Robert Westmacott and Crimean archaeology
Life & Times | Art - Lithographs | Art - Sketchbooks | Crimean archaeology 1855-6 | Mauritius & South Africa 1825-8 | South America 1851 & 1858 | New Zealand 1840 Illawarra's Indiana Jones The Crimean War adventures of Lt. Col. Robert Marsh Westmacott FGS FRGS The Indiana Jones movies (1981-2023) are iconic representations of the long-held Western tradition whereby a lone archaeologist seeks out ancient treasures from distant lands and brings them "home" to museums and galleries for display and "protection" from grave robbers and mercenary charlatans like themselves. As we look back in time, and proclaim harsh judgement on such activities, the irony here is profound. But let us not slip into that modern default. Rather than looking through a glass darkly, in travelling back to the past we should seek to become au fait with who such adventurers were, and why they did what they did; not layer that past with w...