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This lecture was really terrific! Here's the description:
Dr. Fredrik Hiebert, Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., and curator of the exhibition "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul", provides the back-story to the Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul recent re-discovery of the masterpieces of the Kabul Museum. These artifacts, long-thought missing during two decades of civil war in Afghanistan, were actually hidden, not destroyed or looted. It is a powerful double story - that of the rich heritage of Afghanistan as seen in its ancient art and artifacts, and that of the heroic efforts of the Afghan museum personnel to preserve these treasures during the chaotic recent history.
Dr. Hiebert was an engaging speaker and obviously truly excited about the work he was presenting to us; his talk was well-structured, and he had some great slides to show of the objects. Really an inspirational story: the museum workers, in face of great danger (from Communism in the 1970s-80s and from the Taliban in the past decade) hid the great artifacts of Afghanistan's past so they would be kept safe. Dr. Hiebert described opening these boxes to find artifacts that everyone had assumed had been destroyed decades ago, and you could tell from the tone of his voice how intense and amazing it must have been to be there. A really good talk.
Unfortunately, my archaeology wife is in England this week so I had to go to this lecture alone. I was able to stay until the end of the lecture but had to leave partway through the question and answer period to catch my train (better than waiting an hour by myself for the next train). Definitely worth the trip!
Dr. Fredrik Hiebert, Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., and curator of the exhibition "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul", provides the back-story to the Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul recent re-discovery of the masterpieces of the Kabul Museum. These artifacts, long-thought missing during two decades of civil war in Afghanistan, were actually hidden, not destroyed or looted. It is a powerful double story - that of the rich heritage of Afghanistan as seen in its ancient art and artifacts, and that of the heroic efforts of the Afghan museum personnel to preserve these treasures during the chaotic recent history.
Dr. Hiebert was an engaging speaker and obviously truly excited about the work he was presenting to us; his talk was well-structured, and he had some great slides to show of the objects. Really an inspirational story: the museum workers, in face of great danger (from Communism in the 1970s-80s and from the Taliban in the past decade) hid the great artifacts of Afghanistan's past so they would be kept safe. Dr. Hiebert described opening these boxes to find artifacts that everyone had assumed had been destroyed decades ago, and you could tell from the tone of his voice how intense and amazing it must have been to be there. A really good talk.
Unfortunately, my archaeology wife is in England this week so I had to go to this lecture alone. I was able to stay until the end of the lecture but had to leave partway through the question and answer period to catch my train (better than waiting an hour by myself for the next train). Definitely worth the trip!
