[meteorite-list] Thuathe Meteorite in Lesotho

From: Ronnie McKenzie <ronniem_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:25:45 2004
Message-ID: <OBEIKIAHBLONPDAGKDHHKEEECEAA.ronniem_at_wrp.co.za>

I recently read an email on this meteorite mailing list posted by Mr Farmer
concerning the low prices that had been paid by certain local collectors in
Lesotho for the highly prized Thuathe meteorite and that they had "cheated"
the locals by paying too little. Since the local collectors concerned do
not have access to the internet and were not aware of what was being said
behind their backs I would like to respond on their behalf.

Firstly there were at least two groups buying material for many months prior
to the first visit of Mr Farmer - namely from Bloenfontein University and
Lesotho University. As correctly indicated in the article, one of the best
pieces was purchased from a local for the amount of $40 and then resold for
a much higher amount of $7000. In Mr Farmer's article he criticises the
local buyers for paying way below the real value and "cheating" the poor
villagers. While the figures quoted in the article do suggest underpayment,
they do not tell the whole story and only provide half the picture. The
local collectors (Mr Ashworth and Professor Ambrose) had no idea of the
value of the Thuathe meteorite when they were buying it between July 2002
and February 2003. Without knowing the value, they basically paid
whatever the locals asked for and simply kept and catalogued all the pieces
for scientific interest never intending to sell them.

Following the first material being sent to the USA and the subsequent visit
by an American "recovery team", things happened very quickly and prices
immediately increased to more than 10 times the previous price. This made
Prof Ambrose and Mr Ashworth look very bad in the eyes of the locals they
had been working with for many years. Mr Ashworth was threatened with
violence on several occasions shortly after Mr Farmer's visit despite the
fact he had been providing food and clothes to the locals for several years
during his stay in Lesotho.

Contrary to the claims that they cheated the locals, they have in fact
ploughed most of the proceeds from the Thuathe sales back into the
community - this is the main omission from the recent criticism which I
believe should be answered. I know both Prof.Ambrose and Mr Ashworth
personally and know them to be very charitable individuals. Prof Ambrose
has in fact donated Thuathe material to the local museum,paid for extensions
to the local school and set up a trust fund for R98 000 to assist scholars
in paying their tuition fees. In total more than $20 000 has been raised and
returned to the local community from the sale of the Thuathe meteorite.
With regard to the finder of the large piece (later sold for $7000), he was
given an additional payment by Prof Ambrose who was never trying to cheat
anyone.

Hopefully the above facts can help set the record straight.


Ronnie Mckenzie
Received on Wed 28 May 2003 07:58:56 AM PDT