The Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Baden-Württemberg just published a leaflet with guidelines on how to deal with metal detectorists or people carrying out illegal excavations. It includes the definitions of Raubgräber (someone excavating without permission) and Sondengänger (metal detectorists), and the current legal background in Baden-Württemberg. It is in any case suggested to call the police…
Our committee is now also officially contributing to the ICOM International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods! But why? Every day, somewhere in the world, an object is either stolen or looted in order to be illegally sold on the market. Illicit trafficking in works of art and cultural property has become a serious…
The Model Export Certificate for Cultural Objects was jointly prepared by the Secretariats of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), cooperating to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property. It is specially adapted to the increasing phenomenon of cross border movements of the cultural objects. Knowing that…
The European Commission has proposed 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage. The final decision now lies with the European Parliament and the Council. Because cultural heritage is so central to Europe’s identity and due to the grave threats it faces in conflict zones, the European Commission considers that the time is right to…
Selling or moving a work out of Germany has just become a lot more difficult. The German parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday (23.06.2016) passed a new law that will closely regulate the international sale of art and artifacts deemed to be of significant cultural value. As for ancient archeological treasures, a permit will be required…
A controversial new law protecting cultural artifacts was passed in Germany in August. Assyriologist Markus Hilgert tells DW it is a vital update for the preservation of archaeological treasures from the Middle East. read more
Cyprus plans to organise a series of activities that would kick-start a new criminal law convention to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, during its Presidency of the Council of Europe, between November 2016 to May 2017, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said. read more
Italy’s art historians, firefighters and special police scamble to rescue quake-stricken Amatrice’s heritage. The central Italian town of Amatrice is still a mess of toppled buildings and rubble. Buried there are centuries worth of art and artifacts. read more
In the Middle East and North Africa, terrorist organizations target ancient relics and sites for loot to finance their operations. In Latin America, drug cartels and other organized crime groups use the antiquities black market to launder money. Across the West, looted artifacts appear in private collections and museums. In the past year, a coordinated…
An event at the U.N. with French President Francois Holland unveiled his country’s plan for preserving the cultural heritage of religious minorities. read more
EAA-Community on the Illicit Trade in Cultural Material 