Possession is Nine-Tenths by Elsi Vassdal Ellis

This is a second book in the Desert Dreams: Explorations & Excavations of HK 30-volume boxed set. This volume acknowledges that in some parts of the world you cannot turn around without walking over artifacts of ancient history. As an archaeologist, HK seeks artifacts within their context to infer the details and nuances of a culture. Who owns what is a major point if discussion between countries liberated of their historical wealth and the public and private collectors as well as museums that house (and protect) them. Without such plundering, many artifacts may have been lost or destroyed, as evidenced by the actions of ISIS at Nimrud and years ago, the Taliban at Bamiyan. This is part of HK's private collection: restrung ancient beads, a tile from the emperor's feasting hall representing Justice found in Shahbah (ancient Philippopolis founded by Philip the Arab, 232 AD), a pottery shard without provenance, a small clay tablet without provenance. These artifacts reflect what I would collect.