From the LA Times, Main Section, November 24, 2007:
Pendants and earrings, dating from as far back as 3000 BC, originated in Taiwan but have been found throughout the southwestern Pacific, archaeologists say.
Direct link to full article on LA Times website: http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-sci-jade24nov24,1,5093418.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Thursday, November 29, 2007
STOLEN JAVANESE STATUES RETURNED
Sent to me from a colleague:
Five ancient statues allegedly stolen from an Indonesian museum by its curator have been found, officials say. The statues were returned to the museum in the Javanese city of Surakarta after being found in the capital Jakarta. Police have already arrested three members of museum staff and accused them of stealing statues from the collection and selling them off.
The five stone statues are all from central Java and date from the 7th to 9th centuries. State investigators say the items are among nine pieces that went missing from the museum. Three bronze statues and a porcelain plate are still missing.
Investigators allege that the curator, helped by his staff, stole the pieces from the collection and replaced them with fakes. The alleged scam was brought to light by a former employee, who told a professor at a local university what had happened. The state archaeology body, which investigated her claims, said there had been no inventory at the museum for six years, and that many other items could be missing.
The museum, which was founded more than 100 years ago, is the oldest in Indonesia.
Full link to BBC on line site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7107406.stm
Five ancient statues allegedly stolen from an Indonesian museum by its curator have been found, officials say. The statues were returned to the museum in the Javanese city of Surakarta after being found in the capital Jakarta. Police have already arrested three members of museum staff and accused them of stealing statues from the collection and selling them off.
The five stone statues are all from central Java and date from the 7th to 9th centuries. State investigators say the items are among nine pieces that went missing from the museum. Three bronze statues and a porcelain plate are still missing.
Investigators allege that the curator, helped by his staff, stole the pieces from the collection and replaced them with fakes. The alleged scam was brought to light by a former employee, who told a professor at a local university what had happened. The state archaeology body, which investigated her claims, said there had been no inventory at the museum for six years, and that many other items could be missing.
The museum, which was founded more than 100 years ago, is the oldest in Indonesia.
Full link to BBC on line site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7107406.stm
BALI SHOPS RAIDED FOR ILLEGAL ANIMAL PARTS
This was sent to me from a colleague...
When it Comes to Conservation – Bali Makes No Bones!
Bali Official Seize US$6.45 Million in Rare Bones From a Kuta Shop.
(11/26/2007)
Tempo Interaktif reports the Bali's Conservation Department (BKSDA) has seized 2 trucks of antiques and bone of endangered animals from 6 art shops in the Kuta area of Bali. The confiscated goods with a value estimated at Rp, 60 billion (US$6.45 million) is currently being stored for safe keeping at the Bali Conservation Office."Although (the confiscated goods) are only bones, this is still a violation of the law," said the Coordinator for Enforcement and Conservation, Budi Utomo.
The relevant laws for conservation of natural resources provides for 5 years of prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million (US$10,750).Among the bird skeletons confiscated were the skulls of four Buceros bicornis or Great Hornbills valued at Rp. 1.2 billion (US$129,000). Also seized were 25 teeth from Dugongs or Dugong dugon costing Rp. 1.5 billion (US$161,300), together with whale bones and swordfish bones. Some of the bone items had been carved and decorated into handicraft items.
The Coordinator of Forestry Police for the BKSDA in Bali, Sri Yudhanto told Tempo Interaktif that the confiscation came as the result of a tip provided by a German tourist who asked why whale bones were being sold openly in Bali shops. Following a brief investigation the contraband were seized in raids over three days conducted between November 6-9, 2007.
The owner of the antique shop initially resisted the confiscation, claiming he had no knowledge of the rules outlawing the private ownership of such items. Yudhanto said his department would initially concentrate on educating the perpetrator, reserving harsher legal steps if the violations continued. Official believe the bones originated from Papua and East Nusa Tenggara.
When it Comes to Conservation – Bali Makes No Bones!
Bali Official Seize US$6.45 Million in Rare Bones From a Kuta Shop.
(11/26/2007)
Tempo Interaktif reports the Bali's Conservation Department (BKSDA) has seized 2 trucks of antiques and bone of endangered animals from 6 art shops in the Kuta area of Bali. The confiscated goods with a value estimated at Rp, 60 billion (US$6.45 million) is currently being stored for safe keeping at the Bali Conservation Office."Although (the confiscated goods) are only bones, this is still a violation of the law," said the Coordinator for Enforcement and Conservation, Budi Utomo.
The relevant laws for conservation of natural resources provides for 5 years of prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million (US$10,750).Among the bird skeletons confiscated were the skulls of four Buceros bicornis or Great Hornbills valued at Rp. 1.2 billion (US$129,000). Also seized were 25 teeth from Dugongs or Dugong dugon costing Rp. 1.5 billion (US$161,300), together with whale bones and swordfish bones. Some of the bone items had been carved and decorated into handicraft items.
The Coordinator of Forestry Police for the BKSDA in Bali, Sri Yudhanto told Tempo Interaktif that the confiscation came as the result of a tip provided by a German tourist who asked why whale bones were being sold openly in Bali shops. Following a brief investigation the contraband were seized in raids over three days conducted between November 6-9, 2007.
The owner of the antique shop initially resisted the confiscation, claiming he had no knowledge of the rules outlawing the private ownership of such items. Yudhanto said his department would initially concentrate on educating the perpetrator, reserving harsher legal steps if the violations continued. Official believe the bones originated from Papua and East Nusa Tenggara.
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