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SUMMARY:Colonial Legacies and the Fragmentation of African Archaeological 
 Heritage: The Case of Almoravid Coins - Jeanette Plummer Sires
DTSTART:20241105T130000Z
DTEND:20241105T140000Z
UID:TALK222865@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Gonzalo J. Linares Matás
DESCRIPTION:This talk explores how the colonial acquisition and commodific
 ation of Almoravid coins have complicated efforts to study and preserve Af
 rican archaeological material. Using Almoravid gold dinars as a case study
 \, I examine the enduring impacts of colonial-era collecting practices on 
 modern museums\, private collections\, and auction houses. While these coi
 ns offer significant insights into trans-Saharan trade networks and Islami
 c West Africa\, their fragmented dispersal across global institutions and 
 private ownership has obscured their provenance\, hindering meaningful res
 earch.\n\nThrough an analysis of museum catalogues\, auction records\, and
  provenance gaps in prominent institutions such as the British Museum and 
 Fitzwilliam Museum\, I demonstrate how colonial forces have not only strip
 ped African artefacts of their historical context but continue to do so th
 rough opaque acquisition practices and the commercialization of African he
 ritage. The talk also addresses the challenges of repatriation\, highlight
 ing the financial and institutional barriers that prevent African nations 
 from reclaiming their cultural heritage in the global art market.\n\nBy si
 tuating Almoravid coins within the broader conversation on decolonization\
 , this presentation underscores the importance of ethical museum practices
 \, transparent provenance research\, and the need for equitable collaborat
 ion between African and Western institutions to ensure African heritage is
  preserved and studied within its proper context.\n\nTeams Link: https://t
 eams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ap30TR_XT0paZImn_9u48xGmQW632DVb_5DPl
 6N-Bl7A1%40thread.tacv2/1728918612567?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2249a50445-b
 dfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%223efd23dd-fbe0-4fb1-be2a-88e
 818d43168%22%7d
LOCATION:Garrod Seminar Room\, MacDonald Institute for Archaeological Rese
 arch
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