how did it come to this?
4.01 - "To guard those relics ne'er to be restored." - Lord Byron
Episode notes
This week, as pieces of historical significance are returned to Cambodia we were prompted to think about what do we do with items that are of historical value. From the beginning of time, when wars were won, the victors looted the defeated, from Egypt to Rome, South America to Southeast Asia, treasures have been stolen, sold and returned, but where do they belong? who owns history? Can we protect our artefacts of significance? Do we blame colonialism or just plain old human greed? Was Indiana Jones right when he said “It belongs in a museum” And ultimately how did it come to this?