Idanthyrsus
@idanthyrsus.bsky.social
Art/tech/int'l law focused | Late Antiquity and Silk Road art history obsessive
Are the operation's photos meant to be a joke? Perhaps they actually seized $116 million dollars in antiquities, but what is pictured here is a medley of low value pawn shop items. Law enforcement often inflates the value of seized antiquities for media coverage, but the disconnect here is absurd.
November 21, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Are the operation's photos meant to be a joke? Perhaps they actually seized $116 million dollars in antiquities, but what is pictured here is a medley of low value pawn shop items. Law enforcement often inflates the value of seized antiquities for media coverage, but the disconnect here is absurd.
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
NEW Stratigraphy from two of the 51 Aketala sites in the Tarim Basin of north-western China. The westernmost Bronze Age settlements discovered in China to date, they indicate cultural connections across Central Asia c. 4000 years ago.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
November 19, 2025 at 9:35 PM
NEW Stratigraphy from two of the 51 Aketala sites in the Tarim Basin of north-western China. The westernmost Bronze Age settlements discovered in China to date, they indicate cultural connections across Central Asia c. 4000 years ago.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
The Uzbek gov't has spent decades destroying Uzbek heritage without any consequences, and continues to do so. UNESCO may complain but they will do nothing, just as they did nothing when Karimov gutted Shahrisabz's UNESCO-designated old city—a useless organization. thediplomat.com/2025/11/dest...
Destruction in the Heart of Old Samarkand
Forced evictions began in the spring in the neighborhood adjacent to the modest al-Maturidi mausoleum. Then the demolition began.
thediplomat.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The Uzbek gov't has spent decades destroying Uzbek heritage without any consequences, and continues to do so. UNESCO may complain but they will do nothing, just as they did nothing when Karimov gutted Shahrisabz's UNESCO-designated old city—a useless organization. thediplomat.com/2025/11/dest...
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
Great news for open source art crime researcher: The International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR)'s publications are now digitized & free at the Internet Archive.
Congrats to our MOLA colleague Lisa Zeballos and team on this important preservation effort!
Congrats to our MOLA colleague Lisa Zeballos and team on this important preservation effort!
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine
archive.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Great news for open source art crime researcher: The International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR)'s publications are now digitized & free at the Internet Archive.
Congrats to our MOLA colleague Lisa Zeballos and team on this important preservation effort!
Congrats to our MOLA colleague Lisa Zeballos and team on this important preservation effort!
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
The Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums (DGAM);
has published photos of the six stolen artefacts taken during a weekend burglary at the National Museum of Damascus. All of the six small marble statuettess, are representatives of the goddess Venus, the Classical deity of beauty. 1 of 2
has published photos of the six stolen artefacts taken during a weekend burglary at the National Museum of Damascus. All of the six small marble statuettess, are representatives of the goddess Venus, the Classical deity of beauty. 1 of 2
November 13, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums (DGAM);
has published photos of the six stolen artefacts taken during a weekend burglary at the National Museum of Damascus. All of the six small marble statuettess, are representatives of the goddess Venus, the Classical deity of beauty. 1 of 2
has published photos of the six stolen artefacts taken during a weekend burglary at the National Museum of Damascus. All of the six small marble statuettess, are representatives of the goddess Venus, the Classical deity of beauty. 1 of 2
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
Screened this film about the repression of Uyghurs last night at Cornell. A powerful and tragic account of how the colonial project in northwest China continues to destroy lives www.allstaticandnoise.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Screened this film about the repression of Uyghurs last night at Cornell. A powerful and tragic account of how the colonial project in northwest China continues to destroy lives www.allstaticandnoise.com
More terrible news in a terrible year for museums. Especially disheartening given how hard Syrian museum authorities worked to protect the collections throughout the entire Syrian Civil War.
I hope the thieves are quickly caught and the statues returned.
I hope the thieves are quickly caught and the statues returned.
Authorities Probe Theft of Ancient Statues from National Museum of Damascus
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/11/auth...
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/11/auth...
Authorities Probe Theft of Ancient Statues from National Museum of Damascus
"A blog about art crimes, illicit trafficking, forgery, art theft and cultural heritage protection."
art-crime.blogspot.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:04 AM
More terrible news in a terrible year for museums. Especially disheartening given how hard Syrian museum authorities worked to protect the collections throughout the entire Syrian Civil War.
I hope the thieves are quickly caught and the statues returned.
I hope the thieves are quickly caught and the statues returned.
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
The problem of the decolonial lens the scholars in this article use is not only is it based on no evidence, it minimizes the agency of those it champions. The gem trade in Eurasia was thriving for millennia before the 19th century and did not need Europeans to develop it.
apnews.com/article/jewe...
apnews.com/article/jewe...
France mourns its stolen crown jewels as their uncomfortable colonial past returns to view
The theft of the Louvre's crown jewels has increased calls for the museum to be more transparent about the colonial origins of the treasures it displays.
apnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:22 AM
The problem of the decolonial lens the scholars in this article use is not only is it based on no evidence, it minimizes the agency of those it champions. The gem trade in Eurasia was thriving for millennia before the 19th century and did not need Europeans to develop it.
apnews.com/article/jewe...
apnews.com/article/jewe...
Nakadai's unmatched acting talent drove so much of Japan's great post-war cinema. "The Human Condition" trilogy, "Harakiri," "The Sword of Doom," "The Face of Another," "Kagemusha," "Ran"; the list goes on and on. A true legend of cinema has passed.
November 11, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Nakadai's unmatched acting talent drove so much of Japan's great post-war cinema. "The Human Condition" trilogy, "Harakiri," "The Sword of Doom," "The Face of Another," "Kagemusha," "Ran"; the list goes on and on. A true legend of cinema has passed.
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
Renowned actor Tatsuya Nakadai, best known for his role in Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran,” has died at the age of 92.
Renowned Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai dies at 92
The actor was best known for his role as an aging warlord in Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran.”
ebx.sh
November 11, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Renowned actor Tatsuya Nakadai, best known for his role in Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran,” has died at the age of 92.
The problem of the decolonial lens the scholars in this article use is not only is it based on no evidence, it minimizes the agency of those it champions. The gem trade in Eurasia was thriving for millennia before the 19th century and did not need Europeans to develop it.
apnews.com/article/jewe...
apnews.com/article/jewe...
France mourns its stolen crown jewels as their uncomfortable colonial past returns to view
The theft of the Louvre's crown jewels has increased calls for the museum to be more transparent about the colonial origins of the treasures it displays.
apnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:22 AM
The problem of the decolonial lens the scholars in this article use is not only is it based on no evidence, it minimizes the agency of those it champions. The gem trade in Eurasia was thriving for millennia before the 19th century and did not need Europeans to develop it.
apnews.com/article/jewe...
apnews.com/article/jewe...
Even a museum in Benin City not under the Oba's control is too much for his supporters. This is a result of the Nigerian State's foolish decision to give the Benin Bronzes to the descendant of slaver autocrats rather than holding them in trust for all Nigerians.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Protesters target major new Nigerian museum embroiled in looted artefacts row
Protest at Mowaa comes amid dispute over ownership of Benin bronzes looted by British colonial forces
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Even a museum in Benin City not under the Oba's control is too much for his supporters. This is a result of the Nigerian State's foolish decision to give the Benin Bronzes to the descendant of slaver autocrats rather than holding them in trust for all Nigerians.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
It is sad, but unsurprising, that the new head of UNESCO is one who presided over intentional cultural heritage destruction in Egypt. UNESCO from Azerbaijan to China ignores heritage destruction and States should view it as having little legitimacy.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
www.reuters.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 AM
It is sad, but unsurprising, that the new head of UNESCO is one who presided over intentional cultural heritage destruction in Egypt. UNESCO from Azerbaijan to China ignores heritage destruction and States should view it as having little legitimacy.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
Egypt has a gov't engaged in the destruction of disfavored heritage, in this case Islamic heritage. Perhaps el-Sisi's regime might stop destroying the heritage entrusted to it before baselessly claiming that which legally and ethically belongs to others.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...
November 8, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Egypt has a gov't engaged in the destruction of disfavored heritage, in this case Islamic heritage. Perhaps el-Sisi's regime might stop destroying the heritage entrusted to it before baselessly claiming that which legally and ethically belongs to others.
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
The organizer of the inaugural IndieChina Film Festival in New York said he was forced to cancel after facing a "relentless" pressure campaign, and that he may be unable to travel back to China.
"I did think it might be better here....It turns out I was wrong."
"I did think it might be better here....It turns out I was wrong."
Indie Chinese film festival in US canceled after pressure campaign
Organizer's reports of harassment echo other allegations of transnational repression
asia.nikkei.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:28 AM
The organizer of the inaugural IndieChina Film Festival in New York said he was forced to cancel after facing a "relentless" pressure campaign, and that he may be unable to travel back to China.
"I did think it might be better here....It turns out I was wrong."
"I did think it might be better here....It turns out I was wrong."
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
A unique fire worshipping scene for #BonfireNight 🔥
Reconstructing a wall painting from the Sogdian palace of Sanjar-Shah, Tajikistan reveals a procession of priests approaching a large fire altar, offering a rare insight into ancient fire worship.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Reconstructing a wall painting from the Sogdian palace of Sanjar-Shah, Tajikistan reveals a procession of priests approaching a large fire altar, offering a rare insight into ancient fire worship.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
November 5, 2025 at 8:13 AM
A unique fire worshipping scene for #BonfireNight 🔥
Reconstructing a wall painting from the Sogdian palace of Sanjar-Shah, Tajikistan reveals a procession of priests approaching a large fire altar, offering a rare insight into ancient fire worship.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Reconstructing a wall painting from the Sogdian palace of Sanjar-Shah, Tajikistan reveals a procession of priests approaching a large fire altar, offering a rare insight into ancient fire worship.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 640 others, as well as damaging the historic Blue Mosque, officials said. https://to.pbs.org/47HUdXL
Powerful 6.3 earthquake hits northern Afghanistan, killing 20 and damaging historic Blue Mosque
A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 640 others, as well as damaging the historic Blue Mosque, officials...
www.pbs.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:36 AM
A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 640 others, as well as damaging the historic Blue Mosque, officials said. https://to.pbs.org/47HUdXL
This sort of complicity with the Chinese state is in culture heritage orgs too. @combatlooting.bsky.social founder and chair Deborah Lehr was advising companies on how to do business in Xinjiang as late as 2021 and still publicly endorses Chinese heritage policies in the midst of cultural genocide.
November 4, 2025 at 2:25 AM
This sort of complicity with the Chinese state is in culture heritage orgs too. @combatlooting.bsky.social founder and chair Deborah Lehr was advising companies on how to do business in Xinjiang as late as 2021 and still publicly endorses Chinese heritage policies in the midst of cultural genocide.
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
Sheffield Hallam University complied with Beijing demand to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project on supply chains and forced labour being dropped. It was reinstated after threat of legal action but chilling effect remains www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Sheffield Hallam University complied with Beijing demand to halt research about human rights abuses in China, leading to a major project on supply chains and forced labour being dropped. It was reinstated after threat of legal action but chilling effect remains www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
US government allowed and even helped US firms sell tech used for surveillance in China, AP finds – AP: ‘China is getting around export bans on the sale of powerful American AI chips by renting them through U.S. cloud services instead.’
US government allowed and even helped US firms sell tech used for surveillance in China, AP finds
Even while warning about national security and human rights abuse, the U.S. government across five Republican and Democratic administrations has repeatedly allowed and even actively helped American fi...
apnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:13 PM
US government allowed and even helped US firms sell tech used for surveillance in China, AP finds – AP: ‘China is getting around export bans on the sale of powerful American AI chips by renting them through U.S. cloud services instead.’
A new heist at a far less famous museum than the Louvre, and of objects of smaller individual value, but given the scope of heritage stolen this is a terrible loss for both Oakland and California. Hopefully this theft will be treated with the gravity it warrants.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
'A real violation.' More than 1,000 artifacts stolen from California museum in brazen heist
Items stolen from the Oakland Museum of California included Native American baskets, jewelry, laptops, historic photographs and intricately carved ivory tusks.
www.latimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A new heist at a far less famous museum than the Louvre, and of objects of smaller individual value, but given the scope of heritage stolen this is a terrible loss for both Oakland and California. Hopefully this theft will be treated with the gravity it warrants.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
A flurry of videos shows Rapid Support Forces in Sudan carrying out extrajudicial killings and attacking apparent civilians fleeing North Darfur’s capital El Fasher following the takeover of the city by the RSF.
Urgent international action is needed.
Urgent international action is needed.
October 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
A flurry of videos shows Rapid Support Forces in Sudan carrying out extrajudicial killings and attacking apparent civilians fleeing North Darfur’s capital El Fasher following the takeover of the city by the RSF.
Urgent international action is needed.
Urgent international action is needed.
Reposted by Idanthyrsus
Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab says satellite images seem to show mass killings in Sudan's western city of el-Fasher.
Yale report finds evidence of RSF mass killings in Sudan’s el-Fasher
Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab says satellite images seem to show mass killings in Sudan's western city of el-Fasher.
bit.ly
October 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab says satellite images seem to show mass killings in Sudan's western city of el-Fasher.
Again the Louvre theft is framed with baseless claims that the jewelry was the product of colonialism in an attempt to downplay the crime. This time the claims are offered by someone who is self-described as being the author of revenge fantasies celebrating such acts. These are not serious people.
![It’s a real sense of entitlement,” she says. “Like, ‘These are our jewels, this is our heritage, of course these belong in our museum, and no one will try and take them from us.’ But they are the product of colonial empires. They were already stolen property. The idea that they [might be] dismantled and the jewels cut down and sold — there’s a symbolism to that.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6gatzrhocrdy2z6gs3whkfnj/bafkreichltuvs5rqcganx6uctkfxenqlpwjhvwuqenj5647xak4oac43di@jpeg)
October 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Again the Louvre theft is framed with baseless claims that the jewelry was the product of colonialism in an attempt to downplay the crime. This time the claims are offered by someone who is self-described as being the author of revenge fantasies celebrating such acts. These are not serious people.