Magnus T. Bernhardsson, professor of Middle Eastern history at Williams College, is the author of "Reclaiming a Plundered Past: Archaeology and Nation Building in Modern Iraq."
The book, published by University of Texas Press, chronicles the history of archeology in Iraq and analyzes the strong link that has developed between archaeology and Iraqi nationalism.
The April 2003 looting of the Iraqi National Museum caused a world outcry at the loss of what was perceived as all of humanity's shared historical artifacts. This, however, was not the first time that Iraqi antiquities were plundered; the peoples of the Middle East have watched as time and time again Western archaeologists excavated and appropriated Iraqi antiquities, especially under the British Mandate.
Struggling to find a national identity since Iraq was created in 1921, Iraq has engaged in a battle of political power directly tied to the control of its archaeological patrimony. The modern state used the study of archaeology to forge a contemporary connection to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Islamic empires to build a sense of nationhood among Iraqis of differing religious traditions and ethnicities.
Bernhardsson explores the political struggle as he traces the transformation of Iraq's archaeology enterprise from its "international" stage to the "national" stage, discussing shifts in power through a theme of removal and return of the artifacts.
The book considers the work of British archaeologists who conducted extensive excavation in Iraq and sent their findings to the museums of Europe; "their attitudes, methods, and ultimate success may help explain why many Iraqis viewed these activities with suspicion; archaeology was not perceived to be a neutral science, but integral part of the imperialist enterprise."
Bernhardsson traces how Iraqi's growing sense of nationhood led them to confront the British over antiquities law and the division of archaeological finds between Iraq and foreign excavators. He shows how Iraq's control over its archaeological patrimony was directly tied to the balance of political power and how this increased as power shifted to the Iraqi government. And, he examines how Iraqi leaders, including Saddam Hussein, used archaeology and history to legitimize the state and its political actions.
"Reclaiming a Plundered Past" addresses the controversy of "what makes 'Iraq' Iraq?" and the importance of owning a national narrative that could weave the country together through one commonality.
Before coming to Williams in 2003, Bernhardsson taught modern Islamic and Middle Eastern history at Hofstra University. He has also taught at the University of Rhode Island and the College of Holy Cross.
He graduated from the University of Iceland in Reykjavik in 1990 and received his doctorate in history, with distinction, from Yale University in 1999.
In addition to "Reclaiming a Plundered Past," Bernhardsson is the author of "PÃslarvottar NútÃmans" (2005) (translates into English as "Modernity's Martyrs") and the co-editor of "Imagining the End: Visions of Apocalypse from the Ancient Middle East to Contemporary America" (2001).
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It's a great book if anyone wants to know about the Iraqi civilization and history.Kudos th the publisher for making it possible.
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Pratul Link Building
Williamstown Studying Major Overhaul for Main Street
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The town is working with a Worcester civil engineering firm to redesign Main Street with an eye toward a major project sometime in the next decade.
Community Development Director Andrew Groff was before the Select Board on Monday night to talk about Town Hall's use of a $500,000 state grant to do preliminary design on major improvements to that portion of Route 2 that runs from Water Street west to the Field Park rotary, through the middle of Williams College's campus.
Groff introduced the elected officials to Amanda Bazinet of Worcester's Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, who is helping the town to develop a plan for Main Street that would align with the commonwealth's Complete Streets Program.
"Our project goals, in addition to the increased pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, is just, in general, improving the sightlines and improving the intersection geometry," Bazinet said.
"Complete Streets … has a lot of different facets to it. As Andrew had mentioned, the goal is to improve the safety for all of the roadway users — not just the motorists. We're looking at improving it for pedestrians, bicyclists, anyone using a mobility device. We want to create streets that are safe for all ages and abilities to use. So, while bicyclists will still be allowed, legally, to use the roadway, we want to look at providing a separate bicycle accommodation along the corridor, whether it's a shared use path along both sides of the streets that is a little more accessible to young children or older people with disabilities to look at all transportation options."
One goal is to encourage "active transportation." The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, who the town hopes one day might fund the construction, has a "healthy transportation policy," Bazinet said.
That MassDOT funding would come through the Transportation Improvement Program, which is managed locally by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. The design work underway now is being done with an eye toward going after TIP funding years down the road.
The town is working with a Worcester civil engineering firm to redesign Main Street with an eye toward a major project sometime in the next decade.
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The elevated bridge between the Clark Art Institute's main museum and the Manton Research Center is being transformed into new gallery space and storage, and the permanent home of the Aso O. Tavitian collection. click for more
Nearly 90 towns and cities across the commonwealth have voted in favor or replacing the seal, which depicts an arm holding a sword above the head of a Native American. click for more
