In England, police suspect professionals in last week’s theft of 18 ancient Chinese artifacts from The Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge University. Two weeks ago, two Chinese artifacts were stolen from Durham University’s Oriental Museum. “The items stolen are very valuable and are of great cultural significance so we are absolutely committed to recovering them and bringing those who stole them to justice. This is an exceptional crime that we are taking very seriously,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Daber.

Lima, Peru, was largely built upon pre-Inca archaeological sites, and now the city’s expansion is putting those ancient spaces at risk. These areas are marked and are known as “sacred places,” but the areas around them are not protected. “This omission allows developers and squatters to invade them, or mayors to build parks and playing fields on them,” said archaeologist Cristian Vizconde. The government does not have the resources to conserve all of the archaeological sites. Few private sector businesses have been willing to accommodate ruins.

While examining the mummy housed in a 2,300-year-old sarcophagus that belonged to an Egyptian woman named Kareset, scientists in Croatia realized that the mummy is actually that of a 2,900-year-old man. X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans revealed that he suffered from Hand-Schuller-Christian’s disease, which left him with painful lesions on his skull and spine. The mummy may have been put into the sarcophagus in the nineteenth century to make it more appealing to collectors.

The ministries of culture and foreign affairs of Mexico and Austria have reportedly hammered out an agreement governing the loan of cultural artifacts between the two countries. The bilateral pact does not address the ownership of objects that may be loaned, but does specify legal procedures should a loaned artifact not be returned. The treaty now has to be ratified by the legislatures of both governments. It could make it possible for a disputed Aztec feathered headdress housed in Austria to be exhibited in Mexico.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Monday, April 30, 2012. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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