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Rescuing the Past: The Cultural Heritage CrusadeJonathan TokeleySearch
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"This is a major and very important book and should be on the reading
list of anyone teaching a course on archaeological ethics . . . By far
the most controversial and most coherent [of the books under review]" Andrew
Selkirk, Current World
Archaeology
Sunday
Telegraph review by Noel Malcolm
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Jonathan Tokeley was contentiously convicted of 'smuggling' Egyptian antiquities in a landmark trial - one of a series which had devastating consequences for the antiquities market. The Cultural Heritage Crusade claims that 'Source Countries' have an indefeasible right to ancient artefacts found in their soil. And past acquisitions, like the Elgin Marbles, should be returned. Archaeologists widely accept this, and also the need for government 'prohibitions' to prevent the looting of the sites.
But this makes Antiquity a plaything of the modern humbug - of national vanity, of antiwestern dogma, of political correctness, and the academic's disdain for the very idea of profit. None of which will prevent the looting. The Cultural Heritage Crusade, in short, is not an answer to the problem. It may actually be the problem. This book is both a philosophical analysis and a demonstration - in one country, Egypt - of its horrific consequences.
Jonathan Tokeley read biology and then philosophy at Sidney Sussex, Cambridge. He worked on his PhD (in philosophical ethics) at University College, London, and then trained himself as a restorer of antiquities. But eventually he found himself in the eye of a storm. He now paints and writes in North Devon. He is currently writing a book about art forgery.
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"Tokeley has been philosophically trained, and in addition to fascinating details about the trade in antiquties, he does lay out his arguments in detail and make a number of highly relevant distinctions...If philosophy has a role in presenting robust and clear argument for unfashionable positions in political and ethical areas, Tokeley's book is certainly worthy of philosophical attention." Philosophy
"There is no doubt that Tokeley is one of the foremost restorers of antiquities of his generation...the book deserves to be read by anyone involved with antiquities: curator, dealer, collector, and not simply those who are Eqyptian antiquities orientated...it is certainly a thought-provoking and riveting read." Peter A. Clayton. Ancient Egypt.
"Who owns the world's archaeological treasures? Those who live on
top of them, those who dig them up, those who look after them, those who
buy them from whoever claims a right to sell? The questions are even more
urgent as cultural change and political corruption corrode the old discipline
of archaeology. Jonathan Tokeley's book tells the story of the vicissitudes
to which the world's archaeological heritage is now subject, and the conclusions
he draws will challenge all those who believe that the treasures of Egypt
are safe in the hands of the officials who take charge of them."
Professor Roger Scruton, University of Buckingham
"Jonathan Tokeley writes with verve and conviction, deploying philosophical
analysis, historical knowledge, and personal experience to develop a case
against new orthodoxies and pieties concerning the acquisition, sale, and
private ownership of antiquities. Whatever their starting point, I doubt
that anyone reading this book would not have their minds changed on at
least some aspects of these matters. Curators, collectors, dealers, legislators
and others interested in the protection of cultural artifacts should certainly
read Tokeley's passionate narrative."
Professor John Haldane FRSE, Director, Centre for Ethics, Philosophy
and Public Affairs, University of St Andrews
"It is hard to get any view that conflicts with a liberal consensus
taken seriously. This book attacks the liberal consensus on protecting
archaeological heritage which favours public ownership by countries of
origin. Tokeley writes with the sort of personal passion that makes for
entertaining reading, while easily inviting dismissal. In fact his argument
is one that should be treated with the utmost seriousness by anyone truly
concerned with rescuing and protecting important residues of our past."
Professor Gordon Graham FRSE, Princeton Theological Seminary,
author, Philosophy of the Arts (Routledge)