thank you all for coming out this evening
evening
evening it really is an honor and pleasure to be
it really is an honor and pleasure to be
it really is an honor and pleasure to be here talking about National Geographic
here talking about National Geographic
here talking about National Geographic and and then somewhat of a light that
and and then somewhat of a light that
and and then somewhat of a light that maybe some of you know about but maybe
maybe some of you know about but maybe
maybe some of you know about but maybe some of you don’t know about I mean
some of you don’t know about I mean
some of you don’t know about I mean everybody knows about the golden
everybody knows about the golden
everybody knows about the golden rectangle and about the National
rectangle and about the National
rectangle and about the National Geographic magazine most of you know
Geographic magazine most of you know
Geographic magazine most of you know about our Channel and the fact that
about our Channel and the fact that
about our Channel and the fact that through our media we reach almost 400
through our media we reach almost 400
through our media we reach almost 400 million souls around the world it’s is
million souls around the world it’s is
million souls around the world it’s is it’s incredible it’s honored to
it’s incredible it’s honored to
it’s incredible it’s honored to represent National Geographic but it’s
represent National Geographic but it’s
represent National Geographic but it’s also equally important to remember that
also equally important to remember that
also equally important to remember that we are a funder of research and that we
we are a funder of research and that we
we are a funder of research and that we are a player we’re proactive if we want
are a player we’re proactive if we want
are a player we’re proactive if we want to tell the stories of people places
to tell the stories of people places
to tell the stories of people places cultures ecology whales and lions other
cultures ecology whales and lions other
cultures ecology whales and lions other things that I don’t deal with we have to
things that I don’t deal with we have to
things that I don’t deal with we have to preserve that we have to be able to take
preserve that we have to be able to take
preserve that we have to be able to take care of our world so that future
care of our world so that future
care of our world so that future generations our kids and their kids will
generations our kids and their kids will
generations our kids and their kids will be able to turn to National Geographic
be able to turn to National Geographic
be able to turn to National Geographic and have the same stories to be told you
and have the same stories to be told you
and have the same stories to be told you know we have a very special thing with
know we have a very special thing with
know we have a very special thing with history and culture that’s very actually
history and culture that’s very actually
history and culture that’s very actually different from you know biological world
different from you know biological world
different from you know biological world or oceans and things like that it’s the
or oceans and things like that it’s the
or oceans and things like that it’s the difference is that that culture the past
difference is that that culture the past
difference is that that culture the past the remains of our history is it’s
the remains of our history is it’s
the remains of our history is it’s non-renewable like once a giant budda is
non-renewable like once a giant budda is
non-renewable like once a giant budda is destroyed it can’t come back it’s gone
destroyed it can’t come back it’s gone
destroyed it can’t come back it’s gone once a site is destroyed that little
once a site is destroyed that little
once a site is destroyed that little piece of history that piece of people’s
piece of history that piece of people’s
piece of history that piece of people’s identity is is gone you can’t replace
identity is is gone you can’t replace
identity is is gone you can’t replace that and so we become really sort of
that and so we become really sort of
that and so we become really sort of focused on what can we do as a group
focused on what can we do as a group
focused on what can we do as a group as a bunch of you know drummers in a
as a bunch of you know drummers in a
as a bunch of you know drummers in a band to get people’s so that we say yeah
band to get people’s so that we say yeah
band to get people’s so that we say yeah we can actually do something that’s what
we can actually do something that’s what
we can actually do something that’s what this evening is all about when we look
this evening is all about when we look
this evening is all about when we look at the world and certainly that’s
at the world and certainly that’s
at the world and certainly that’s something that’s interesting about
something that’s interesting about
something that’s interesting about Geographic is that we do have as our
Geographic is that we do have as our
Geographic is that we do have as our research arena all the continents of the
research arena all the continents of the
research arena all the continents of the world even even Antarctica we don’t have
world even even Antarctica we don’t have
world even even Antarctica we don’t have that these these circles here these
that these these circles here these
that these these circles here these ovals are centers of civilization
ovals are centers of civilization
ovals are centers of civilization centers of dense archaeological finds as
centers of dense archaeological finds as
centers of dense archaeological finds as you can see it you know we’re looking at
you can see it you know we’re looking at
you can see it you know we’re looking at something that which is not on one
something that which is not on one
something that which is not on one continent or another not we’re not going
continent or another not we’re not going
continent or another not we’re not going to talk about all of these tonight we’re
to talk about all of these tonight we’re
to talk about all of these tonight we’re gonna look at a few case examples but
gonna look at a few case examples but
gonna look at a few case examples but when when we look at the whole issue of
when when we look at the whole issue of
when when we look at the whole issue of you know how to keep cultures and keep
you know how to keep cultures and keep
you know how to keep cultures and keep identities and artifacts where they
identities and artifacts where they
identities and artifacts where they belong how is it that that these
belong how is it that that these
belong how is it that that these different cultures can become proud of
different cultures can become proud of
different cultures can become proud of their role in part of human history in
their role in part of human history in
their role in part of human history in defining humanity
defining humanity
defining humanity it’s huge it’s almost unbelievable when
it’s huge it’s almost unbelievable when
it’s huge it’s almost unbelievable when when I work with customs agents about
when I work with customs agents about
when I work with customs agents about what’s coming through the airports of
what’s coming through the airports of
what’s coming through the airports of what’s coming through our ports its you
what’s coming through our ports its you
what’s coming through our ports its you know I show them in this picture and I
know I show them in this picture and I
know I show them in this picture and I say you have a huge you know issue on
say you have a huge you know issue on
say you have a huge you know issue on your hands you could have you know
your hands you could have you know
your hands you could have you know artifacts from the Andes just as easily
artifacts from the Andes just as easily
artifacts from the Andes just as easily as you could have artifacts from Mali
as you could have artifacts from Mali
as you could have artifacts from Mali just as easily as you could have
just as easily as you could have
just as easily as you could have artifacts from Afghanistan in a box
artifacts from Afghanistan in a box
artifacts from Afghanistan in a box being transported away from its home how
being transported away from its home how
being transported away from its home how are you going to deal with that but
are you going to deal with that but
are you going to deal with that but that’s something which is we’re going to
that’s something which is we’re going to
that’s something which is we’re going to talk about those kind of interesting
talk about those kind of interesting
talk about those kind of interesting topics tonight and we’re gonna look at a
topics tonight and we’re gonna look at a
topics tonight and we’re gonna look at a few of these areas I call these
few of these areas I call these
few of these areas I call these archaeological hotspots and I’m happy to
archaeological hotspots and I’m happy to
archaeological hotspots and I’m happy to tell you more about those archaeological
tell you more about those archaeological
tell you more about those archaeological hotspots and discussion but I’m going to
hotspots and discussion but I’m going to
hotspots and discussion but I’m going to give you a few examples and I’ll give to
give you a few examples and I’ll give to
give you a few examples and I’ll give to Afghanistan and Peru just to tell you a
Afghanistan and Peru just to tell you a
Afghanistan and Peru just to tell you a little bit about approaches that we can
little bit about approaches that we can
little bit about approaches that we can have very positive approaches that we
have very positive approaches that we
have very positive approaches that we can help to inspire these artifacts and
can help to inspire these artifacts and
can help to inspire these artifacts and these cultures to remain alive in the
these cultures to remain alive in the
these cultures to remain alive in the countries where they are
countries where they are
countries where they are these are archaeologically rich
these are archaeologically rich
these are archaeologically rich countries right all of them all of them
countries right all of them all of them
countries right all of them all of them have so many sites it’s hard to count
have so many sites it’s hard to count
have so many sites it’s hard to count them Afghanistan is famous for its role
them Afghanistan is famous for its role
them Afghanistan is famous for its role on the Silk Road and we have artifacts
on the Silk Road and we have artifacts
on the Silk Road and we have artifacts all over the place I think it was the
all over the place I think it was the
all over the place I think it was the first country where we had sort of an
first country where we had sort of an
first country where we had sort of an international recognition for a
international recognition for a
international recognition for a country’s cultural heritage for
country’s cultural heritage for
country’s cultural heritage for something that we really wish didn’t
something that we really wish didn’t
something that we really wish didn’t happen this is a giant buddha in the
happen this is a giant buddha in the
happen this is a giant buddha in the Bamiyan Valley huge over a hundred feet
Bamiyan Valley huge over a hundred feet
Bamiyan Valley huge over a hundred feet tall incredible belt you know in the 6th
tall incredible belt you know in the 6th
tall incredible belt you know in the 6th or 7th or 8th century AD it’s been
or 7th or 8th century AD it’s been
or 7th or 8th century AD it’s been famous it was a tourist attraction and
famous it was a tourist attraction and
famous it was a tourist attraction and many of you remember when it was
many of you remember when it was
many of you remember when it was destroyed that sort of culture of
destroyed that sort of culture of
destroyed that sort of culture of destruction cannot be replaced and it
destruction cannot be replaced and it
destruction cannot be replaced and it for the first time focused international
for the first time focused international
for the first time focused international attention on you know the center of the
attention on you know the center of the
attention on you know the center of the Silk Road to say oh my goodness we
Silk Road to say oh my goodness we
Silk Road to say oh my goodness we didn’t really realize that culture was a
didn’t really realize that culture was a
didn’t really realize that culture was a big factor in this and I think when it
big factor in this and I think when it
big factor in this and I think when it was on the front pages of the New York
was on the front pages of the New York
was on the front pages of the New York Times when it was on the pages of
Times when it was on the pages of
Times when it was on the pages of National Geographic when you saw this on
National Geographic when you saw this on
National Geographic when you saw this on CNN you realize oh this is important at
CNN you realize oh this is important at
CNN you realize oh this is important at the same time people have to realize it
the same time people have to realize it
the same time people have to realize it that that fragility of culture wasn’t
that that fragility of culture wasn’t
that that fragility of culture wasn’t just at pom young this is 2003 when I
just at pom young this is 2003 when I
just at pom young this is 2003 when I first saw the National Museum of
first saw the National Museum of
first saw the National Museum of Afghanistan this is the museum no roof
Afghanistan this is the museum no roof
Afghanistan this is the museum no roof no windows and inside no artifacts I
no windows and inside no artifacts I
no windows and inside no artifacts I went there on behalf of National
went there on behalf of National
went there on behalf of National Geographic magazine to sort of write a
Geographic magazine to sort of write a
Geographic magazine to sort of write a postscript about what I thought was a
postscript about what I thought was a
postscript about what I thought was a tragedy something that that people
tragedy something that that people
tragedy something that that people should know about but something else
should know about but something else
should know about but something else happened okay I went to the museum all
happened okay I went to the museum all
happened okay I went to the museum all the way to Afghanistan I had never
the way to Afghanistan I had never
the way to Afghanistan I had never actually been to Afghanistan before even
actually been to Afghanistan before even
actually been to Afghanistan before even though I had written about it I had
though I had written about it I had
though I had written about it I had written reports in archaeology magazine
written reports in archaeology magazine
written reports in archaeology magazine I wrote my dissertation on it it was
I wrote my dissertation on it it was
I wrote my dissertation on it it was sort of like I never thought I was going
sort of like I never thought I was going
sort of like I never thought I was going to Afghanistan and I went and I talked
to Afghanistan and I went and I talked
to Afghanistan and I went and I talked to the museum director this man Omar
to the museum director this man Omar
to the museum director this man Omar Kahn Massoud II he’s one of my cultural
Kahn Massoud II he’s one of my cultural
Kahn Massoud II he’s one of my cultural heroes that this evening is about and I
heroes that this evening is about and I
heroes that this evening is about and I said
said
said what do I say about the treasures of
what do I say about the treasures of
what do I say about the treasures of Afghanistan and he said well you know
Afghanistan and he said well you know
Afghanistan and he said well you know the treasures of the map of the National
the treasures of the map of the National
the treasures of the map of the National Museum meant a lot to us and you know
Museum meant a lot to us and you know
Museum meant a lot to us and you know before the museum was destroyed we hid
before the museum was destroyed we hid
before the museum was destroyed we hid them away oh wow he said that’s a secret
them away oh wow he said that’s a secret
them away oh wow he said that’s a secret but I’m telling you and we ended up
but I’m telling you and we ended up
but I’m telling you and we ended up doing something that we’d never expected
doing something that we’d never expected
doing something that we’d never expected to do at National Geographic we
to do at National Geographic we
to do at National Geographic we sponsored in the inventory of the hidden
sponsored in the inventory of the hidden
sponsored in the inventory of the hidden collections of Afghanistan this is one
collections of Afghanistan this is one
collections of Afghanistan this is one of the pieces we put all these things on
of the pieces we put all these things on
of the pieces we put all these things on inventory computerized digital images
inventory computerized digital images
inventory computerized digital images and we created a passport for these
and we created a passport for these
and we created a passport for these objects that meant that now these
objects that meant that now these
objects that meant that now these objects were visible to the whole world
objects were visible to the whole world
objects were visible to the whole world and could never actually be sold or
and could never actually be sold or
and could never actually be sold or marketed again kind of squashing a
marketed again kind of squashing a
marketed again kind of squashing a market for these objects it also led to
market for these objects it also led to
market for these objects it also led to the bactrian gold exhibition their
the bactrian gold exhibition their
the bactrian gold exhibition their feeling of sense of self about this
feeling of sense of self about this
feeling of sense of self about this within Afghanistan a sense of great
within Afghanistan a sense of great
within Afghanistan a sense of great honor and sort of cultural heritage that
honor and sort of cultural heritage that
honor and sort of cultural heritage that they hadn’t seen for thirty years and
they hadn’t seen for thirty years and
they hadn’t seen for thirty years and that’s a really positive thing that came
that’s a really positive thing that came
that’s a really positive thing that came out of working together on that there
out of working together on that there
out of working together on that there are other problems and we continue to
are other problems and we continue to
are other problems and we continue to work with the Afghans on issues of what
work with the Afghans on issues of what
work with the Afghans on issues of what happens during the situation when sites
happens during the situation when sites
happens during the situation when sites are looted this is actually not an
are looted this is actually not an
are looted this is actually not an excavation these are people who are just
excavation these are people who are just
excavation these are people who are just digging for treasures in Afghanistan and
digging for treasures in Afghanistan and
digging for treasures in Afghanistan and it hurts me to look at this picture my
it hurts me to look at this picture my
it hurts me to look at this picture my friend who excavated the battery in gold
friend who excavated the battery in gold
friend who excavated the battery in gold he took this picture and here’s a
he took this picture and here’s a
he took this picture and here’s a picture of where those artifacts ended
picture of where those artifacts ended
picture of where those artifacts ended up that’s the market place in Kabul I
up that’s the market place in Kabul I
up that’s the market place in Kabul I can’t tell you how many four
can’t tell you how many four
can’t tell you how many four thousand-year-old burials this
thousand-year-old burials this
thousand-year-old burials this represents because it’s impossible for
represents because it’s impossible for
represents because it’s impossible for me to say that but each one of those
me to say that but each one of those
me to say that but each one of those vessels represents a piece of culture
vessels represents a piece of culture
vessels represents a piece of culture which is out and about to be sent abroad
which is out and about to be sent abroad
which is out and about to be sent abroad for pennies on each piece it’s it’s
for pennies on each piece it’s it’s
for pennies on each piece it’s it’s tragic from a personal point of view
tragic from a personal point of view
tragic from a personal point of view from an Afghan point of view and from a
from an Afghan point of view and from a
from an Afghan point of view and from a world point of view to see um that’s a
world point of view to see um that’s a
world point of view to see um that’s a whole chapter of history right there so
whole chapter of history right there so
whole chapter of history right there so we do do things and I am pleased to say
we do do things and I am pleased to say
we do do things and I am pleased to say that we work with US Customs we work
that we work with US Customs we work
that we work with US Customs we work with UNESCO we work
with UNESCO we work
with UNESCO we work culture with with groups around the
culture with with groups around the
culture with with groups around the world and one of the things that we do
world and one of the things that we do
world and one of the things that we do is we help for example this is US
is we help for example this is US
is we help for example this is US Customs this is a shipment of illegally
Customs this is a shipment of illegally
Customs this is a shipment of illegally transported artifacts that thanks to a
transported artifacts that thanks to a
transported artifacts that thanks to a collaboration between the US government
collaboration between the US government
collaboration between the US government and the governments around the world
and the governments around the world
and the governments around the world including Afghanistan and pruin quite a
including Afghanistan and pruin quite a
including Afghanistan and pruin quite a few countries we’re able to say look
few countries we’re able to say look
few countries we’re able to say look these pieces belong in a home and they
these pieces belong in a home and they
these pieces belong in a home and they can be sent back and we’re so pleased to
can be sent back and we’re so pleased to
can be sent back and we’re so pleased to be able to say that repatriations are an
be able to say that repatriations are an
be able to say that repatriations are an important part of what we do here at
important part of what we do here at
important part of what we do here at national de Graaff here in Washington DC
national de Graaff here in Washington DC
national de Graaff here in Washington DC and the United States is a really good
and the United States is a really good
and the United States is a really good partner in doing these things and I
partner in doing these things and I
partner in doing these things and I think it’s a fantastic thing that you
think it’s a fantastic thing that you
think it’s a fantastic thing that you should all know about let’s turn quickly
should all know about let’s turn quickly
should all know about let’s turn quickly to my second example which is Peru so we
to my second example which is Peru so we
to my second example which is Peru so we move continents this is Peruvian pyramid
move continents this is Peruvian pyramid
move continents this is Peruvian pyramid sometimes hard to say see so I put a
sometimes hard to say see so I put a
sometimes hard to say see so I put a little drawing of a pyramid to say hey
little drawing of a pyramid to say hey
little drawing of a pyramid to say hey look you know this is just like Egypt
look you know this is just like Egypt
look you know this is just like Egypt you’re gonna see some pictures of
you’re gonna see some pictures of
you’re gonna see some pictures of pyramids later you know you’ve got
pyramids later you know you’ve got
pyramids later you know you’ve got pyramids that are known from the Maya
pyramids that are known from the Maya
pyramids that are known from the Maya area from Egypt but believe me they’re
area from Egypt but believe me they’re
area from Egypt but believe me they’re in Peru
in Peru
in Peru – but pyramids attract the attention of
– but pyramids attract the attention of
– but pyramids attract the attention of looters and things from those pyramids
looters and things from those pyramids
looters and things from those pyramids have been on sale in the market for a
have been on sale in the market for a
have been on sale in the market for a long long time and this is a piece from
long long time and this is a piece from
long long time and this is a piece from the exhibition that was on the market in
the exhibition that was on the market in
the exhibition that was on the market in Italy we’re so pleased when the
Italy we’re so pleased when the
Italy we’re so pleased when the ambassador from Peru asked the president
ambassador from Peru asked the president
ambassador from Peru asked the president of Italy that’s him in the front please
of Italy that’s him in the front please
of Italy that’s him in the front please return this piece of Peruvian culture
return this piece of Peruvian culture
return this piece of Peruvian culture and they did it was like ancient Rome
and they did it was like ancient Rome
and they did it was like ancient Rome returning something to ancient Peru I
returning something to ancient Peru I
returning something to ancient Peru I would thought that that’s kind of a cool
would thought that that’s kind of a cool
would thought that that’s kind of a cool concept right we’re really pleased but
concept right we’re really pleased but
concept right we’re really pleased but you know it’s at for many years as being
you know it’s at for many years as being
you know it’s at for many years as being kind of like ok that’s a large cool mask
kind of like ok that’s a large cool mask
kind of like ok that’s a large cool mask like what does it mean and you know
like what does it mean and you know
like what does it mean and you know without the context of knowing what it
without the context of knowing what it
without the context of knowing what it is it was a little enigmatic still very
is it was a little enigmatic still very
is it was a little enigmatic still very cool but having the objects in database
cool but having the objects in database
cool but having the objects in database that can be presented to anybody as you
that can be presented to anybody as you
that can be presented to anybody as you know around the world this is the Larco
know around the world this is the Larco
know around the world this is the Larco museum in Peru and which is a model the
museum in Peru and which is a model the
museum in Peru and which is a model the director of the Larco museum was here he
director of the Larco museum was here he
director of the Larco museum was here he has a collection of 45,000 objects you
has a collection of 45,000 objects you
has a collection of 45,000 objects you can visit every
can visit every
can visit every one of these objects in high resolution
one of these objects in high resolution
one of these objects in high resolution because every single object in their
because every single object in their
because every single object in their collection is on the web I think that’s
collection is on the web I think that’s
collection is on the web I think that’s fantastic
fantastic
fantastic we don’t have museums in the United
we don’t have museums in the United
we don’t have museums in the United States that have that and our best
States that have that and our best
States that have that and our best example comes from Lima Peru if you look
example comes from Lima Peru if you look
example comes from Lima Peru if you look very carefully we have a piece that was
very carefully we have a piece that was
very carefully we have a piece that was stolen from Peru was returned by US
stolen from Peru was returned by US
stolen from Peru was returned by US Customs it was at the Peruvian embassy
Customs it was at the Peruvian embassy
Customs it was at the Peruvian embassy and I said would you please put this on
and I said would you please put this on
and I said would you please put this on display
display
display oh my god that’s huge and this piece has
oh my god that’s huge and this piece has
oh my god that’s huge and this piece has been stolen twice from Peru because the
been stolen twice from Peru because the
been stolen twice from Peru because the market is so – that we’re trying to
market is so – that we’re trying to
market is so – that we’re trying to reduce that market this piece after the
reduce that market this piece after the
reduce that market this piece after the exhibition will be going back to Peru –
exhibition will be going back to Peru –
exhibition will be going back to Peru – it’s right home Peru is a nice example
it’s right home Peru is a nice example
it’s right home Peru is a nice example because this is using drones to document
because this is using drones to document
because this is using drones to document archaeological sites and proof we really
archaeological sites and proof we really
archaeological sites and proof we really are you know it’s not just
are you know it’s not just
are you know it’s not just archaeologists as Indiana Jones with it
archaeologists as Indiana Jones with it
archaeologists as Indiana Jones with it with a shovel and a web we use drones we
with a shovel and a web we use drones we
with a shovel and a web we use drones we use satellites we use best technology
use satellites we use best technology
use satellites we use best technology available to help us understand and
available to help us understand and
available to help us understand and preserve cultures for the world
preserve cultures for the world
preserve cultures for the world our nation is alive when it is culture
our nation is alive when it is culture
our nation is alive when it is culture stays alive our people should know what
stays alive our people should know what
stays alive our people should know what happened they should know about their
happened they should know about their
happened they should know about their culture about their history that is true
culture about their history that is true
culture about their history that is true for every culture around the world they
for every culture around the world they
for every culture around the world they should know about their culture if they
should know about their culture if they
should know about their culture if they should know about that history it’s a
should know about that history it’s a
should know about that history it’s a win-win situation for everybody we need
win-win situation for everybody we need
win-win situation for everybody we need to do the inventory of the collections
to do the inventory of the collections
to do the inventory of the collections and sites we need to help with the
and sites we need to help with the
and sites we need to help with the repatriations and we need to get people
repatriations and we need to get people
repatriations and we need to get people excited about visiting these countries
excited about visiting these countries
excited about visiting these countries where they come from like Egypt thank
where they come from like Egypt thank
where they come from like Egypt thank you very much
”
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