I figured for this digital assignment, I would tell the story of someone not unlike myself. I’ve always, admittedly, after watching Raiders of the Lost Arc for the first time, been enamored with archaeology and the mysteries of the past. Of course, this was pure fiction, but the idea of traveling the world, navigating jungles and deserts, and uncovering mysterious relics remains something truly captivating. So of course, when I got that little Andean figurine, I had to incorporate it into this film. Believe it or not, those opening scenes of Indiana Jones are set in the jungles of Peru!
Another movie I wanted to pay homage to is The Exorcist. In that film, the curse is sparked by an archaeological finding not unlike that of The Exorcist. I interpreted that, as any audience member might, as a warning of the export of cultural resources and the importance of not disturbing artifacts where they may be found. But with research, it turns out, the statue of that demon, known as Pazuzu, isn’t actually a demon at all. I read a very interesting article by the Met about Pazuzu, which states that his true role was as a protector, not a demonic possessor of random humans.
So while the Arc and Pazuzu remind us not to steal what isn’t ours, or to meddle in what we do not understand, they also speak to the disconnect that can be present between the archaeological community and the resources they study. Indiana Jones, in Raiders, is first made iconic by looting a sacred site and fleeing the natives. While he is preventing powerful objects from falling into the hands of the Nazis, the principle is the same. Pazuzu, by virtue of the region from which he hails and his appearance, is dubbed a demon. Do ancient artifacts carry curses? Certainly not, but cultural meaning, willful ignorance, and the results of the context in which they are unearthed definitely can.