Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Perhaps the most famous example of archaeology gone bad are the Elgin Marbles, named after the Earl of Elgin, who finished his excavation in Greece in 1812. The artifacts in question aren't the small round playthings many might think by hearing their name, but consist of several marble statues and slabs taken from the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and other Greek sites. The legality of the removal is highly contentious as the British Museum claims Elgin obtained permission to take them. How?
2. Nazi Germany was infamous for mass lootings of artwork and other objects of cultural significance. Pictures depict Allied generals inspecting large caches of art stored away by the Germans taken from the museums, homes and churches of their enemies. The Axis powers fortunately took good care of the items, likely believing them to have value, cultural or otherwise. Where did they stash the items?
3. Nazi Germany was not immune to the phenomenon of looting. Allied forces looted treasures after their militaries advanced into Germany, though the majority of lootings were considered war reparations by Soviet troops. The Soviets formed special teams known as "trophy brigades" charged with tracking down treasures stolen from their country as well as to loot German museums. A highly-disputed collection was relocated from Germany to the Pushkin Museum in Moscow which was named after a Homeric Trojan king. Which group of treasures was it?
4. In the 1930s, treasures from Afghanistan were separated between the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul and the Musee Guimet. Ironically, the French-held artifacts have been preserved while many of the Afghan-held artifacts were looted in the nineties. Some have since been recovered, but the majority of these treasures are likely in private collections or were destroyed by warfare. What kind of treasures (common to first- and second-century Indian art) dominate the collection?
5. Napoleon Bonaparte was perhaps one of Europe's most infamous art thieves when, upon dominating the Italian peninsula, he proudly proclaimed, "We will now have all that is beautiful in Italy". The proud Louvre in Paris housed much of the stolen artwork of Europe. Which of the following artworks was NOT plundered by Napoleon's armies?
6. In 2003, the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq drew looting from individuals of Coalition forces as well as from Iraqi natives. However, archaeologists argued, such sporadic looting was possible because Iraqi museums, libraries, and other cultural centers were largely ignored while what building was secured within hours because it contained "important geological maps"?
7. Art repatriation is the practice of returning the cultural artifacts and artworks to the former nations from which they were previously taken. The nation of Egypt is no stranger to this practice, and has attempted to recover many of its looted artifacts from museums across Europe. On the British Museum's 250th anniversary, Egypt formally requested what prestigious artifact be returned home?
8. There are often disagreements between two groups over curbing looting, whether it be in the past or the present: archaeologists and private collectors. Archaeologists often support stricter laws that limit foreign trading of artifacts, while private collectors and, oftentimes, museum curators, support looser restrictions due to what they deem the fluidity of the trading market. In 2009, the United States signed an agreement with what nation that enforces tougher restrictions on importing their national relics leading private collectors to decry the move on political grounds?
9. Conquistadors were famous seekers of Incan gold, but since then South and Central America has seen a certain type of artifact become the most popular and profitable to looters as it is difficult to move. What type of artifact is that?
10. The Lieber Code is a generalized code of conduct for civilized war in which one of the articles authorized Union forces to seize and remove artifacts from the enemy and that ownership of those artifacts shall be determined by the peace treaty that concludes the war. Which U.S. president signed this order into law?
Source: Author
trident
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