Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVII

3 0 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Nonetheless, Teller learned a great deal from the limited remains. For example, one of his goals was to study methods of construction and the architecture of tombs in different locations and from different eras. He also often took soil samples from inside the tombs to see how its mineral content might affect the corrosion of various metal artefacts. Many of these tombs were under water, in remote deserts, in caves, in mountains, deep underground, or occasionally highly disguised. During and because of such undertakings, he was most fortunate to have seen treasures and received scholarship that is generally unknown to the world. One significant example of this preservation and repatriation of history involved an imperial mausoleumof the Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE) along with related murals that weighed about 40 tons. Teller returned this incredible find to China after the original epitaph stone was found which gave the mausoleum a more complete context. Just as Jones searched in remote areas of the world, so too has Teller trekked to far-flung locations. Although the criteria for antiquities acquisition in Indy’s time were considerably different to today's, early in Teller's career, the world of ancient art and archaeology, the remoteness of certain tribal areas, and the means of travel between locations were all strikingly similar to those portrayed on the big screen. Through the decades Teller has purchased ancient treasures from shipwrecks in Indonesia and Malaysia, dismantled small abandoned temples in jungles and mountainous regions that otherwise would have simply disintegrated, and even recovered remnants of ancient palaces and temples that had been removed piece by piece throughout the centuries by locals for use architecturally in building their homes. In fact, Teller retrieved a great deal of art and antiquities in Java in the 1970s by ferreting out just such scattered pieces and by purchasing them from scavengers. After a revolution there in the 1960s led to the deaths or exile of many of the rich local Chinese populace, their abandoned belongings often ended up in various poor ghettos and remote villages. Donned in his signature dapper attire, Teller would stroll down the very densely populated, sewage-laden walkways with a smile on his face and an eye into each doorway, seeking these plundered antiques. Very soon a large crowd converged, as many had never seen a white westerner in their midst before. Upon seeing an old chair, table, or piece of porcelain, the devoted historian asked the current owners to bring the object out into the alleyway. He would then start to bargain for it. Within minutes people in the crowd would be yelling that “yes, my uncle has a similar piece," and the buying would continue from there. Consequently, many treasures were reclaimed from oblivion and returned to venues where they could be proudly displayed and appreciated, whilst the locals enjoyed the profit from their sales. Dealing with the headhunters in Indonesia during the 1970s required a bit more formality for Teller, even though that custom had recently been made illegal. However, to those indigenous peoples, the forbidden practice ultimately offered some interesting rewards. These headhunters thrived in deeply remote regions; thus, they often knew of artefacts and historical sites that would have been inaccessible without their permission and direction. China, however, with its continuous culture that spans millennia, proved even more rewarding personally, intellectually and emotionally. Here, Teller bought from people living in mud houses and wearing loincloths, as well as from descendants of royalty. That time in Indonesia and China in the decades that followed showed Teller countless cultures, confirmed that there was knowledge, beauty and truth that would amaze and enrich him for a lifetime, and inspired him to collate and condense this vast wealth of knowledge for future generations. Ultimately, Teller indulged his passion for history, culture and art by establishing an antiquities business based upon the treasures and creativity that China and its environs embodied. For all the colourful similarities between the fictional and real-life adventurer, many differences are also obvious. Teller has established an organisation that has devoted most of its research to the scientific authentication process, whereas Indiana Jones primarily robbed the tombs Double Dragon Torc Necklace Powerful, dynamic Scythian gold double dragon torc from Central Asia (2nd century BCE – 1st century CE). From TK Asian Antiquities collection