Priceless artifacts, made centuries ago, should in no means belong to an individual. Who gets to decide who owns them? Was it created for an individual or nation? Artifacts, which holds the culture, stories and even the past of civilizations, should belong to everyone. “Does it really matter who owns a particular artifact – whether it is a museum in the first world or a nation in the third world? ” ( Source A ). The topic of whether to remove an artifact of its place or origin and who it belongs to has been longed debated.
Removing historic artifacts from their place of origin is in fact essential, and necessary to ensure a fuller understanding of human history, that can be shared by the world. Through global warming and natural disasters, if left in their found spots; treasured artifacts are likely to be destroyed. Warfare and terrorist attacks can also lead to the disappearance of a treasured artifact. “In 2001, the ruling Taliban blew up this 175 foot tall Buddha, which dated back fifteen hundred years” ( Source C ). This event is a perfect example of why artifacts need to be preserved and how if left alone, can result in its destruction.
The statue of Buddha, represents the pride and strength of the religion, standing tall for years, meant to be By putting these priceless and treasured artifacts in a secured place like a museum, they will have the protection and the ability to continue to exist and teach others about the past. Besides educating the ordinary people, museums also serve as research centers for historians, archeologists and other scholars. It is through their studies that we know so much today about the lives of our ancient ancestors.
If the artifacts were scattered around the globe, it would had been more difficult for experts to travel in order to study them. Museums are definitely major contributors to the advancement of knowledge about our past. “They are not in the collection of the art museum for the art museum. They are there for the public… Besides, we have too many examples where presumed countries of origin could not preserve its antiquities: Afghanistan and Iraq, only most recently” ( Source A ). With the advanced facilities and security museums of today provide, Artifacts have a higher chance of being preserved.
The protection of these artifacts are also questionable in countries in financial difficulty. If a country fails to do so, then in no right should it be kept by them. “What does it mean, exactly for something to belong to a people? ” (Source E). To which extent does an artifact belong to a group of people or in individual? Modern countries, should not claim monuments and statues merely on the basis that it was found in their land, when in reality the artifacts dates back centuries before the country’s border were even drawn. “Most of Nigeria’s cultural heritage was produced before the modern Nigerian state existed.
So why should Nigeria have a special claim on those objects, buried in the forest and forgotten for so long? ” (Source E ). Every individual, disregarding their cultural background, should have the same amount of rights and ownership of the artifacts. Only through preserving the artifacts in a secured and well facilitated building, will treasured artifacts be able to last, long enough for the future generation to study and appreciate them. Removing historic artifacts from their place or origin is infact a necessary act to ensure a fuller understanding of human history, that can be shared by the world.
