Scholarly society petitions Congress to save Iraq's sites
This year's special panel "Where Have all the Tablets Gone" was
organized by Robert Englund and included panelists Jerrold Cooper, Steven Garfinkle and Micah Garen. Among the news that was generated by the presentation was the information that a relatively modest outlay of funds (about 5 million) could help protect the more aggressively looted sites (Umma among them). After some discussion and debate a resolution was formulated that was presented at the business meeting to the membership. The resolution was one vote shy of unanimous passage. It will be posted as a petition on the AOS website where it will accept signatories.
"Whereas the looting of ancient sites in Iraq continues in our day with little sign of abatement, leading to incalculable loss of
historical and cultural knowledge;
And Whereas diverse archaeological and journalistic organizations have already compiled a register of such affected sites;
And Whereas responsible opinion and evaluation, based on
established precedence, have suggested that a relatively modest
numbers of guards can discourage if not stop looting at the most distressed archaeological sites in Iraq;
And Whereas the funding of cohorts of guards at Iraqi
archaeological sites requires, in present dollars, a relatively
modest sum of money;
Therefore, be it Resolved that the American Oriental Society, in
meeting assembled at San Antonio, Texas, on March 18th, 2007, calls on and urges the Congress of the United States of America to legislate with dispatch a program to fund the systematic
safeguarding of distressed sites until such time as the proper
Iraqi authorities are ready to bring such a program under its own
control."
This resolution will be posted at the AOS website. All those
agreeing with it are invited to communicate its sentiments to their senators and congressional representatives.
organized by Robert Englund and included panelists Jerrold Cooper, Steven Garfinkle and Micah Garen. Among the news that was generated by the presentation was the information that a relatively modest outlay of funds (about 5 million) could help protect the more aggressively looted sites (Umma among them). After some discussion and debate a resolution was formulated that was presented at the business meeting to the membership. The resolution was one vote shy of unanimous passage. It will be posted as a petition on the AOS website where it will accept signatories.
"Whereas the looting of ancient sites in Iraq continues in our day with little sign of abatement, leading to incalculable loss of
historical and cultural knowledge;
And Whereas diverse archaeological and journalistic organizations have already compiled a register of such affected sites;
And Whereas responsible opinion and evaluation, based on
established precedence, have suggested that a relatively modest
numbers of guards can discourage if not stop looting at the most distressed archaeological sites in Iraq;
And Whereas the funding of cohorts of guards at Iraqi
archaeological sites requires, in present dollars, a relatively
modest sum of money;
Therefore, be it Resolved that the American Oriental Society, in
meeting assembled at San Antonio, Texas, on March 18th, 2007, calls on and urges the Congress of the United States of America to legislate with dispatch a program to fund the systematic
safeguarding of distressed sites until such time as the proper
Iraqi authorities are ready to bring such a program under its own
control."
This resolution will be posted at the AOS website. All those
agreeing with it are invited to communicate its sentiments to their senators and congressional representatives.