With its long history and rich culture, Yemen is a virtual treasure trove of priceless archeological artifacts, which until recently were fair game for smugglers. It is perhaps unsurprising then that Yemen is a prime target for artifact smugglers. Owing to lax security at historical sites and weak laws governing the protection of ancient artifacts, Yemen is seeing increasing incidences of archeological theft. Three smugglers have been captured this year alone at Sana’a airport carrying large numbers of artifacts for sale to collectors overseas.
Maintaining Yemeni artifacts and heritage has become a national crisis, and was the topic of a workshop held recently in Sana’a. The workshop was organized by the Forum for Progress and Advancement.
Archeology embodies a country’s civilization and culture; it represents what human’s beings have created in a certain time and place, according to Abdul-Salam al-Jawfi, Minister of Education, who added that “history is alive in all ages; it will not die. Humans always have the motivation to develop knowledge about their history. Therefore, we find that science keeps discovering the secrets of the ancient past. Despite scientific advances, mankind stands helplessly to find an explanation about how people of those ages have improved and developed their lives.”
Al-Jawfi said that archaeology represents the identity of a community, and so many countries work hard to protect their artifacts. By seeing artifacts we are able to travel to past ages and know about them. “Artifacts are the most basic form of tourism. Tourists always pay attention to artifacts, and are attracted to them.”
“Any artifact existing on earth is an essential part of human archaeology, and that is why UNESCO pays particular attention to archaeology,” added al-Jawfi. Many people think that the importance of archaeology depends on how much we have, while it depends on its value.
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Education and archaeology
Primary and secondary school curriculums must include teaching about archeology to stress to students the importance of these sites and artifacts. As part of the expansion of education about archeology, schools should organize trips for students to see first-hand what their country has to offer. In addition, college and university programs concerning archeology must be expanded to train more professionals to preserve and document these sites. Perhaps more importantly, they need to recruit students from area’s such as al-Jawf and Mareb which are rich in archeological sites. These newly trained individuals could help educate local citizens about the importance of these sights, and stress to them that the artifacts they find are not their personal property to be sold, but rather belong to the country as a whole. Education can play a serious role in educating people about the importance of artifacts, and how to protect them from damage and smuggling. “Educational foundations are more important than the social foundation; therefore, communities refer to them to acquire their educational needs, which the family stands helpless to achieve. Preserving one’s heritage is a means of protecting one’s identity and civilization,” added al-Jawfi. Al-Jawfi said that Yemeni cultural heritage is a reference to the civilization of the Arabian Peninsula. Any attack on Yemeni artifacts not only means that the county loses money, but it considered to be a threat to its identity.
The role of the Ministry of Education is embodied in equipping students and educating them about Yemeni heritage, according to him. They will become aware of the various kinds of Yemeni antiques, which in turn will assist them in promoting these artifacts to others. Al-Jawfi pointed out how the ministry tries to inform students about their history and civilization, which is key to Arabs heritage. Therefore, by teaching Yemeni history to students, we are in one way or another making them aware of the importance of their heritage, and helping them to be proud of it. The curricula also points out to students how Yemeni artifacts have been smuggled, and how they were returned home.
Artifacts and economics
Taking artifacts from their place of origin to be displayed is another is a way of increasing a country’s economic earning power. However, not returning them to their homes decreases their importance and value. “Yes, I agree with this statement, but some experts and researchers do not agree, and say that to keep artifacts on display in a country is to return them with benefit to their homes. For example, by being in the foreigners’ museums, people can be better educated about the heritage of those the country’s to which those artifacts’ belong, and promote tourism in those countries,” said Hamoud. When people are captured by the artifacts on display, they become eager to know more about the country from which they came.
“Regardless of differences in views on the use of the survival of these relics abroad, Yemen has the right to repatriate its artifacts- whether these antiques were smuggled or sold illegally,” stated Hamoud, adding “first, we must preserve out cultural heritage in our country before asking other countries to return what has been smuggled to them.
The Ministry’s of Culture, Tourism and Information, local administrations, and educational and civil society organizations which participated in the ////////////////////////////// have commissioned proposals for amendments to some articles of the Protection of Archeology Law. The Protection Law, issued in 1994 and amended in 1997, as well as the new amendments should be submitted to the government for approval as soon as possible. The amendments contain clauses making those convicted of tampering with archeological sites or smuggling and trading in stolen artifacts guilty of serious crimes. “Such crimes classified as serious crimes, require physically harsh and deterrent punishment.”
Archeological prosecution punishment fails to act as deterrent for smugglers and only seeks to encourage more to engage in the crime.
Yemeni artifacts are mostly found in remote areas, which make them easy prey for archeological brokers and traders inside and outside of the country. Many locals excavate archeological sites themselves, especially in Mareb and al-Jawf due to the absence of security at these sites. When something thought to be of value is found, it is generally put up for sale.
“There should be a strict law. Smugglers must be afraid of stealing and selling artifacts. The prison sentences for smuggling should be doubled, or smugglers must be made to pay a large sum of money, so that, they will think million times before comitting such an act. Random excavation would dissapear if amendments to the archaeology law stiupulated doubling the punishment for those who do such thing,” added Hamoud.
Law
Many studies have paid particular attention to protecting archaeological sites due to their importance for domestic culture. Thus, any wrongdoer will be judged, because archaeological sites are owned by governments, not by individuals.
Article 11 of the Yemeni archaeology law states “the direct or indirect destruction of mobile artifacts, or the damage caused by the change of its shape or separation of its parts is prevented.”
Article 13 of the same law prevents the establishment of any industry or army camp near archaeology sites. Article 40 states that any person who lives in archaeological sites should be jailed for not less than 6 months.
Smugglers or those who help smugglers will be jailed for around 5 years, or pay the sum of the artifact that was stolen. The appropriate sum of money will be estimated by the General Organization of Antiquities and Museums, on the condition that the sum not be less than YR 100,000 according to the article 37.
The Archeological Prosecution Office has reviewed around 60 cases of antique smuggling in the past 3 years. Some of these were major crimes, involving elaborate and well planned operations. On May 11, security forces at Sana’a airport apprehended a Canadian citizen with nearly 200 different artifacts. Officials at the airport have tightened security measures aimed at detecting passengers attempting to smuggle such objects out of the country.
With this alarming increase in artifact smuggling in Yemen, the Archeological Authority announced recently that it will carry out an archeological survey in the governorate of al-Jawf. Al-Jawf is rich in artifacts and archeological sites, and this survey will be undertaken as a precautio
y measure to reduce the number of acts of smuggling. The survey will record, document, and photograph all archeological sites in the governorate.
Finally, we believe that the Yemeni government needs to repatriate artifacts from overseas collectors, and provide an incentive for Yemeni’s to defend these sites. If archeological sites are properly maintained, Yemen would be a virtual open-air museum with the entire country offering something to see rather than just a few select areas. Yemen needs to open it’s eyes to these problems, otherwise one day it may wake up to find it’s entire cultural heritage has been stolen from under it.