Archaeology and the Military: An Introduction

Summary

The very best news about this book is that, as I write this introduction in the autumn of 2009, some of the chapters are out of date already. Even in the few weeks since the last chapters were submitted, an International Military Cultural Resources Working Group, the IMCuRWG, has been established; the US Central Command Historical/Cultural Advisory Group has developed a mission statement and charter; US Central Command has signed an environmental regulation that establishes cultural resource considerations during contingency operations, and has received $60,000 in funding for 2010 for International Cultural Resources Cooperation; more on-site trainings in Egypt are scheduled; the US Defense Language Institute has just completed translation of the Iraq Archaeological Site Atlas, including all the maps; and the list goes on and on.

So why not stop the presses? Why put the effort into publishing a volume when a trendy website could keep the interested audience up to date on these issues and accomplishments? The answer to this question goes back to learning from history and staying grounded in the law. One of the purposes of this volume is to provide a reference document for advocates of cultural property protection. It should be a resource for individuals who are interested and willing to partner with the military to achieve the goal of respect for heritage in areas of conflict and disaster. These kinds of individuals are often called upon to make a case for cultural property protection. When they are successful in making their case, they are then often asked to develop creative solutions to address situations where cultural property is in grave danger.

In order to make a case for cultural property protection and the legal requirements, Patty Gerstenblith has provided a comprehensive legal introduction. She begins with ancient Rome and continues through history to implications of the recent ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict by the United States Senate. Her knowledge and the detail she is able to muster provide essential information for those of us who engage in these issues on a regular basis. Gerstenblith's chapter also illustrates the essential need for this volume.