Letters reveal forgotten role of Baghdad antiquities dealers in early 20th-century Kish excavations
Between 1880 and 1912, no official excavations took place at Kish. Yet museums from London and Paris to New York were somehow acquiring brand-new tablets from the legendary old city. As it turns out, local Iraqis had been excavating the site years before the "official" excavation
The revelation that local Baghdad antiquities dealers played a crucial role in the early 20th-century excavations at Kish sheds new light on the often-overlooked contributions of indigenous archaeologists and collectors. For decades, the narrative around Kish has been dominated by the exploits of European and American archaeologists, but it appears that local Iraqis were quietly unearthing treasures and supplying them to museums worldwide. This challenges our understanding of the history of archaeology and highlights the complex, often hidden networks that facilitated the global trade in antiquities.
The fact that museums in London, Paris, and New York were acquiring tablets from Kish during a period when no official excavations were taking place suggests that there was a thriving, if unofficial, market in antiquities. This raises important questions about the ethics of collecting and the ownership of cultural heritage. As the field of archaeology continues to grapple with the legacies of colonialism and cultural appropriation, stories like this one underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in the way that artifacts are acquired and displayed.
As researchers continue to study the letters and other archival materials related to the Kish excavations, it will be interesting to see how this new information reshapes our understanding of the site and its significance. What to watch next: further investigation into the roles of other local collectors and dealers in the early 20th-century archaeology of Mesopotamia, as well as a closer examination of the current locations and ownership status of the Kish tablets. Will museums and cultural institutions be willing to revisit their collections and provide more context about the often-complex and problematic histories of their acquisitions?
Originally reported by phys.org. LearningWire adds analysis for science & discovery readers.