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Cultural Heritage Destruction in Middle Eastern Museums: Problems and Causes Evan A

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Cultural Heritage Destruction in Middle Eastern Museums: Problems and Causes Evan A State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College Digital Commons at Buffalo State Museum Studies Theses History and Social Studies Education 12-2018 Cultural Heritage Destruction in Middle Eastern Museums: Problems and Causes Evan A. Wright State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College, [email protected] Advisor Cynthia A. Conides, Ph. D. First Reader Cynthia A. Conides, Ph. D. Second Reader York A. Norman, Ph. D. Department Chair Andrew D. Nicholls, Ph.D. Professor and Chair To learn more about the History and Social Studies Education Department and its educational programs, research, and resources, go to https://history.buffalostate.edu/. Recommended Citation Wright, Evan A., "Cultural Heritage Destruction in Middle Eastern Museums: Problems and Causes" (2018). Museum Studies Theses. 18. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/museumstudies_theses/18 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/museumstudies_theses Part of the Archival Science Commons, and the History Commons State University of New York College at Buffalo Department of History and Social Studies Education Cultural Heritage Destruction in Middle Eastern Museums: Problems and Causes An Abstract of a Thesis in Museum Studies By Evan A. Wright Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts December 2018 i Abstract Destruction of cultural heritage sites and museums in the Middle East has become increasingly prevalent in the recent decades. This thesis aims to unravel the causes for these violent acts. It uses a socio-historical perspective of how culture, religion, and politics have polarized people and contributed to the ruination. Three museums are examined through a scope of progressive violence: The Kuwait National Museum, The National Museum of Iraq and the National Museum of Afghanistan. This thesis shows that both secular and religious factors have contributed to this destruction, and faults by international governing agencies and of investment of mitigation strategies are the causes for what came about. The research also presents ideas on what can be done to improve present circumstances. ii State University of New York College at Buffalo Department of History and Social Studies Education Cultural Heritage Destruction in Middle Eastern Museums: Problems and Causes A Thesis in Museum Studies By Evan A. Wright Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts December 2018 Approved by: Cynthia A. Conides, Ph. D, Associate Professor, Department of History and Social Studies Education Director Museum Studies Thesis Advisor Andrew D. Nicholls, Ph.D. Chair and Professor of History and Social Studies Education Kevin J. Miller, Ed.D. Dean of the Graduate School iii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Geography ............................................................................................................................. 3 Iconoclash vs. Iconoclasm ....................................................................................................... 6 Iconoclash ........................................................................................................................... 6 Iconoclasm .......................................................................................................................... 8 Conflict Analysis for Museums ............................................................................................... 11 Religious Armed Conflict .................................................................................................... 14 Armed and Secular Conflict ................................................................................................ 16 Chapter 2: Literature Review ..................................................................................................... 17 Kuwait National Museum ....................................................................................................... 19 Iraq ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Afghanistan ........................................................................................................................... 23 Mitigation Strategies .............................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 3: History of Cultural Property Legislation .................................................................... 28 Chapter 4: Case Studies ........................................................................................................... 40 Kuwait National Museum ....................................................................................................... 40 Background ........................................................................................................................ 42 Timeline of Events ............................................................................................................. 43 What was lost..................................................................................................................... 45 National Museum’s Collection ............................................................................................ 45 Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah .................................................................................................. 46 Significance of what was lost ............................................................................................. 49 What could have been done? ............................................................................................. 51 Repercussions ................................................................................................................... 53 Iraq National Museum ........................................................................................................... 56 Background ........................................................................................................................ 56 Timeline of what happened ................................................................................................ 61 Significance of what was lost ............................................................................................. 69 Blame on Looters ............................................................................................................... 71 U.S Planning ...................................................................................................................... 73 Afghanistan ........................................................................................................................... 74 Background ........................................................................................................................ 75 iv Cultural Destruction in Afghanistan .................................................................................... 78 Timeline of what happened ................................................................................................ 83 Significance of what was lost ............................................................................................. 85 What could have been done............................................................................................... 87 Chapter 5: Current Threats ....................................................................................................... 95 What are the implications of these situations? ....................................................................... 99 Pragmatic approach ............................................................................................................ 100 Chapter 6: Lessons from Case Studies ................................................................................... 103 Absence of National Government ........................................................................................ 103 High Illegal Demand ............................................................................................................ 104 Lack of International Intervention ......................................................................................... 106 Religious Iconoclasm and effects on the region ................................................................... 107 Chapter 7: Practical Planning .................................................................................................. 109 Problems ............................................................................................................................. 110 Professional Organizations .............................................................................................. 113 Digitization ....................................................................................................................... 115 Twinning .......................................................................................................................... 116 Trained Cultural Police ..................................................................................................... 118 Chapter 8: Conclusion............................................................................................................. 121 References ............................................................................................................................
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