Publication date:
20 March 2008Length of book:
240 pagesPublisher
AltaMira PressISBN-13: 9780759111608
The 3,000-year-old Ambum Stone, from Papua New Guinea, is the focus of several archaeological stories. The stone itself is an interesting artifact, an important piece of art history that tells us something about the ancient Papuans. The stone is also at the center of controversies over the provenance and ownership of ancient artifacts, as it was excavated on the island of New Guinea, transferred out of the country, and sold on the antiquities market. In telling the story of the Ambum Stone, Brian Egloff raises questions about what can be learned from ancient works of art, about cultural property and the ownership of the past, about the complex and at times shadowy world of art dealers and collectors, and about the role ancient artifacts can play in forming the identities of modern peoples.
Reading this book was like going on a walk with the promise of finding an exciting treasure....Every university library and anyone concerned with the anthropology, archaeology and cultural heritage of Papua New Guinea, or indeed of the Pacific should possess a copy....There is a great deal of information about illegal export of cultural material from Papau New Guinea but little has been published and it is to Egloff's credit that he has risked an almost certain backlash from dealers, collectors and museums to draw a few examples to our attention. His research on the Ambum stone demonstrates that due diligence can provide the information that is so carefully concealed by those wanting to circumvent cultural property legislation....This fine achievement of Egloff's brings the adventures and misadventures of the Ambum stone to our awareness. Every university library and anyone concerned with the anthropology, archaeology, and cultural heritage of Papau New Guinea, or indeed of the Pacific, should possess a copy.