Provenance Unknownrevised

Provenience: Unknown! Illegal Excavations Destroy the Archaeological Heritage A Documentary Exhibition Daniel Graepler, Archaeological Institute, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany Marina Mazzei, Superintendency of Archaeological Properties for Puglia,Taranto, Italy Vases from a tomb in “Over the course of the last four decades, systematic southern Italy that were broken and discarded by looting and the trade with illegally excavated artifacts looters looking for more have reached unprecedented dimensions. As a result, valuable finds. In the process valuable archeo- invaluable cultural material has been irretrievably lost...” logical information is lost. “...As investigators of world culture, academic institu- tions must be charged with initiating and encouraging a general change of attitude that prohibits clandestine excavations and the pursuit of trade in looted artifacts. But first and most importantly, a change in our own mind set is required.This is the goal of the team of “...These words and pictures are witness to the colossal German and Italian archaeologists who created this dimensions that tomb robbing has reached. ... As long documentary. It will be impossible for the reader to as the national and international black markets produce deny the urgency and importance of these issues.” a demand for artifacts, it will be filled by the booty from illicit excavations.” Paul Zanker “ There is reason for optimism, however, if traveling Former Director, German Archaeological Institute, Rome Bavarian Academy of Science exhibitions such as this one become more common. The possibility of forming a cohesive, international movement could be realized with the goal of protecting the archaeological heritage not only in Italy...,but in the whole world.” Guiseppe Andreassi Superintendent of Archaeological Properties for Puglia Introduction Clandestine Excavations: An Important facts that are buried at the same time, such as gold Yet Neglected Problem of Archaeology or coin hoards, shipwrecks, and tomb contents. If The looting, or illegal excavation, of archaeolog- some of the objects in a closed find can be dated, ical sites poses a substantial threat to our cultural an approximate chronological framework can be heritage, a fact that has been largely ignored.These set up for the accompanying objects. robberies and the subsequent infiltration of the In places where closed finds occur in greater antiquities market with illegally acquired artifacts numbers, such as cemeteries, they can be “seriated.” have reached proportions of which even many Seriation means sorting single elements from a experts are ignorant.There is an urgent need for deposit, such as the contents of a tomb, into certain immediate preventative action on a national and types. Using statistical methods (correspondence international level, if our world heritage is to be analysis), the similarities of the deposits are calcu- saved. Unfortunately, in some archaeological “crisis lated and the most likely chronological order of zones,” rescue comes almost too late. the finds determined. Principles of The Context is Important for Archeological Work More than Just Dating Find contexts are also indicators of social interre- lationships. Here, as well, tombs give especially From Excavation strong evidence of these relationships. Unlike the to Historical Interpretation contents of a trash pit, for example, whose artifacts The objects of archaeological research are the were casually thrown away often over time, objects material remains of past civilizations.These are found in tombs are combined intentionally at a studied not for their own sake, but in order to single moment Their number, form, combination, learn more about the society that produced and type comprises a code of signs, which holds them.This can only be achieved by examining the key to the understanding of the deceased and these objects within their original contexts. the society in which he or she lived. It is one goal of archaeology to unlock this code, an effort that Assessing the Context: TheBasis is only possible with an exact knowledge of the of Archaeological Study context of the finds and their original locations. Clandestine excavations, which are driven by the In archaeology’s infancy in the 19th and early 20th strong international market demand for ancient centuries, excavations had a single purpose – the art, destroy all hope of understanding this code. unearthing of valuable works of art.Today, archaeologists focus more attention on the circumstances that are associated with the object, such as its relationship to other objects and its place in the stratigraphy, or accumulated layers, of a site. Often, the stratigraphy itself offers important information on the dates of objects or structures, on how they were used, and on the process of their deterioration and eventual abandonment. All this information is lost when a site is looted. Closed Finds Especially meaningful for archaeological research are so-called sealed deposits, otherwise known as closed finds.These are made up of a group of arti- Why Apulia? “Tomb of The Ancient Apulia in southern Italy (the modern Puglia) Riders”,veiw of the interior as it is an area where one finds compelling examples was discovered by of the plundering of archaeological sites and the the archaeological superintendency. consequent annihilation of our cultural heritage. The contents are gone without a In almost no other area of Europe is the connec- trace, and in the tion between illegal excavations and the develop- upper right corner the torn-out wall ment of the illegal antiquities market as obvious plate is visible. as in this region. In particular, northern Apulia, the ancient Daunia, has become a thriving center for looters in recent years. Ancient Apulia In antiquity,Apulia was divided into four distinct cultural entities: the Greek colony Taranto and the indige- nously populated areas of Messapia, Peucetia and Daunia.As early as the 6th century B.C., Daunia was an extremely wealthy region, as is attested by the unusually rich grave goods from the urban centers of Canosa, Arpi, and Salapia, among other centers. Beginning with the fourth century B.C., Greek and Etruscan objects were bought in increasing numbers.The elaborately decorated vases produced in Greek Taranto enjoyed particular popularity among the Daunians.The demand for these vessels seems to have been so great that they were even imitated in Daunia itself beginning about 350 B.C. A Greek Vase from Southern Italy and its Context The following example illustrates the immense krater; it was not owned and used by a Greek in amount of archaeological information that is lost Metaponto, where it was probably made, but when sites are plundered.Year after year,anextra- rather by a Daunian in Canosa, a center several ordinary number of vases similar to the one pictured days journey distant. here appear on the art market.Without knowledge of its context archaeologists can only determine that: The Accompanying Artifacts Lucanian bell krater, Besides the large bell-krater, the deceased was Taranto National also buried with 47 clay vessels, 18 metal objects, Museum and some organic objects that were still partially The metal and organic grave goods. In the middle of the top row is a • it is a bell-krater, a Greek vessel for mixing tripod kettle (upside down); beneath it two firedogs, bronze vessels, a ladle (center), and remains of a bridle (bottom left and right). wine and water. • its center of production was probably preserved.The burial occurred at the time when Metaponto, a Greek colony near Taranto, Daunia began to be influenced by the Greek as is suggested by its Lucanian red-figure style. colonies on the southern coast. Most of the vases in the tomb are Greek or indigenous • its workshop was probably that of the imitations of Greek models.Yet, in spite of this anonymous vase painter nick-named by strong cultural influence, the Daunians managed to archaeologists the “Anabates Painter,” maintain their own identity, traditions, and ritu- whose activity is dated to the beginning of als. In this tomb, in addition to the Greek wares, the 4th cent. B.C. the deceased also received five archaic Daunian • its decoration is a scene of a woman in Greek funnel-kraters (sphageion), which were hand dress with a sacrificial bowl standing between formed without a pottery wheel and were painted two mostly nude warriors. in two colors. Also in accordance with Daunian traditions are The Find-Spot the metal utensils contained in the grave, which Fortunately, a lot more is known about this were used to prepare meat: a large tripod kettle, particular vase because its context is well spits, and firedogs.They indicate the hearth as the documented.This bell-krater was found at Canosa center of domestic life in the aristocratic clans in1980 in the “Tomb of the Willow Boughs,” which that ruled Daunian society.Another indication was scientifically excavated and painstakingly of the great wealth of the deceased and his family documented by professional archaeologists.The is the fact that some classes of objects are repre- contents of the grave was discovered exactly sented multiple times in the tomb.This tradition as it was originally laid out some 2,400 years ago, gained popularity to such a degree in Canosa at at the beginning of the 4th century B.C. this time that tombs were often outfitted with The location alone enlightens us about this bell- several dozen identical grave goods. The Position of the Finds in the The Deceased Grave Chamber Thanks to photographs taken immediately upon the opening of the tomb, the exact location of every artifact is known.The bell-krater was situated adjacent to the large-scale Daunian vessels.A number of smaller ladling and pouring vessels were stacked on the mouth of each of these.This demonstrates that domestic and imported wares were equally important, at least in burial rituals. Daunian funnel- krater in situ. Clearly recogniz- able is the willow- bough braid, after Even the way in which the person was buried which the tomb was named.

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