It’s alarming for sure Joyce. One thing that’s very real is the lack of security on these national treasures. But INAH simply doesn’t have the funds. It’s all about priorities. Sigh.
Your quote of the archeologist, Victor Segovia “…humans are more poisonous than snakes” ‘tis ever thus. Plundering, ruining and erasing history and art is sickening and we’ve seen it over and over as you say in this article. Breaking it down it has many poisonous layers and many victims—the dire economic circumstances that sometimes fuel the looting, war, greed, of course, apathy, the list goes on and so does the depth of the loss of knowledge, art, history, language. All the lists go on and on and it is truly sickening. This is important information. Thank you for sharing it in your usual enthralling way.
@Jeanine Kitrchel Thanks for this story. Your perspective of being there brings it alive.. Artifact looters are everywhere and not limited to the locals. I remember being astonished when I read Alma Reed's story about Edward Thompson looting the sacred cenote for the Peabody Museum. Just now learned that the Mexican Supreme Court ruled in his favor years after his death.
(BTW) The book: Passionate pilgrim: The extraordinary life of Alma Reed tells an amazing story of the life of one of the US's first women journalists ... called "sob sisters" at the time.
WIKIPEDIA: Thompson is most famous for dredging the Cenote Sagrado (Sacred Cenote) from 1904 to 1911, where he recovered artifacts of gold, copper and carved jade, as well as the first-ever examples of what were believed to be pre-Columbian Maya cloth and wooden weapons. Thompson shipped the bulk of the artifacts to the Peabody Museum.[11] In 1926, the Mexican government seized Thompson's plantation, charging he had removed the artifacts illegally.[12] The Mexican Supreme Court in 1944 ruled in Thompson's favor.[13] Thompson, however, had died in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1935, so the Hacienda Chichen reverted to his heirs.[14]
There is so much beauty in Mexico. It's sad to read that there are people who want to exploit it for money. You're a great storyteller Jeanine. I could feel like I was on that road trip with you and Paul!
This makes me nauseous in my soul and heart. I will sound naive when I say how can people do this to a culture? I know this happens all over the world by every kind of person for all sorts of reasons. Thank you for this fine but tragic story.
Once again, a very exciting, Educational and enthralling, well Written Story which has no end. I can't wait to find out what happened to you guys. I've
Read your book, But the way you are writing it now, is extremely enticing. Love you My friend 💜💙🐈🐈🤗😂🙏
The destruction of culture is a tragedy, but it is also understandable given the ravages of poverty, war and upheaval. (Over the last 45 years of war, Afghanistan, too, has lost an incalculable number of priceless treasures from its past.) Hopefully the trend of museums around the world returning treasures to the countries they were stolen from will continue. And hopefully some day the issues of poverty and war will be solved somehow for all of us.
Great reporting on this important subject, Jeanine. The economic forces driving the buying and selling of cultural artifacts are too complex for me to pass any sort of judgement on, but the end result is culturally catastrophic and sad. Maybe Lara Croft can make sense of it. What happened to the tuna sandwiches?
It’s alarming for sure Joyce. One thing that’s very real is the lack of security on these national treasures. But INAH simply doesn’t have the funds. It’s all about priorities. Sigh.
Great post, Jeanine! Thank you for sharing so much on the Maya!
I like how you tell this story, Jeanine, it is interesting because you mix real experiences with facts about people stealing artifacts. Thanks.
I love your history stories on the Maya!
Very interesting!
Your quote of the archeologist, Victor Segovia “…humans are more poisonous than snakes” ‘tis ever thus. Plundering, ruining and erasing history and art is sickening and we’ve seen it over and over as you say in this article. Breaking it down it has many poisonous layers and many victims—the dire economic circumstances that sometimes fuel the looting, war, greed, of course, apathy, the list goes on and so does the depth of the loss of knowledge, art, history, language. All the lists go on and on and it is truly sickening. This is important information. Thank you for sharing it in your usual enthralling way.
@Jeanine Kitrchel Thanks for this story. Your perspective of being there brings it alive.. Artifact looters are everywhere and not limited to the locals. I remember being astonished when I read Alma Reed's story about Edward Thompson looting the sacred cenote for the Peabody Museum. Just now learned that the Mexican Supreme Court ruled in his favor years after his death.
(BTW) The book: Passionate pilgrim: The extraordinary life of Alma Reed tells an amazing story of the life of one of the US's first women journalists ... called "sob sisters" at the time.
WIKIPEDIA: Thompson is most famous for dredging the Cenote Sagrado (Sacred Cenote) from 1904 to 1911, where he recovered artifacts of gold, copper and carved jade, as well as the first-ever examples of what were believed to be pre-Columbian Maya cloth and wooden weapons. Thompson shipped the bulk of the artifacts to the Peabody Museum.[11] In 1926, the Mexican government seized Thompson's plantation, charging he had removed the artifacts illegally.[12] The Mexican Supreme Court in 1944 ruled in Thompson's favor.[13] Thompson, however, had died in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1935, so the Hacienda Chichen reverted to his heirs.[14]
There is so much beauty in Mexico. It's sad to read that there are people who want to exploit it for money. You're a great storyteller Jeanine. I could feel like I was on that road trip with you and Paul!
This makes me nauseous in my soul and heart. I will sound naive when I say how can people do this to a culture? I know this happens all over the world by every kind of person for all sorts of reasons. Thank you for this fine but tragic story.
Once again, a very exciting, Educational and enthralling, well Written Story which has no end. I can't wait to find out what happened to you guys. I've
Read your book, But the way you are writing it now, is extremely enticing. Love you My friend 💜💙🐈🐈🤗😂🙏
Exciting story! Both adventurous and also sad with the realization of what's happening.
The destruction of culture is a tragedy, but it is also understandable given the ravages of poverty, war and upheaval. (Over the last 45 years of war, Afghanistan, too, has lost an incalculable number of priceless treasures from its past.) Hopefully the trend of museums around the world returning treasures to the countries they were stolen from will continue. And hopefully some day the issues of poverty and war will be solved somehow for all of us.
All that looting and defacing is atrocious! Another great, important read. Thank you, Jeanine.
Great reporting on this important subject, Jeanine. The economic forces driving the buying and selling of cultural artifacts are too complex for me to pass any sort of judgement on, but the end result is culturally catastrophic and sad. Maybe Lara Croft can make sense of it. What happened to the tuna sandwiches?
Another fascinating post, my friend.
Thank you for reading, Lana!!