03-13-2016, 10:07 AM
(03-12-2016, 11:05 PM)colinroberts Wrote: I also think items should be steadily siphoned out of the private market and into museum and the hands of academics. JoshoB's solution is insanity and just wrong; How could you a) possibly think that the destruction of antiquities is the right solution to keep looters from destroying the historical context of antiquities, and b) think that putting them in the hands of museums and academics wouldn't take them out of circulation? It's shocking to me that a professional archaeologist would support that, and think that not only would that permanently stop the influx of antiquities into the market (destroying items does not, in fact, destroy buyers, their interest, or their means of sale), but also think that museum professionals and academics would somehow contribute to the circulation of items in the private market.
Since you're a collector, I wouldn't expect you to understand. It's very simple: objects that haven't been carefully excavated are of limited value. Anything on the market is unlikely to have been excavated along proper channels (otherwise, it would be in a museum or a depot: professional archaeologist who value their work and who have adhere to a semblance of ethical conduct don't get to sell their stuff on the open market). Anyone who says that it's fine to use fruits from the poisonous tree don't deserve access to these objects anyway. And really, no one should own this stuff privately. It's cultural heritage, not private property.
But it's clear that most people here don't understand these simple points and prefer to argue instead that I'm insane. Despite the fact that it's obvious that illegal objects will never be destroyed, since most people reason the same way you and many others do (oh, my precious! it's must be preserved!). If you're fine with contributing to the destruction of knowledge I guess that's okay. But kindly refrain from claiming that I'm some sort of madman, when in fact it's you and people like you who are part of the problem in the first place.
I'm done with this topic.
