Submitted by David Gill, Mar 20, 2008 17:52

It is interesting to read this follow up to Kate Taylor's piece on March 7 where she raised the issue that ISAW did not have a clear policy "about publishing on or exhibiting unprovenanced artifacts". Shelby White is indeed "a well-known collector of antiquities". She is also well known because in January 2008 she handed over part of her collection to the Italian authorities.

Why?

It appears that the items had been removed from their archaeological contexts illegally and unscientifically. And most archaeologists would not consider that to be "glorious".

And now the New York Sun publishes a piece which praises the "seriousness and refinement" of the new Institute. I am sure this exhibition is a great installation, drawn from archaeological excavations. But Taylor raised some key issues which are now, seemingly, ignored.

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