Artifact Looting, Theft and Smuggling
Laws protecting the cultural heritage of the world are being broken every day by smugglers who deliver ancient artifacts to private collectors. The lust for the possession of ancient objects increases the profits for looting archaeological sites; and thus our collective heritage is being destroyed.
International Trade in Looted Antiquities
Karen Olsen Bruhns is an archaeologist and part time US customs officer, assisting with the retrieval of stolen international artifacts and the identification of looters. www.plunderedpast.com is a commentary from her on the prevalence of pot-hunting.
Karen Olsen Bruhns is an archaeologist and part time US customs officer, assisting with the retrieval of stolen international artifacts and the identification of looters. www.plunderedpast.com is a commentary from her on the prevalence of pot-hunting.
Bahrani on the Artifact Looting in Iraq
A quote from Zainab Bahrani's 2004 article in Natural History on artifact looting from the Iraq Museum called "Lawless in Mesopotamia."
A quote from Zainab Bahrani's 2004 article in Natural History on artifact looting from the Iraq Museum called "Lawless in Mesopotamia."
Black Earth, Black Archaeology, Black Times
An article in TOL reports on looting from archaeological sites in Ukraine, which has become widespread in the country.
An article in TOL reports on looting from archaeological sites in Ukraine, which has become widespread in the country.
Casualties of War: The Truth about the Iraq Museum
An editorial in the American Journal of Archaeology about the looting of the Iraq museum, by Matthew Bogdanos.
An editorial in the American Journal of Archaeology about the looting of the Iraq museum, by Matthew Bogdanos.
Colin Renfrew Names Museums
Distinguished University of Cambridge Colin Renfrew accuses the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Getty Museum of knowingly purchasing artifacts looted from archaeological sites, in this story from the Daily Pennsylvanian.
Distinguished University of Cambridge Colin Renfrew accuses the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Getty Museum of knowingly purchasing artifacts looted from archaeological sites, in this story from the Daily Pennsylvanian.
Context is Everything: Antique Roadshow Ethics
In 2000, the American version of Antiques Roadshow committed a serious faux pas by archaeological lights when it featured artifacts looted from an archaeological site.
In 2000, the American version of Antiques Roadshow committed a serious faux pas by archaeological lights when it featured artifacts looted from an archaeological site.
Karen Olsen Bruhns, Customs Agent
The following article is from Karen Olsen Bruhns, full time academic archaeologist at San Francisco State University and part time United States customs agent, working to retrieve looted artifacts and stop smugglers.
The following article is from Karen Olsen Bruhns, full time academic archaeologist at San Francisco State University and part time United States customs agent, working to retrieve looted artifacts and stop smugglers.
Looting Frustrated by Vanderbilt Professor
An article in the Tennesseean discusses how quick work by Arthur Demarest at Vanderbilt University and the National Geographic Society have tracked down a 600-pound stela looted from a Maya site in Guatemala.
An article in the Tennesseean discusses how quick work by Arthur Demarest at Vanderbilt University and the National Geographic Society have tracked down a 600-pound stela looted from a Maya site in Guatemala.
Looting Matters!
The material and intellectual consequences of collecting antiquities; an online resource on artifact looting from Christopher Chippendale and David Gill.
The material and intellectual consequences of collecting antiquities; an online resource on artifact looting from Christopher Chippendale and David Gill.
Looting
Artifact looting is one of the scourges of archaeology today; and it's not likely to go away soon.
Artifact looting is one of the scourges of archaeology today; and it's not likely to go away soon.
Lost Treasures from Iraq
In the days and weeks following the conquest of Baghdad by the United States, the Iraqi Museum was looted of many of the treasures belonging to the heritage of the peoples of Iraq. This site from the Oriental Institute provides information on over 1000 missing artifacts, including images of the looted sites.
In the days and weeks following the conquest of Baghdad by the United States, the Iraqi Museum was looted of many of the treasures belonging to the heritage of the peoples of Iraq. This site from the Oriental Institute provides information on over 1000 missing artifacts, including images of the looted sites.
Return of a Golden Treasure
A piece of Moche art looted from an archaeological site in Peru was returned to its rightful owners, with a healthy assistance from the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
A piece of Moche art looted from an archaeological site in Peru was returned to its rightful owners, with a healthy assistance from the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
The 2003 Iraq War and Archaeology
Archaeologist Francis Deblauwe details looting in Iraq following the Iraq war of 2003.
Archaeologist Francis Deblauwe details looting in Iraq following the Iraq war of 2003.
The Casualties of War: The Truth About the Iraq Museum
From Matthew Bogdanos in the the American Journal of Archaeology, a report on the current status of the looting in the Iraq Museum since the coalition forces arrived in April 2003.
From Matthew Bogdanos in the the American Journal of Archaeology, a report on the current status of the looting in the Iraq Museum since the coalition forces arrived in April 2003.
The Looting Question
Hugh Jarvis's comprehensive bibliography of information about looting and artifact smuggling.
Hugh Jarvis's comprehensive bibliography of information about looting and artifact smuggling.
The Modern Sack of Nineveh
Archaeology looting of Iraq's treasures is not new, as is attested in this 1996 article from Archaeology magazine.
Archaeology looting of Iraq's treasures is not new, as is attested in this 1996 article from Archaeology magazine.
The Spoils of War
In a ghastly reliving of the old days, only this time in front of television cameras and live satellite feeds, the wholesale looting of the National Museum of Iraq took place over this past weekend. Unlike Schliemann's collection, it is unknown if the priceless cultural heritage of Iraq will ever see the light of day again.
In a ghastly reliving of the old days, only this time in front of television cameras and live satellite feeds, the wholesale looting of the National Museum of Iraq took place over this past weekend. Unlike Schliemann's collection, it is unknown if the priceless cultural heritage of Iraq will ever see the light of day again.
www.plunderedpast.com
From guest writer Karen Olsen-Bruhns, a commentary on the burgeoning electronic antiquities market.
From guest writer Karen Olsen-Bruhns, a commentary on the burgeoning electronic antiquities market.