DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12249#0304
26S RELIC-COLLECTING — STxVTE OE THE MONUMENTS.
North Africa under the authorisation of the British
Government; and although it has always shown itself
chary of undertaking such enterprises on any really
efficient scale, it is not impossible as interest in all kinds
of intelligent research advances, and ancient seats of
civilization become more and more accessible—it is not
impossible that our own Government, as well as those
of other European states, may come to be engaged in
furthering such researches. If so, can it be doubted that
whenever they appear on a scene where their presence is
avowedly as it ought to be, in the interests let us say
of education in a wide sense—can it be doubted that
the only principle of action worthy of their adoption
is archaeological elucidation on a broader basis than
merely antiquarian rapine ? The historic, artistic, eth-
nographic, or other scientific illustration which the site
or ruins under treatment are capable of affording, ought
to be the first consideration : the collecting of vestiges
ought to be merely the contingent, and not necessary
consequence. In the course of the excavations there
may or there may not occur relics Avhose removal may
not only be permissible on all reasonable grounds, but a
duty to secure their preservation. In a general way, it
may be said that all detached objects would come
within this category. It might also be supposed to
include statues or other sculptures not forming so
integral a part of any structure that their removal
would involve its actual ruin. But of these it would be
understood, from a fair estimate of surrounding circum-
stances, that the risk of their destruction was such as
North Africa under the authorisation of the British
Government; and although it has always shown itself
chary of undertaking such enterprises on any really
efficient scale, it is not impossible as interest in all kinds
of intelligent research advances, and ancient seats of
civilization become more and more accessible—it is not
impossible that our own Government, as well as those
of other European states, may come to be engaged in
furthering such researches. If so, can it be doubted that
whenever they appear on a scene where their presence is
avowedly as it ought to be, in the interests let us say
of education in a wide sense—can it be doubted that
the only principle of action worthy of their adoption
is archaeological elucidation on a broader basis than
merely antiquarian rapine ? The historic, artistic, eth-
nographic, or other scientific illustration which the site
or ruins under treatment are capable of affording, ought
to be the first consideration : the collecting of vestiges
ought to be merely the contingent, and not necessary
consequence. In the course of the excavations there
may or there may not occur relics Avhose removal may
not only be permissible on all reasonable grounds, but a
duty to secure their preservation. In a general way, it
may be said that all detached objects would come
within this category. It might also be supposed to
include statues or other sculptures not forming so
integral a part of any structure that their removal
would involve its actual ruin. But of these it would be
understood, from a fair estimate of surrounding circum-
stances, that the risk of their destruction was such as