Advocacy

December 21, 2023

Preserving Algeria and India



Your experience matters! Join our letter writing campaign to save a place you love.

Algeria has recently requested that the U.S. renew the bilateral agreement that protects their cultural resources from being illegally imported into the United States, and India has requested a brand new agreement. If you appreciate the cultural heritage of Algeria and/or India, you can help preserve the past now.

  • We held a live webinar on the archaeology of Algeria and India on January 10 that included a whirlwind tour of the two countries’ sites and cultural heritage given by experts in each region. If you couldn’t make the webinar, check out the video on our YouTube page!
  • Write a letter of support for the renewal of US bilateral agreements to prohibit the illegal importation of cultural resources from Algeria and/or India in advance of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee’s winter meeting
    • Deadline: January 22, 2024

Write a Letter of Support 

If you’ve previously traveled to Algeria or India or enjoyed museum exhibits or presentations from scholars from those countries, your experiences can help the U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) with its upcoming deliberations that will help safeguard archaeological sites and objects there. 

Note: January 22 deadline to submit letters of support is approaching fast!

Scroll down to see our letter templates and watch our YouTube video where AIA Director of Programs Meredith Langlitz discusses easy and effective strategies for crafting powerful letters of support for the U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

Learn more about how you can be important part of the renewal process.

What is the U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee and how can I help?

The U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) makes recommendations to the President about bilateral cultural property agreements between the United States and nations seeking to protect their archaeological objects from looting and illegal export. Before recommending that bilateral agreements be signed or renewed, CPAC reviews written testimony from constituents to determine whether countries are doing their part to protect their archaeological heritage and participate in cultural exchange. This is where you come in! Your experiences can provide the committee with valuable input as they consider import restrictions and arrangements that will protect vulnerable and irreplaceable archaeological sites. 

Further information from the State Department about how to submit letters via regulations.gov for the upcoming CPAC meeting is available. 

To submit comments: For general comments, use regulations.gov, enter the docket [DOS-2023-0040-0001], and follow the prompts.

Letter Templates

STEP 1: Introduce yourself and talk about your connection to Algeria / India

  • Have you ever studied the heritage of Algeria / India or are they on your list of destinations to visit one day?
  • Have you enjoyed the cultural experience of visiting sites or museums in Algeria / India?
  • Have you participated in formal or informal travel or study in Algeria / India (organized tour, study tour, course program, field school, Fulbright, etc.)?
  • Have you participated in an excavation in Algeria / India?
  • Have you heard a lecture delivered by an archaeologist from Algeria / India at a conference, your institution, or local AIA society?
  • Have you heard a lecture, podcast, video delivered by an American archaeologist who works in Algeria / India?

EXAMPLES:
 
Dear Members of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee,

SAMPLE 1: I am a member of the Boulder Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, as well as an avid international traveler and museum goer, and archaeological enthusiast. Although I am now an investment banker, I developed a love of the past at an early age. I have traveled to Algeria / India on three occasions, both as an individual traveler and as a member of an organized tour group. These vital cultural experiences are unforgettable….

SAMPLE 2: I am writing as President of the Dallas/Fort Worth Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, with its 100 members of academics, archaeological professionals, teachers, and the interested public. As enthusiasts of the ancient past, we enjoy learning about new archaeological research through our society lectures and are avid travelers….

SAMPLE 3: I am an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, who has participated in fieldwork and study tours in Algeria / India; I am also an avid student of ancient art. These experiences have highlighted for me the critical importance of archaeological context in our understanding of the ancient world from objects large and small….

SAMPLE 4: I am a faculty member at Swarthmore College who has been conducting archaeological fieldwork in Algeria / India for over two decades. Over these years, I have trained more than one hundred American students in the techniques of archaeological excavation and have introduced students to the cultural heritage of the country through organized tours to well preserved museums and sites….

STEP 2: Share your experiences to illustrate what Algeria / India are doing to protect their archaeological heritage and to encourage cultural exchange

  • Are the sites you have visited well preserved and protected? Do they explain the value of Algerian / Indian heritage?
  • Are you aware of outreach efforts to educate the public on the importance of preserving archaeological heritage?
    • Have you seen signs warning against collection of antiquities at sites or warning against export of antiquities at airports?
  • Has Algeria / India been hospitable to American archaeologists by granting excavation, museum, or other heritage research permits, etc.
    • Have you participated in research or excavation at an archaeological site in Algeria / India?
  • Have you been on a tour of Algeria / India, conducted research there, or heard lectures about the heritage of these regions? 

GIVE THEM SOME SPECIFICS—Examples:

SAMPLE 1: [Include specific stories or memorable cultural experiences about your travels: Were sites well protected (did you see guards or notices about the collection of archaeological material)? Were the sites well presented to the public (what did you learn from the signage or local guides?). Also mention cultural value of lectures you’ve heard by Algerian / Indian archaeologists or scholars with research projects in Algeria / India.]

SAMPLE 2:  [Include specific examples of recent AIA lectures that have addressed recent fieldwork in Algeria / India; personal stories of the cultural experiences your members have gained by visiting well protected sites and museums in that State, etc.]. These can be compiled from society members into a single letter and attached to individual names (e.g. Local member Sarah Peterson recalls, “…”; Jorge Gomez writes, “…”).

SAMPLE 3: [Include specific examples or stories about fieldwork experiences; a memorable site or museum visit; public lectures you have heard about Algerian / Indian archaeology by Algerian / Indian archaeologists or academics with research projects there; or a moment that led to your awareness of the importance of archaeological context]

SAMPLE 4: [Include specific examples or stories about successful collaborations or looting activity connected to your fieldwork; a memorable site or museum visit; a student comment (‘the experience was life-changing’).]

STEP 3: Express your support for the bilateral agreement

Examples:

SAMPLE 1: I strongly support the efforts of the Algerian / Indian government to impose import restrictions on archaeological materials coming to the U.S. This is one pragmatic step that we can take to support Algeria / India’s efforts to sustain and protect its cultural heritage.

SAMPLE 2: We strongly support the efforts of the Algerian / Indian government to impose import restrictions on archaeological materials coming to the U.S. Through such restrictions, we can help to prevent the destruction of irreplaceable knowledge about the ancient world.

SAMPLE 3: I strongly support the efforts of the Algerian / Indian government to impose import restrictions on archaeological materials coming to the U.S. Through such restrictions, we can help Algeria / India to protect its cultural heritage and prevent the destruction of irreplaceable knowledge about the past.

That’s it! To submit your letter go to regulations.gov, enter the docket [DOS-2023-0040-0001], and follow the prompts.

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