Kimberly Alderman describes how blogging helped her create an intellectual community around the specialized intersection of archaeology, law, and cultural property. What began partly as a way to educate and position herself as a scholar while geographically isolated became a platform for making complex legal issues accessible, following emerging cases, and connecting with others working across professional and disciplinary boundaries.
Tag Archives: Cultural Property
Posts about cultural property, ownership, repatriation, illicit trafficking, legal frameworks, and the protection of archaeological and cultural objects.
Major cultural sites caught in crossfire of Georgian conflict
A 2008 roundup of reports about cultural sites threatened or damaged during the war between Georgia and Russia. Drawing on ICOMOS, ICCROM, archaeologists, news reports, and cultural-property observers, the post records the uncertainty surrounding monuments, museums, archaeological sites, and professionals working in the conflict zone—and shows how quickly the web became part of documenting heritage at risk during war.
Detoxifying American Indian artifacts
Conservator and microbiologist Timberley Roane explores an unusual consequence of historic museum practice: American Indian artifacts contaminated by mercury and arsenic once used as pesticides. Her research investigates whether naturally occurring bacteria can remove toxic metals without damaging culturally significant materials. The project brings conservation science into direct conversation with repatriation and community use, demonstrating that preservation decisions are not merely technical when objects may still hold living cultural significance.
Major cultural sites caught in crossfire of Georgian conflict
As conflict between Georgia and Russia unfolded, reports emerged of historic churches, archaeological sites, museums, and entire cultural landscapes caught in the fighting. This roundup tracks the uncertain condition of sites within and near the conflict zones and the international preservation organizations attempting to document the damage. The piece demonstrates how cultural heritage becomes vulnerable during war—not only through direct destruction, but through displacement, looting, disrupted stewardship, and the fog of incomplete information.