US returns cultural artefacts stolen from PNG years ago
CULTURAL artefacts stolen from PNG years ago were recovered from an illegal collection in the United States (US) and have been returned.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) successfully traced the stolen 133 items after years of investigation.
US Ambassador Erin McKee said she was honoured to return the artefacts to the people of PNG.
“The incredible cultural diversity of PNG is part of the nation’s rich heritage and it is regrettable that someone had removed these items out of personal desire and without permission,” she said.
She said the items were among a collection of artefacts gathered from around the world over several decades by US citizen and amateur archeologist Donald Miller.
The FBI began its investigations in 2014 when there were reports that some of the items had been obtained illegally.
They found the artefacts in Miller’s private museum.
The PNG artefacts were returned on Sept 16 and taken to the PNG National Museum and Gallery by the US Embassy.
FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division assistant director Calvin Shivers said they were “honoured to return these pieces to the people of PNG”.
PNG National Museum and Gallery director Dr. Andrew Moutu thanked the US government for returning the items.
“They will form a valuable addition to our collection here,” he said.
“We hope to create an exhibit focused on these objects and their unique journey.”
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Comment: Such cultural tangible properties need to be protected and taken ownership of by the individual material owner in a clan or tribe in the first place, as it is the birth right of one in its cultural institution passed down through unique kinship lineages like in PNG’s. Cultural objects are not mere objects but they entail ideas of designs and technologies of our fore-parents on which ego or PNG can integrate and develop to meet modern demands.
From observations such significant cultural materials have been traded by the remote locals into Australia through Torres Strait and Merauke and Sota into Indonesia in the south-west part of PNG. This is happening because it is an easier way of earning income and the people are un-informed.So many cultural objects have gone out unnoticed.
The locals need to be educated on the importance of the cultural materials and establish mechanisms of protecting such cultural objects, especially in the border areas (where they are vulnerable) with the help of the relevant authorities concerned so that they are recognized,protected and in the end would accumulate into valuable and diverse collection of PNG’s cultural material heritages- collected and kept rightfully in the country,PNG.
Thank you.
could some one help me I have original black and white photos of two men in 1962 Roy James hedlund and 1 lrweeb photos of stolen artafects from png negitvs I knew 1 of the men who set up the heist he has past away a few months ago but I have photos of a few hundred artafects so the people of png can get their art back can some one help me get in contact with the png govement
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