francene--blog. Year 2013
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April 13th

4/13/2013

 
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The news today about the Paris sale of 70 Hopi tribe masks for exorbitant sums of money brings into question who owns early American heritage—or, for that matter, early mankind's history.

Lawyers for the Hopi tribe had asked for the auction to be cancelled on the grounds that the masks must have been stolen from the tribe. It considers them sacred and blessed with divine spirits.

However, auctioneers say the masks had been bought and sold in the past and were legally acquired. They claimed blocking the sale would have implications for the trade of indigenous art and could potentially force French museums to hand back collections they have bought.

In a linking report, the biggest survey of Native American DNA has concluded that the New World was settled in three major waves. The majority of today's indigenous Americans descend from a single group of migrants that crossed from Asia to Alaska 15,000 years ago or more.


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Earlier, an archaeologist discovered caches of tools and animal remains from around 12,000 years ago, found on islands off the California coast, which give remarkable insight into the lives of the first Americans. Fine tool technology and a rich maritime economy existed there. The finds suggest that rather than a land passage to South America, early humans may have used coastal routes.

In 2004, the archaeologist from the University of South Carolina found artifacts along the Savannah River in Allendale County to be from around 50,000 years ago. The findings are significant because they suggest that humans inhabited North America well before the last ice age more than 20,000 years ago, a potentially explosive revelation in American archaeology.

For five years, Dr. Goodyear continued to add artifacts and evidence that a pre-Clovis people existed, slowly eroding the long-held theory by archaeologists that man arrived in North America around 13,000 years ago. See the full story here.

The dawn of modern homo sapiens occurred in Africa between 60,000 and 80,000 years ago. Evidence of modern man's migration out of the African continent has been documented in Australia and Central Asia at 50,000 years and in Europe at 40,000 years. The fact that humans could have been in North America at or near the same time is expected to spark debate among archaeologists worldwide, raising new questions on the origin and migration of the human species.

With archaeologist's theories clashing, it is clear we have more to learn.

Should individuals own mankind's early heritage? Contention still rages between Greece and the British Museum over the Eglin Marbles. Is it possible for everyone to return artifacts to their original place?


Jessica link
4/12/2013 08:55:17 pm

Thank you for a wonderful history lesson this morning Francene. You brought up some wonderful questions that will be debated for years to come.

Francene Stanley link
4/12/2013 11:56:21 pm

I doubt the questions will be solved though. ;-)

Renata link
4/12/2013 09:54:10 pm

A very intriguing point and I guess one that can't be easily resolved.
And it leads to so many more questions, doesn't it? Who would have to take care of all the transfers of those wonderful, historical creations? How would they be ale to take care of those, that require special conditions? Who would pay for it all? Would private collectors have to give up everything they own? And my head is spinning with tons of others right now!
Thanks for writing this, though. It's a good idea to remind people that not everything is where it should be and that there is still so much we don't know about the beginnings of mankind!
Have a wonderful day! :)

Francene Stanley link
4/12/2013 11:58:09 pm

There are so many problems to be solved. I like the way the Australian government tried to patch things up by giving everything back to the aboriginals that they could.

Amy link
4/12/2013 11:54:22 pm

This is such a complicated issue and seems to boil down to man's green for pretty treasures pitted against respect for history and culture. I admire the treasure seekers who have found priceless historical artifacts and have immediately donated them back to the tribe, or to a historical site for public enjoyment. I do feel for the Hopi tribe who want to honor the memory of those people and their traditions.

Francene Stanley link
4/12/2013 11:59:49 pm

I think it might be easier to return recently discovered artifacts than those found long ago. What a problem.

Alana link
4/13/2013 08:14:34 am

This has, at times, become a big problem in the United States with Native American relics found during building excavations. It even happened when work was done at a former community garden in our area. If laws are in place to stop the construction while archeologists come in (which is the case in New York State), that still may not guarantee return of the relics to the descendents of the original owners. It is a problem with no easy solution, as you point out.

Francene Stanley link
4/13/2013 06:25:05 pm

It's sad, but true. Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't know who owns relics in England. I think the archaeologists hand them over to the British Museum. I know they have a fund to buy gold dug up in a field from a prospector.

Liz Who Motivates link
4/13/2013 09:44:17 pm

Very interesting article. The issue of ownership of Native America relics in the US and abroad has been a long time issue. I hope that all things work out the best for both parties given the parameters of the situation.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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