The looting of archaeological sites in south Asia is an irreparable loss to archaeologists, whose work depends on understanding not just the individual artifact(s) but the wider historical context within which they were located. As such, the removal of these items from their original contexts, often to private collections, not only causes us to lose information about their cultural associations, but also limits their access to scholarly study. Moreover, we need to remember that many artifacts, such as temple sculptures for instance, hold great meaning for the people who live around (and often on!) these ancient sites. While this incident in New York represents a dramatic and unusually large example of looting, the despoilment of ancient places in south Asia is unfortunately an ongoing problem that has a long history, despite Government of India laws that prohibit the export of artifacts.
Dr. Uthara Suvrathan, Cornell Institute of Archaeology and Material Studies (CIAMS), is an expert in the archaeology and history of South Asia. She conducts archaeological research in the region and is interested in issues of cultural heritage preservation.