ancestors and feel the diversity and long history of Chinese civilization.
"Archaeology is a job that needs to endure loneliness," said Xu Danyang, who was lucky to catch up with the golden age of Sanxingdui archaeology. The arrival of this golden age can not be separated from the thunder rain of the station of Sanxingdui ruins, and the restoration of cultural relics of Sanxingdui Museum. Responsibility, perseverance and love, overcoming all kinds of difficulties, and constantly exploring the unknown, Sanxingdui civilization will be displayed in front of the world.
"As a young archaeologist, we should learn from these old people, be patient, keep the original heart, and sit on the cold bench." Xu Danyang said that the current exploration of the Sanxingdui site is far from over, he will devote himself to the archaeological research of Sanxingdui, and contribute to the exploration of the rich connotation of Chinese civilization.
Layout Design: Shen Yiying
People 's Daily (05 / 09 / 2023)
(Editor: Qiao Yiqiong, Chen Jian)
Public Number ： People 's Network Finance
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Content: Luoyang website home news County people voice e-newsletter website submission Luoyang community
News | Photo | Luo Yang
Talk about Erlitou music relics and understand Erlitou music culture.
Your current location ： Home > News > Luoyang > Classic Luoyang > River Luo Guangji Source: Luoyang 2022.09.28 08: 14
China is known as the "state of etiquette and music", and the "etiquette and music culture" jointly formed by "etiquette" and "music" has always been the core content of Chinese civilization, and the two "must be used together."
Years of archaeological work have confirmed that the Erlitou site not only has a rich legacy of rituals, but also many cultural relics related to music.
So, what kind of music culture was there in Erlitou period? Through a few musical relics, we have a glimpse of one or two.
Copper bell
Symbolic artifacts of Erlitou civilization
When it comes to traditional Chinese musical instruments, people inevitably think of bells.
Especially after the "making of rituals and music" of Zhou Gong, the hand-hung musical instrument represented by the bells has become an important status symbol in traditional culture.
Just like "Heaven on the sixth" "Heaven on the ninth tripod", ancient China also had a set of strict "music hanging" system on musical instruments, to highlight the difference in the identity of the user, such as the king, you can enjoy the "palace hanging", that is, like the palace of four musical instruments, princes can only display three sides, and so on.
It can be seen that in traditional Chinese culture, the playing of music bells is not only an artistic expression, but also given more symbolic significance.
It has a long history in China, and its embryonic form can be traced back to the bronze bell and the ceramic bell.
According to the data, at the site of Xiangfen Ceramics Temple in Shanxi Province, 4000 years ago, the earliest copper bell known in China was unearthed, and there is also a ceramic bell, both of which are diamond structures, and the common tile structure of bronze music bell is quite compatible.
Scholars generally believe that the common tile structure of bronze music clock began to appear at this time.
Copper bell unearthed at Erlitou site, the first one on the right is a replica
Erlitou copper bell and pottery temple copper bell have a close relationship.
The two have similar burial conditions: copper bells are wrapped in textiles, and the unearthed positions are on or near the owner of the tomb.
Some scholars believe that this may reveal some kind of relationship between the two.
At the same time, copper bells are found in Erlitou ruins, for example, there is a copper bell in the cultural relics unearthed together with the famous turquoise dragon.
One side of the bell body is provided with a door edge, and a bell tongue is arranged in the bell cavity.
Bells, tongues and jade match, colliding vocalizations.
The use of copper bells in the second mile is a higher level of aristocracy.
Deng Lingling, a scholar at Nankai University, proposed in the article "The Nature of the Bell of Erlitou Culture" that the Central Plains bronze civilization characterized by Fan casting technology, why the earliest products were copper bells rather than wine or utensils, it is likely that the copper bell in Erlitou culture can more symbolize the social status and social functions of the aristocracy.
The user of the copper bell integrates political and economic functions, and the copper bell, which displays its identity and functions, has thus become a symbolic artifact of Erli civilization.
Stone chime
One of the ancient "octave" musical instruments with the function of a ceremonial instrument
There is also an important "role" in the combination of "Golden Stone Music", which is stone chime.
Stone chime is a kind of stone slab body beat music instrument.
Archaeological data show that at least in the late Neolithic period, stone chime has appeared, summer solstice early commercial stage is not common, generally a single piece, not a group, that is, the so-called special chime.
"As one of the ancient 'eight notes' musical instruments, the stone chime has a long history," said Cai Yunzhang, a famous archaeologist.
"Zhouli · Chunguan · Master" clouds: "They are sown with eight tones, gold, stone, earth, leather, silk, wood, pho and bamboo." Stone is corresponding to the "stone" in the "eight tones".
In the long history, stone chime plays different roles such as sacrifice, ceremonial instrument and elegant music, which contains a strong political function and humanistic spirit.
Stone chime replica unearthed at Erlitou site
According to records, the stone found at the Erlitou site is an extraordinary stone, belonging to the third phase of Erlitou culture.
Also unearthed were bronze tools such as bronze jade shovels, jade yue, jade ge and turquoise beads.
Its shape is simple, drums, strands, corners are more obvious, the material is blue stone, although the grinding, but the beaten concave surface is not polished.
Some scholars believe that during the period of pottery, some musical instruments have not only been used for sacrifices, but also began to have the nature of rituals, and gradually evolved into standard rituals and musical instruments.
Archaeological data show that, like Tongling, the stone chime in the Erlitou site was also unearthed in large tombs with rich funerals, which should be used as a symbol of status.
The bronze and jade artifacts unearthed together belong to the ceremonial vessels, so the stone chime at this time should also have a certain ceremonial function.
Music culture flourished during the Erlitou period.
Xun is one of the earliest blowing instruments in China, which has appeared very early.
One theory is that it may be related to the labor and production activities of the ancestors, and it may have been originally made by the ancestors to imitate the sounds of birds and animals to trap prey; another theory is that first civilian hemp rope is tied to a stone ball or mud ball, the middle of the ball is empty, and the whistle is sent out to beat birds and beasts, and then gradually evolved to play the Xun.
Ceramic Xun replica unearthed at Erlitou site
The Xun found in Erlitou site is a ceramic Xun. The Xun body is gray clay, the cavity is hollow, and the shape is like a pear.
Research shows that this ceramic Xun is made of a wheel technology, the shoulder has a wheel made of string marks, and the bottom has a knife cut mark left by secondary trimming.
The top part of the ceramic Xun has a blowing mouth and a sound hole on one side of the abdomen.
According to the staff of the Xadu Ruins Museum in Erlitou, they found that the Xun can emit two sounds by testing a replica of the cultural relics.
Cai Yunzhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said that although the number of musical relics unearthed at the Erlitou site is not much compared with that of the Tao Temple, there are frequent exchanges between the Tao Temple site and the Erlitou site.
Judging from this, this kind of culture is likely to have been continued and developed in Erlitou Ruins, and further affect the Shang and Zhou of later generations, thus forming a complete etiquette culture and etiquette system.
"A variety of musical relics, such as drums, bells, Xun and chime, have been unearthed at the Erlitou site, indicating that the music culture of this period has been quite prosperous."
At the same time, musical instruments, as an important ceremonial instrument, were mainly used in various ceremonial activities of the aristocracy during the Erlitou cultural period, such as pilgrimage and sacrifice.
The discovery of a large number of musical instruments in the Erlitou ruins provides more physical basis for us to study Erlitou culture and determine that it formed the mainstream of the formation and development of Chinese civilization together with the later Shang and Zhou civilizations, "said Zhao Tengyu, deputy director of the display and preservation department of the Erlitou Xadu Ruins Museum.
(Luoyang Network reporter Liang Xiaoyuwen / photo)
[Editor: Ma Jiajia]
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**Archaeological Excavation as a Time-sensitive, Detailed Task**: At Sanxingdui, archaeologists emphasize both the rich informational value of soil layers and the need for speedy yet methodical excavation, suggesting the responsibility to document and understand context as fully as possible before removal or exposure.

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Content: Why does the protection of China's stone cave temple bring international power?
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Source: China News Network
Reporter: Zhong Yi
In the past 70 years, with social development and scientific and technological progress, Dazu Stone Carving has basically formed an all-round protection pattern from cultural relics ontology protection, color painting restoration, dangerous rock reinforcement, water damage control to three-dimensional digitization and monitoring system construction.
What is the value and significance of Dazu stone carving in the distribution of stone caves in the world? How does its protection attract international forces to join? What does international friendly exchanges and cooperation bring to Dazu stone carving? Li Fangyin, president of Dazu stone carving research institute, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service “East West and West ” in Chongqing.
A summary of the interview is given below:
As early as 1999, Dazu Stone Carvings were inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO, making it the only world cultural heritage in Chongqing.
What is its status and value in the world stone cave temple pattern?
Li Fangyin: Shi Cu Temple was introduced to China from India.
About the third century AD, China had the earliest grottoes "Kizil", and later spread through the Silk Road, in the north of the birth of Dunhuang, Yungang, Longmen and other great grottoes.
During the Song Dynasty, Guangyuan, Bazhong, Leshan, Anyue, Feilaifeng and other scattered grottoes emerged in the south.
The large foot stone carvings represent the highest level of grotto art in the world from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
According to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the stone carvings have unique values and characteristics, and are of universal and unique significance.
From the image content, the Dazu stone carving completed the process of the sinicization of Buddhist art, mainly Buddhism, and its collection of Confucianism and the "three religions" statue of the great success and different from the early grottoes, with a strong cultural inclusiveness.
In terms of artistic form, the cave temples in the world are mostly caves, but the cliff statues of Dazu stone carvings account for a higher proportion; in terms of carving methods, it makes a lot of use of the "line modeling" in traditional Chinese painting; in the presentation of the image, the statue is no longer a "high god", more cordial, with exploratory.
When tourists visit, there is not only a visual shock, but also a psychological shock.
In general, Dazu Stone Carvings have distinct characteristics of nationalization, secularization and living.
China News Agency reporter: What kind of development has the protection work of Dazu stone carving gone through?
Li Fangyin: Dazu Stone Carving Research Institute was founded 70 years ago, and the persistence and inheritance of stone carving has also gone through 70 years, and different problems have been solved in each period.
Before the 1980s, the rescue and basic protection of the grottoes were the focus, and when the grottoes collapsed, they were reinforced and damaged. After the 1980s, the grottoes entered the stage of systematic protection, and a series of protection plans were formulated for the three diseases, and different projects were implemented in an orderly manner.
But up to this period, conservation efforts have remained relatively traditional.
After Daju stone carving became a world cultural heritage, the improvement of international vision promoted the innovation of protection work.
The way, concept, technology, scope of protection have undergone great changes, such as no longer limited to the protection of the cliff wall, but gradually expanded to include the surrounding natural, human environment and a wider range of protection.
After the first international cooperation was carried out in 2007, the protection, research and utilization of cultural relics of Dazu Stone Carvings have reached a new level.
At present, Dazu Stone Carving is in the stage of both rescue protection and preventive protection, and the future focus will slowly shift to preventive protection.
ZXS reporter: You just mentioned international cooperation, what kind of cooperation is it?
What role did it play?
Li Fangyin: After the stone carving has become a world cultural heritage, it is particularly important to protect it under a series of international conventions and international concepts.
From the perspective of protection and management, it is imperative to introduce more international experience, ideas and forces.
The first international cooperation was based on a series of cooperation agreements signed between the two governments.
In view of the early start, good foundation, fine division of labor, a large number of talents, stone cultural relics conservation and restoration technology in the world, we came up with the idea of cooperation with the Italian cultural heritage protection institutions. In 2007, we received the support of the relevant departments of China and Italy to set up a project.
The Italian government has provided 20 million yuan (about 200 million US dollars) in low-interest loans for the construction of the "Chongqing Dazu Stone Cultural Relics Protection Center".
In the meantime, Italian experts have visited Dazu Stone Carvings many times to investigate and discuss various matters.
In cooperation, the differences between China and the West caused by differences in concepts are inevitable, and the best thing is that they are amicably resolved.
In the exchange and cooperation with the Italian side, the protection system of Dazu Stone Carvings has been continuously improved, the protection concept has been continuously sublimated, and the level of protection and restoration has been continuously improved, which has enriched our international experience in protecting cultural heritage.
This cooperation also laid a good foundation for the long-term protection and research of Dazu Stone Carvings.
We also recognize that in the protection of cultural relics, the importance of science and technology has become increasingly prominent.
In the following years, Dazu Stone Carving made great efforts to build a number of scientific and technological centers, such as "safety technology prevention center" and "early warning monitoring center", to achieve comprehensive video monitoring coverage of important areas, real-time collection of meteorological, micro-environment, rock stability and more than 10 categories of monitoring data of more than 70 small items, such as the environment of Dazu Stone Carving, and supporting cultural relics protection with big data.
China News Agency: In recent years, Dazu Stone Carving has continued to carry out international cooperation with Italy, Japan and other countries. What are the breakthroughs in these cooperation?
Li Fangyin: In May 2017, Dazu Stone Carving Research Institute signed a contract with the Italian Veneto Cultural Heritage Group to protect the Shucheng Rock Cliff Statue of Chongqing Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.
This is the first time that Italy and China have carried out substantive technical cooperation in the field of stone cultural relics protection and restoration.
Experts from the two sides jointly applied advanced technology and jointly carried out the historical traceability analysis, non-destructive and micro-destructive sampling analysis, restoration, follow-up protection and maintenance of the Shengyan cliff image.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
In March 2022, the cooperation between the Dazu Stone Carving Research Institute and Fudan University and the Nara Cultural and Wealth Research Institute of Japan started from comprehensively improving the basic and theoretical research level of Dazu Stone Carving Protection, and promoted the scientific and technological protection and preventive protection of Shigao Temple.
The first phase of the cooperation is planned for five years, including field investigation and indoor experiments on environmental monitoring and preservation evaluation, research on the mechanism of weathering diseases, research on restoration and protection materials, laboratory construction, personnel training and exchange, and international academic conferences.
China News Agency: You have experienced many international cooperation, what inspired you from these experiences?
Li Fangyin: Cultural heritage is an important bridge and link for international exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations.
Only by looking at the problems with the times can we better carry out the protection of cultural heritage.
Looking at protection from the perspective of globalization, a lot of thinking will suddenly open up.
It is a valuable asset shared by all mankind and an important platform and link for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era, and we have both the obligation to protect it and the right to share it.
Whether now or in the future, several conditions are indispensable to better promote the protection of cultural heritage.
The first is to rely on scientific and technological forces to implement more effective, accurate and scientific protection.
The second is to open the door, so that people at home and abroad can participate in the overall protection of cultural relics, and constantly update the existing concepts, technologies, methods and methods.
The third is to promote the protection of the premise of sharing, so that all mankind can feel the charm of cultural heritage.
This is also what our cultural workers are fighting for.
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Discoveries (like gold residue at Sanxingdui) underscore the ongoing, iterative nature of archaeological research.