The Ethics of Collecting Cultural Property: Whose Culture? Whose Property? / Edition 2

by Phyllis Mauch Messenger, Brian Fagan

Overview

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) has brought into sharp relief the conflicts among public and private collectors, scholars, and indigenous peoples over the provenience and disposition of cultural property, especially archaeological remains. First published in 1989 and now updated and enlarged, The Ethics of Collecting Cultural Property explores the ethical, legal, and intellectual issues related to excavating, selling, collecting, and owning cultural artifacts. Twenty-two contributors, representing archaeology, law, museum administration, art history, and philosophy, suggest how the numerous interested groups, often at odds, can cooperate to resolve cultural heritage, ownership, and repatriation issues and improve the protection of cultural property worldwide. A new preface and epilogue frame the contemporary debate in a global perspective. The editor provides updated information about domestic and international laws and regulations and enforcement institutions. She has also added "Codes of Ethics" and "Some Organizations and Resources Related to Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Issues."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826321251
Publisher:	University of New Mexico Press
Publication date:	11/01/1999
Edition description:	Second edition, updated and enlarged
Pages:	331
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	1450L (what's this?)

About the Author

Phyllis Mauch Messenger is the director of the Center for Anthropology and Cultural Heritage Education at Hamline University, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Editorial Reviews

"This book is essential reading for any person who buys, sells, owns, looks at, or cares about the human record of the past and what is happening to it."

From the Publisher

Twenty-two contributors from the fields of archaeology, law, museum administration, art history, and philosophy explore the legal, ethical, and intellectual issues relating to excavating, selling, collecting, and owning cultural artifacts. Case studies from the Americas and Nepal are included, as are discussions of the UNESCO Cultural Property Convention, regulations on international art trade, the ramifications of national sovereignty issues, and the transformation of museum institutional ethics. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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