human rights archaeology:cultural heritage in conflict: Louvre Museum, Bronze Age Cypriot antiquities

In 1981, Annie Caubet, Vassos Karageorghis and Marguerite Yon published the Antiquities of Cyprus: the Bronze Age (1) from the Louvre Museum's Department of Oriental Antiquities (2). It's a dull, little sample of material, but it does suggest a historically bicommunal illicit trade in Cypriot antiquities.

Background

French curiosity piqued by travelling aristocrats and scholars' donations to the National Library and the Louvre Museum, an 'intense traffic in antiquities [intense trafic d’antiquités]' from Lebanon to France in the second half of the Nineteenth Century (Caubet, Karageorghis and Yon, 1981: 1).

When the British Empire took control of the island in 1878, archaeological research became, 'above all, for the benefit of English museums [surtout pour le compte [benefit] des musées anglais]' (ibid.: 2).

French excavations took no artefacts from Cyprus after 1958, when the British colonial government abolished the colonial find-sharing system of partage (in which excavators kept some of the site's finds, instead of the state taking care of all of them). (The Louvre continued collecting from the art market.)

Information

The artefacts should be a fairly random sample, as they were chosen for their scientific value (ibid.: back cover), but unfortunately, the catalogue was a small sample.

Of the 125 artefacts in the catalogue, a relatively high number - 74 (59.20%) - came from archaeological excavations (fouilles), missions, etc. (due to colonial archaeology's partage system of excavators keeping some of the site's artefacts), but still 51 (40.80%) artefacts were probably looted before conflict.

Of those 51 probably looted artefacts, 5 had no date or other information; and 27 had an acquisition date, or collection history, that showed they had probably been looted before the conflict, but still had no reliable find-spot. Of the 19 probably looted artefacts with fairly reliable find-spots,

6 were from the Greek Cypriot majority mixed village of Dali;
1 was from (the Greek Cypriot area of) Vounous;
5 were from Greek Cypriot Aradippou;
1 was from Greek Cypriot Arpera Çiftlik;
1 was from Greek Cypriot Athienou;
1 was from Greek Cypriot Alambra;
1 was from Greek Cypriot Castroulla; and
3 were from the Turkish Cypriot village of Sinda.

So, 16 (84.21%) were probably looted by Greek Cypriots, and 3 (15.79%) were probably looted by Turkish Cypriots.

Conclusion

It is not clear if this antiquities catalogue is a large sample of the museum collection; but it is clear that there are too few artefacts with find-spots to use them on their own reliably. However, the communities' involvement in looting - here, similar to their proportions of the population - is suggestive of a historic bicommunal illicit antiquities trade.

Interesting aside

Artefact 35 was an undated acquisition from Pennelli (ibid.: 22). That may have been from nineteenth-century terracotta forger Pietro Pennelli. He convinced the Louvre to acquire stuff from him in 1873 (http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/forgery_in_art.jsp), and art historian Helen Nagy (2008: 105) 'safely assume[d]' that the late nineteenth-century antiquities dealer Pennelli who supplied the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston was Pietro Pennelli.

Footnotes

Les antiquités de Chypre: Age du Bronze.
Musée du Louvre Département des Antiquités Orientales.

Bibliography

Caubet, A, Karageorghis, V et Yon, M. 1981: Les antiquités de Chypre: Age du Bronze. Paris: Musée du Louvre Département des Antiquités Orientales.

Nagy, H. 2008: "Etruscan votive terracottas from Cerveteri in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: A glimpse into the history of the collection". Etruscan Studies, Volume 11, 101-119.

Data

1 mission (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 4)
2 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 6)
3 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 7)
4 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 8)
5 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 8)
6 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 9)
7 ‘Acquisition Koutoulakis sur legs De Ridder [Acquisition of Koutoulakis on legacy of De Ridder]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 9)
8 no info, but ‘Vounous?’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 10); Vounous cemetery, between GC Bellapais and GC Agios Epiktitos-Vrysi
9 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 11)
10 ‘Provenance inconnue. Acquisition Z. Malis [Provenance unknown. Acquisition of Z. Malis]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 11)
11 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 12)
12 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 13)
13 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 13)
14 ‘Acquisition’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 14)
15 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 14)
16 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 15)
17 ‘Chypre’, i.e. no info (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 15)
18 ‘Acquisition 1894’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 15)
19 ‘Ancienne collection De Clercq. Don Henri de Boisgelin. 1966 [Ancient collection of de Clercq. Given by Henri de Boisgelin. 1966]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 16)
20 ‘Acquisition 1894’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 16)
21 ‘Acquisition 1908’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 16)
22 ‘Acquisition 1901. Ancienne collection Boysset, consul de France à Larnaca [Acquisition in 1901. Ancient collection of Boysset, the consul of France in Larnaca]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 17)
23 ‘Acquisition 1899’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 17)
24 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 17)
25 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 18)
26 ‘Acquisition 1899’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 18)
27 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 18)
28 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 18)
29 ‘Acquis de Colonna-Ceccaldi en 1869. Dali? [Acquired from Colonna-Ceccaldi in 1869. Dali?]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 19); Dali GC maj mix
30 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 19)
31 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 21)
32 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 21)
33 ‘Acquisition Z. Malis 1899’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 22)
34 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 22)
35 ‘Acquisition Pennelli’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 22)
36 ‘Acquisition Colonna-Ceccaldi 1869. Dali?’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 23); Dali GC maj mix
37 ‘Acquisition Colonna-Ceccaldi 1869. Dali?’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 23); Dali GC maj mix
38 ‘Acquisition Z. Malis 1899’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 24)
39 ‘Acquisition Sorlin Dorigny 1889’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 24)
40 ‘Ancienne collection De Clercq. Don Henri de Boisgelin 1967’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 25)
41 no info (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 25)
42 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 25)
43 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 26)
44 ‘Acquisition Colonna-Ceccaldi 1869’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 26)
45 ‘Acquis Vente Hoffmann 1890 [Acquired by Sale of Hoffmann in 1890]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 28)
46 ‘Acquisition Colonna-Ceccaldi 1869. Dali’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 29); Dali GC maj mix
47 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 29)
48 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 29)
49 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 30)
50 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 30)
51 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 30)
52 ‘Acquisition Colonna-Ceccaldi 1871. Dali’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 31); Dali GC maj mix
53 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 31)
54 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 31)
55 ‘Acquis en 1899 [Acquired in 1899]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 32)
56 ‘Acquis en 1886’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 32)
57 mission (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 32)
58 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 33)
59 ‘Acquis en 1912 comme provenant de la nécropole de Sinda [Acquired in 1912 as coming from the necropolis of Sinda]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 33); Sinda TC
60 ‘Alambra (probablement fouilles Cesnola)’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 33); Alambra GC
61 ‘Acquis en 1889’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 33)
62 ‘Ancienne collection Guimet, donné comme provenant de Chypre [Former Guimet collection, given as from Cyprus]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 34)
63 ‘Acquisition Colonna-Ceccaldi en 1869, comme provenant d’une tombe de Dali’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 34); Dali GC maj mix
64 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 38)
65 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 39)
66 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 39)
67 ‘Dépôt du Musée Guimet, comme provenant de Chypre [Depot Museum Guimet, as from Cyprus]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 39)
68 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 39)
69 mission (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 40)
70 ‘Provenance: Chypre. Ancienne collection De Clercq, don Henri de Boisgelin 1967’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 41)
71 ‘Aradippo [sic], près de Larnaca. Don E. Boysset’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 42); Aradippou GC
72 ‘Aradippo [sic], près de Larnaca. Don E. Boysset’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 43); Aradippou GC
73 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 44)
74 ‘Aradippo [sic], près de Larnaca. Don E. Boysset’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 44); Aradippou GC
75 ‘Arpera, district de Larnaca. Don E. Boysset’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 45); Arpera Çiftlik GC
76 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 46)
77 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 46)
78 ‘Aradippo [sic], près de Larnaca. Don E. Boysset’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 47); Aradippou GC)
79 ‘Aradippo [sic], près de Larnaca. Don E. Boysset’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 47); Aradippou GC
80 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 48)
81 no info (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 48)
82 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 50)
83 ‘Acquis comme provenant d’Athiénou’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 50); Athienou GC
84 ‘Ancienne collection Cesnola, acquis en 1872’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 51)
85 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 51)
86 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 51)
87 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 52)
88 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 52)
89 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 53)
90 ‘Don E. Boysset, consul de France à Larnaca 1898’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 53)
91 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 53)
92 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 54)
93 ‘Acquis en 1899’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 56)
94 ‘Ancien fonds, comme provenant de Chypre [Ancient background, as from Cyprus]’, i.e. no info (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 56)
95 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 56)
96 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 56)
97 ‘Acquis en 1899’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 57)
98 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 57)
99 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 57)
100 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 59)
101 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 59)
102 ‘Acquis de Colonna-Ceccaldi, comme provenant d’Alambra, 1874’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 60); Alambra GC
103 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 60)
104 ‘Acquis en 1912 comme provenant de la nécropole de Sinda’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 60); Sinda TC
105 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 61)
106 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 62)
107 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 62)
108 fouilles (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 62)
109a: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109b: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109c: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109d: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109e: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109f: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109g: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109h: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109i: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
109j: fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
110 fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 64)
111 fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 66)
112 ‘Acquis dans le commerce [Acquired in trade]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 66)
113 ‘Sinda, tombe 1 (1912)…. Ce cylindre provient d’une tombe où il était associé à du matériel du 11ème siècle [This cylinder is from a tomb where it was associated with material from the 11th century]’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 66); Sinda TC
114 ‘Castroulla (Carpas). Don Hamilton Lang, 1972’ (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 67); GC Castroulla
115 fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 67)
116 fouilles [excavations] (Caubet, Karageorghis et Yon, 1981: 67)