Conversation

When Conquistadors stole Aztec gold — which largely came in the form of cultural artifacts or religious items — they often melted it down into simple, crude even, gold bars for easier transport:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gold-bar-once-belonged-aztec-emperor-moctezuma-180973959/

After all, they were not interested in the cultural and religious significance of these items. They just wanted the gold, which they could easily sell to others.

By reducing it to the raw material they destroyed the cultural and historical context. We are all poorer for it.

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