Copper mining will crush ancient Afghan site

[xchrom]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-archeology-20110712,0,1533902.story

Reporting from Mes Aynak, Afghanistan—
The ruins poke out of a monotonous stretch of scrub and beckon the world to visit Afghanistan as it was more than 1,400 years ago, when Buddhist monasteries dotted the landscape.

An ancient citadel juts from a tall crag, standing sentinel over what once was a flourishing settlement. The monastery sits largely preserved, as does a series of reliquaries adorned with schist arches and shelves.

But few people today will have a chance to see these ruins, which French and Afghan archaeologists are unearthing.

Sometime soon, perhaps in as little as 14 months, the sprawling, 9,800-acre Mes Aynak site will be crushed by Chinese bulldozers hunting for copper — a clear choice of economic development over historic preservation in a country trying to overcome decades of war, religious extremism and occupation.



Afghan archaeologist Abdul Qadir Temory stands at Mes Aynak near an ancient reliquary. The area was the site of a Buddhist monastery settlement in eastern Afghanistan more than 1,400 years ago. The ruins will be demolished once copper mining begins. (Alex Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times / July 12, 2011)

[RC]

1. Talk about your obscenities.

What is wrong with some people?

[xchrom]

2. makes me feel very bad for afghanistan.

they are eating their own history -- of course with a lot of help from others.

[slipslidingaway]

3. knr :( n/t

[Citizen Worker]

4. The search for profits will eagerly sacrifice history. Please don't let this happen.

[trud]

5. China

is also taking over vast tracts of land in South America.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. they recently found...

that Afghanistan was chock full of a bunch of precious metals- we won't be leaving anytime soon.