[ScreamingFist]

All are sources of treasures sought, found and preserved by Europeans, and of absolutely no value to the world's present stage of either civilization, societal maturity or technological excellence

Are you suggesting study of the past is not important? As far a no value, I'm sure many people would pay big to have King Tut's mask hanging on their living room wall.....;)

[Publius6961]

Are you suggesting study of the past is not important? As far a no value, I'm sure many people would pay big to have King Tut's mask hanging on their living room wall.....;)

Not in Egypt... or we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[Publius6961]

Are you suggesting study of the past is not important?

In most cases, that's exactly what I'm saying.
In these cases, the driving force is solely the artificial value induced on the artifacts by the "exploiters". The inhabitants of the original source of the objects have not suggested refunding even the intrinsic worth of the articles.