CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VI (1) Contemporary-Eurasia-VI-1-engl | Página 65

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VI (1)
According to the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1904,
“ancient monument” means any structure, erection or monument, or
any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture,
inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological or
artistic interest, or any remains thereof, and includes:
(a). the site of an ancient monument;
(b). such portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient monument
as may be required for fencing or covering in or otherwise preserving
such monument; and
(c). the means of access to and convenient inspection of an ancient
monument
Emergence of concept of preservation
The destruction and looting of cultural heritage has been
intertwined with conflict for thousands of years. To steal an enemies’
treasures, defile their sacred places and burn their cities has been part
of war throughout history. And sadly, in the modern battlefields of the
ancient world, in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, and elsewhere, it
continues to this day.
The Colosseum in Rome, for example, was built using spoils from
the sack of the Temple of Jerusalem in AD 70. Many of the Louvre’s
collections were “acquired” by Napoleon while rampaging through
Europe (albeit later returned). In fact, much of Napoleon’s collection
of war booty – acquired during his failed campaign in Egypt – was
declared forfeit by the British victors and given to the British Museum
under the Treaty of Capitulation of 1801. The Rosetta Stone, which
famously enabled the deciphering of the ancient Egyptian
hieroglyphic script, was acquired through this treaty and is still on
display there today.
Enter the Monuments Men. In 1943, the Allied forces approved the
formation of a new unit: the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives
Commission (MFAA). For the first time in history, armies went into
the field with officers dedicated to protecting art and monuments
during the conflict. It was going to be a tough job. Entire historic
quarters in cities such as Warsaw were demolished in days and the
artistic treasures of Europe were vanishing.
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