Updated: 21 June, 2005
© RESCUE

Report of a Joint Meeting Convened by the Standing Conference on Portable Antiquities, ICOMOS UK, Historic Environment Forum and English Heritage

Held at the British Academy 27 June 2003

Meeting Chaired by: George Lambrick, Director, Council for British Archaeology

Meeting note compiled by: Alison Taylor (IFA) & Sue Cole (English Heritage)

1. Iraq's heritage - what's happening now
The meeting had been called to receive reports on the current situation in Iraq and to consider the appropriate responses from a) the US and UK governments and b) the UK's archaeological, conservation and museums community. This was later widened at the meeting to encompass cultural heritage in general and libraries and archives in particular.

Nigel Pittman, DCMS, began with a look at progress made some ten weeks after news broke of disasters following the fall of Baghdad. Tessa Jowell had wanted immediate DCMS engagement in the reconstruction process, and staff were therefore placed within the Provisional Authority, to work with senior Iraqis to start shaping priorities. The first priorities were establishing an Iraqi Culture Cabinet and getting pay to staff of the heritage service (especially site guards), and longer term requirements were now being considered. Helen MacDonald, who is now cultural affairs co-ordinator in the region south of Baghdad, is assessing sites in that area, US forces have increased their patrols and over-flights, and DCMS is exploring what can be done to increase guard cover, especially during the next six months.

A second UNESCO mission was leaving that day, its primary task to look at archives and libraries as well as archaeological sites. This mission would assess immediate needs for aid, to inform a multi-government meeting due to be held in mid July. DCMS were keen now to receive offers for medium and long term support from the whole sector and are creating a log of offers from the heritage community to match with the requirements of Iraq. All bodies who feel they can contribute in any way are therefore asked to contact David Gookey at DCMS (David.Gookey@culture.gsi.gov.uk)

Dr David Gaimster, also DCMS, gave a rapid run-down of proposed legislative changes in the UK, aimed at stopping trade in illicit antiquities and hence the incentive to loot sites. On 22 May old sanctions against Iraqi trade were lifted and new ones were imposed which gave specific protection to 'cultural objects'. All members of the UN were now bound to facilitate the safe return of objects illegally removed from Iraq since 1990, 'reasonable suspicion' being enough to prosecute with regard to such items. With effect from 14 June the Iraq (UN Sanctions) Order 2003 creates a criminal offence in the UK of even being in possession of such an item. An EC Regulation to reinforce UN resolutions will also come into effect shortly, giving another layer of protection.

Meanwhile, Richard Allan's Private Member Bill for Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) is making steady progress through Parliament on the back of the post-conflict crisis in Iraq.

Christopher Walker, British Museum, (standing in for John Curtis who had returned from Iraq the night before) told how the British Museum had known well before war started that help would be needed. When John Curtis arrived at the Iraqi National Museum in the immediate aftermath his first message back was 'it's a lot worse than my worst fears', and when Neil Macgregor went out soon afterwards he made basic arrangements with the Americans and was the first westerner allowed into some of the guarded stores. He was adamant that 'all our assistance must be offered on Iraqi terms', and, as far as could be judged, broadly agreed with assessments made by Donny George and other Iraqi museum officials who have been attacked by the western press for exaggerating the damage. Lists of what was missing were still impossible to compile, but John Curtis had confirmed last night that the whole collection of cylinder seals (4200 of them) had been taken, and Venetia Porter (BM) had been shown of how easy it is to buy Museum artefacts. Meanwhile, an assessment of conservation needs was being made, and the British Museum expects to be involved until the end of the year, hoping that others will then take up the burden.

Harriet Crawford, British School of Archaeology in Iraq, (speaking on behalf of Prof Elizabeth Stone, who was then back in Iraq but had reported on an earlier trip to threatened sites outside Baghdad), was able to give an impression of what was happening in the countryside. Apparently things were worst in the south, with systematic looting of many Sumerian cities. Hundreds of people were seen looting at Larsa and Umm al Aqarib for example but Babylon and Ur, guarded by the US seemed OK (and no graffiti were seen). The north was better, though damage to sites and museums was reported, for example Mosul where bronze strips had been torn from the Balawat gates. Despite lack of pay many guards still successfully held their positions, sites near highway patrols escaped much damage and Islamic buildings in the main were respected, but the more remote sites (many still unexcavated) were being appallingly damaged.

The main needs at present were to stop the flood of antiquities across the borders of Iraq (neighbouring countries should be exhorted to increase vigilance as Coalition authorities are not adequate to responsibility for exports), to get offers of longer-term help registered with DCMS, and to start raising money (the British School for Antiquities in Iraq has opened a relief fund).

Christopher Young, English Heritage and ICOMOS, focused on the benefits of Iraq's historic environment to the people of Iraq. Apart from its intrinsic importance, it had huge value for Iraqi identity at the present and for sustainable development in the future - it would, after all, be there when the oil ran out. The process needed to be led by the Iraqis and their priorities, but people throughout the world now wanted to help and UNESCO should have a focal role in ensuring sites were managed safely.

An urgent need now was for offers of help in training and skills revision for Iraqi archaeologists. ICOMOS-UK was well placed to offer help with site management, the Institute of Field Archaeologists (through its registered archaeological organisations) with site recording, the UK Institute of Conservators with conservation and the International Federation of Libraries and Archives with manuscript collections. English Heritage too could offer many skills. In the medium term placements in UK institutions might be the most viable option, with training offered to groups in Iraq when this could be done safely.

Susan Denyer (ICOMOS UK) summarised the discussion and emphasised the need to consider the whole cultural heritage sector and not just focus on archaeology. She identified a pressing need for capacity building amongst Iraqis who have been badly affected by sanctions and the need for cultural heritage organisations to work together and with the DCMS to maximise use of resources.

George Lambrick read out the proposed resolution. Discussion and questions identified the need for consideration of the whole cultural heritage and not just one part, need for immediate pressure to be put on to ensure looting is stopped and the borders are sealed, the need for cultural heritage to be valued by organisations such as DFID. The meeting decided that a workable revised resolution should be drafted and re-circulated for approval.

RESOLUTION A (Revised in light of meeting):
"We the undersigned*, recognising the international value of the cultural heritage for Iraq's long-term sustainable social, cultural and economic development, note with consternation the growing eyewitness evidence in different parts of Iraq of continued systematic looting and consequential destruction of archaeological sites and monuments, and the theft of cultural property from museums and archives.

We offer, within our respective competencies, roles and available resources, further assistance, training and capacity building to help Iraqi specialists in restoring collections and re-establishing a proper regime for stable management of Iraq's cultural heritage.

We welcome measures taken so far to seek to control trade in Iraqi antiquities, and the work of DCMS in seeking to co-ordinate offers of assistance from the UK.

But in order for these measures to be effective we call on both the UK and the US governments to act URGENTLY to:

* Organisations indicating their wish to support the resolution:

• All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (APPAG)
• British Archaeological Association
• British Museum
• British School of Archaeology in Iraq
• Council for British Archaeology
• Council for Scottish Archaeology
• English Heritage
• Finds Research Group 200-1700
• ICOMOS UK
• ICOM UK
• Institute of Field Archaeologists
• Museums Association
• National Museum of Scotland
• Oxford Archaeology
• Pre-Construct Archaeology
• RESCUE: The British Archaeological Trust
• Resource
• Society of Antiquaries of London
• Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
• Society for Medieval Archaeology
• Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology
• Trust for Wessex Archaeology
• UK Institute for Conservation

2. Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
Dr Vanessa Marshall (National Preservation Office & Chair of United Kingdom and Ireland Blue Shield Organisation) outlined the main provisions of the 1954 convention. The meeting unanimously agreed the following resolution:

RESOLUTION B
"Further to its previous resolution of March 2002 calling on the UK government to ratify the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and noting with concern that cultural property has suffered grave and often deliberate damage and removal during recent armed conflicts, the Standing Conference on Portable Antiquities welcomes the Government's agreement in principle that the UK should negotiate with a view to ratify the Convention and now calls on the Government to set out a clear timetable for ratification for the Convention and the First and Second Protocols to coincide with the 50^th Anniversary of the Convention in 2004"

3. Update on progress of the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Bill
Dr David Gaimster (Cultural Property Unit, Department of Culture, Media and Sport) outline the progress of the private member's bill being sponsored by Richard Allan (Liberal Democrat, Sheffield Hallam). The Bill, which makes it a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment, to deal dishonestly in illegally removed cultural objects both from the UK and anywhere in the world, had won support from the Government. The Bill had also been developed in partnership with the Art trade. It was introduced into the House in February 2003, received a second reading in April 2003 and was scheduled for third reading in the Common on 4^th July 2003. Lord Redesdale, Liberal Democrat Peer, and secretary of APPAG, had secured an advantageous timetable for the Bill in the Lords, and was expecting to return it to the Commons for Royal Assent in October. The Bill would take effect after two months. Separate legislation would need to be introduced in Scotland. The meeting unanimously agreed the following resolution:

RESOLUTION C
"The Standing Conference on Portable Antiquities, deploring the continuing damage to the cultural heritage and loss to knowledge of the past caused by illicit excavation, removal and illegal export of cultural objects and overseas, unreservedly supports the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Bill; is strongly of the view that the Bill contains provisions which are fundamental to the prevention of further losses of antiquities from sites and buildings; welcomes the governmental and cross party support which it has thus far received; and calls on the Government and Parliament to maintain support so that it becomes statute"

4. Update on the Portable Antiquities Scheme
Dr Roger Bland (the Portable Antiquities Scheme Director) reported that the initiative was now to be extended to cover the whole of England & Wales following a successful Heritage Lottery Fund application. By the end of 2003 the scheme would comprise 37 Finds Liaison Officers, four specialist finds advisers and five other support posts in place by the end of 2003. However grant funding would end in 2006. The meeting agreed the following resolution:

RESOLUTION D
The Standing Conference on Portable Antiquities wholeheartedly welcomes the decision of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Government to fund for three years a national Portable Antiquities Scheme, a total of 46 posts, but notes concern that no guarantees have been given that this will be funded beyond April 2006, and urges the Government to give long-term support for the Scheme, recognising that it would be particularly dangerous to turn the tap off once finders have been encouraged to report their finds under the Scheme. The Conference also urges that the devolved administrations should also provide resources to provide analogous schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland, adapted to local conditions.