Plundering Africa's Past

Peter R. Schmidt

ISBN 10: 0253210542 / ISBN 13: 9780253210548

Published by Indiana University Press, US, 1996

About this Item

"An important book at a time when the booming illicit trade in African antiquities and the despoiling of some of the continent's prime archeological sites generate little concern in the art world." -Foreign Affairs "This benchmark publication challenges all of us to be part of the solution. Plundering Africa's Past cannot help but raise the level of discourse and consciousness about the looting problem, what needs to be done to stop it and about the relationship between Africa and the West." -African Studies Review "Plundering Africa's Past should be required reading for all archaeologists, historians, art historians, museum curators, and government officials involved in the cultural heritages of Africa, as well as most countries and continents with a disappearing past." -H-Net Book Review African government and museum officials, members of international agencies, academics, and journalists examine why the African past is disappearing at a rate perhaps unmatched in any other part of the world. Each looks at the international network of looting and trafficking from a different perspective. Here, for the first time, is a frank indictment of African contributions to the problem-voiced by the distinguished African essayists. The book concludes with a discussion of specific steps that could halt the disappearance of Africa's art and antiquities.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780253210548

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Plundering Africa's Past
• Publisher: Indiana University Press, US
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0253210542
• ISBN 13: 9780253210548
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 513 grams

About this title

Synopsis

"An important book at a time when the booming illicit trade in African antiquities and the despoiling of some of the continent's prime archeological sites generate little concern in the art world." ―Foreign Affairs

"This benchmark publication challenges all of us to be part of the solution. Plundering Africa's Past cannot help but raise the level of discourse and consciousness about the looting problem, what needs to be done to stop it and about the relationship between Africa and the West." ―African Studies Review

"Plundering Africa's Past should be required reading for all archaeologists, historians, art historians, museum curators, and government officials involved in the cultural heritages of Africa, as well as most countries and continents with a disappearing past." ―H-Net Book Review

African government and museum officials, members of international agencies, academics, and journalists examine why the African past is disappearing at a rate perhaps unmatched in any other part of the world. Each looks at the international network of looting and trafficking from a different perspective. Here, for the first time, is a frank indictment of African contributions to the problem―voiced by the distinguished African essayists. The book concludes with a discussion of specific steps that could halt the disappearance of Africa's art and antiquities.

About the Author

PETER R. SCHMIDT is the former Director of the Center for African Studies and Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Florida. RODERICK J. MCINTOSH is Professor of Anthropology at Rice University.