Pot Theft (A Radiolab Adventure)

TL;DR

Writer and traveler Craig Childs shares his experience of witnessing looting and stealing ancient pottery, which prompted him to steal one item himself for preservation and reflection.

Transcript

I'm Craig Childs, I'm a writer and traveler from Western Colorado. Craig likes to go hiking and exploring in the rough and rugged canyons of the Southwest, the ancient territory of the Anasazi. But picture him just a few years ago, standing in a reading room. (Nowhere near the canyons) Right, in front of a display of ancient pottery. Inside the cab... Read More

Key Insights

• 🦛 Archaeological lootings and stealing of ancient artifacts are prevalent in the Southwest, with both archaeologists and pot hunters being involved.
• ❓ The stolen artifacts are often mishandled and poorly repaired before being sold or collected.
• 🥺 Witnessing the extensive looting can lead to frustration and a desire to preserve and protect the remaining artifacts.
• 🤨 Childs' decision to steal one jar raises ethical questions and introspection on the right approach to preserving artifacts.
• 🧑‍🏭 The act of stealing and returning the jar reflects a resistance against the disappearing artifacts and the legacy of looting.
• 🙈 Preservation through theft can be seen as a temporary solution to a larger problem of cultural heritage loss.
• 🛀 The hiding of the jar in an isolated alcove shows the importance of finding hidden, less accessible spots for preserving artifacts.

Questions & Answers

Q: What led Craig Childs to steal one of the ancient pottery jars?

Childs was frustrated by witnessing the complete looting of a landscape he had explored and felt the need to return something to the land as a form of preservation and resistance against the disappearing artifacts.

Q: How did Childs manage to steal the pottery without getting caught?

He waited for a moment when no one was in the reading room, used a glass cutter to remove the glass plate from the display case, and took one of the broken jars that had been split in half with a shovel.

Q: Did Childs have any doubts or conflicting thoughts about his actions?

Yes, Childs immediately questioned himself and acknowledged that he was stealing, similar to the looters, and putting his own interpretation of the right thing to do with the artifact.

Q: Where did Childs decide to hide the stolen pottery?

He climbed up a cliff face and placed the jar in a small alcove, hoping that it would go unnoticed for centuries.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Craig Childs encounters a display of ancient pottery that was looted from a part of Arizona where he had previously spent time exploring.

• The stolen artifacts were handled roughly and some were repaired with masking tape and glue.

• Frustrated with the looting, Childs breaks into the display case and steals one of the broken jars to put it back in its rightful place.