Do you think that my Father can get in trouble for having this statue?

Question

In the early 60's my father did some work for U of MD in Pakistan in a back providence that was just reseach on some deseases. While there he helped out an old man on the street who turned out to be a good friend of the local Prince. The Prince invited my Dad up to his home Inot quit a polace) and gave him and his other scientist dinner to express his thanks. The Prince decided he really liked my Dad and gave him a little statue that my Dad thought had been made by a local craftsman. Years later he had an arceologist friend tell him it was a small head of Julius Ceasur and looked to be about 2000 yrs old. I know you are not supposed to take such things out of other countries but will this be the same thing were the ruler of the area gave it to him as a gift? Not taking it would have been a very bad thing as this Prince had a reputation for being very fickil.

Answer 1

They don't have princes and kings in pakistan for a while now,  the mogul empire ended when the british took over.  Even if someone was a prince they didn't have much left, the brits took it all. And if they had any thing of value they needed it for themselves for obvious reasons. I find it hard to believe cause their art does not include statues most of the time. It is like saying hey we found roman statue in an indian temple.  Because of the religious uproar after the brit or even pre brit mogul empire erased all the traces ariyan invasion. The indopak subcontinent went through a lot turmoil over the years not a whole seems to survive it.

Answer 2

I certainly wouldn't loose any sleep over it.

Answer 3

Where is your father now?

In the USA?

Check with a lawyer.

Answer 4

Im an archaeologist in the UK and although I completely disagree with the dispersal of cultural remains throughout the world, I doubt if the statue your father recieved was 2000yrs old. How could the Archaeologist friend tell? The only sure way of dating ancient artefacts is to actually find them in association with datable objects like coins or pottery. THat statue could have been carved anytime.

Answer 5

Suggest that he put in his will that it be donated to a suitable museum, or to you, who can have it examined and see how old it really is, and where would be the best place for it.

Answer 6

No, "It was a gift from royalty" The most trouble he would be in, is if small minded thieves, hearing the story, came in to rob it. No matter what, the story is interesting in itself.

Answer 7

who's going to turn him in? How my acheologist friends does he have come over for dinner, and ask, "where'd ya get that from?" chances are you are mistaken about it's origins, forgein goverments have severe customs security. I recently read about a Jewish tomb that was being watched to prevent robbers. When the robbers came, no questions...the security just shot everyone! If you do have a treasure, good for you! But, who's going to prove it for you? Alot of fakes come out of tombs, even good enough to fool museums...take the Roman statue "Kronos" for example in sat in the Louve in paris, and it is a FAKE!