Archaeology is often a mechanism of power. As such, its scholars have an obligation to speak up against oppression.
  • jarfil@beehaw.org
    6·
    3 months ago

    With all respect to the points in this article, and to archaeologists… I would rather reformulate the call to action as:

    “Document in as much detail as possible, make the results available to as many as possible”.

    All physical stuff gets destroyed over time, only information stands a chance of getting replicated forever.

    • livus@kbin.social
      3·
      3 months ago

      Pretty difficult to document anything while it is having 2,000 pound bombs dropped on it.

      • jarfil@beehaw.org
        2·
        3 months ago

        And if that mosaic doesn’t get bombed into oblivion this time, it will get the next one.

        Think about it this way: the pyramids were once white, in cities like Tarragona (present Spain) some buildings are made from chunks of Roman statues and stelae, we know a lot about Tutankhamen because he was a shitty forgotten pharaoh so his tomb didn’t get ransacked… until the British came. Italy has more ancient artifacts than it can care for… and so on.

        Bombs, thieves, “recyclers”, and similar, have been destroying archaeological artifacts since the first guy smashed a useless old pot into pieces.

        Such is life.

        Good job on whoever took the photo that’s in the article.

  • DdCno1@beehaw.org
    1·
    3 months ago

    Can we please not share this Qatari propaganda outlet? There are much better sources on this conflict than an organization that is funded and controlled by the same government that funds and supports Hamas.