Month: August 2019

Patrimony Laws: A History of Preservation

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WASHINGTON, DC (August 29, 2019) — Today, the Antiquities Coalition launched a new interactive timeline to raise awareness of legal protections for cultural property throughout the Arab League. 

This unique tool, “Patrimony Laws: A History of Preservation,” chronicles over a century of domestic legislation in the Middle East and North Africa. It is intended to serve as a resource to all relevant stakeholders — from archaeologists, to art market actors, to those in law enforcement or government — so that they may better navigate the complexities of the antiquities trade. As it illustrates, the region’s governments have long sought to safeguard their rich cultural heritage from tomb raiders and art smugglers, a struggle that continues to this day due to the growing black market for ancient treasures. 

This timeline currently includes 55 laws from 19 jurisdictions and counting, with the earliest included thus far dating to 1891 in Egypt, and the most recent to 2018 in Palestine. Initially, it will focus on legal provisions controlling the ownership and export of antiquities, given their importance to the fight against cultural racketeering. With a simple scroll of the mouse, users can explore how these protections changed over the decades, and even centuries. When available, relevant excerpts are provided in English translation, as well as links to the full texts at the UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws.

The countries of the Arab League are the custodian of a priceless heritage, home to some of the world’s earliest civilizations and cities, the invention of writing and government, and the first recorded laws. This timeline illustrates how they have used the law to ensure their archaeological sites and antiquities are passed down to the next generation. We look forward to expanding this content over time to more legislation from more countries and encourage readers to help us improve it by submitting any missing information.

Note: This timeline does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice, nor is it a substitute for legal research. It is also a work in progress. It is important to note that in the region, ownership and export laws for cultural property predated those included thus far, for example in territory controlled by the Ottoman Empire. While most texts were pulled from the UNESCO Database, this reference includes both official and unofficial translations, so users should use care.

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About the Antiquities Coalition 

The Antiquities Coalition unites a diverse group of experts in the fight against cultural racketeering: the illicit trade in antiquities by organized criminals and terrorist organizations. This plunder for profit funds crime and conflict around the world—erasing our past and threatening our future. The Coalition’s innovative and practical solutions tackle crimes against heritage head on, empowering communities and countries in crisis. Learn more at theantiquitiescoalition.org. Follow us on Twitter @CombatLooting.

Media Contact

Albert Fujii, afujii@theantiquitiescoalition.org

Happy International Dog Day: Celebrating 84,000+ Dog Years of Human-Doggo Love

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© The Trustees of the British Museum

Right now, dogs are having a bit of a moment in popular culture. Dogs have dedicated social media accounts with massive followings, exclusive merchandise, and some dogs are even Instagram stars with brand sponsorship deals. But an interest in dogs and their various mishaps is by no means an exclusively modern phenomenon. In fact, dogs were domesticated an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. In honor of National Dog Day, here is a look back at ancient representations of dogs and their role in archaeology today.

Dogs have been getting themselves into sticky situations and sticking their noses—and paws—in places they don’t belong for thousands of years. A 21st century BCE clay brick found at a ziggurat at Ur, in what is now Iraq, has two perfectly preserved paw prints pressed into the side. Another brick from the same period, stamped with the name and titles of the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu, also has two paw prints. Nosy dogs were not confined to Mesopotamia, and Roman Britain had the same issue. Over 2,000 years ago, a dog walked over a Roman clay tile in what is now Leicester, leaving a trail of paw prints behind in the still-wet clay.

© Art Institute of Chicago

Beyond these accidental decorations, dogs have also been prominently (and intentionally) featured on ancient artifacts for millennia. The earliest depiction of dogs may be cave art found in Saudi Arabia. The scenes show a hunter surrounded by a pack of dogs, with what some experts believe to be either leashes or representations of the bond between the hunter and his dogs. Although there is still some debate on the exact age of the cave art, archaeologist Maria Gaugnin dates the scenes back to sometime between 9,000 and 8,000 BCE. Other interesting depictions of dogs include a 1st or 2nd century CE ceramic figure found in Mexico, a mosaic found in Pompeii with “beware of dog” written beneath the image, and a late 10th century CE jar from China.

Fast forward a few thousand years, and dogs are working to sniff out artifacts, not just decorate them. A recent collaboration between the University of Pennsylvania’s Working Dog Center and Red Arch aims to enlist dogs in the fight against the trafficking of stolen antiquities and cultural property. (See our previous blog post for more information on the K-9 Artifact Finders.) The dogs are being trained to detect the scent of ancient pottery, similarly to how dogs are trained to detect bombs or drugs. Right now, the program is still in Phase I, with dogs learning how to pick out the scent. If the dogs are successfully trained, the program hopes to deploy them to airports and shipping ports to detect smuggled artifacts in crates, luggage, and cargo shipments. 

From accidental brick decorators to works of art to anti-smuggling officers, these Very Good Dogs all deserve a rating of 12/10. 

United States and Algeria Strengthen Joint Fight Against Cultural Racketeering

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WASHINGTON, DC (August 15, 2019) — The Antiquities Coalition applauds the United States and Algeria for today signing an agreement to strengthen their law enforcement cooperation against the looting and trafficking of ancient art and artifacts.

“Today, Algeria has welcomed a new era of international cooperation in protecting its cultural heritage and sharing it with the world,” said Deborah Lehr, Chairman of the Antiquities Coalition. “With leadership from the State Department, the United States has demonstrated respect for Algeria, as well as our country’s desire to work with global partners to end cultural racketeering.”

The agreement, signed today in a ceremony at the State Department by Assistant Secretary of State Marie Royce and Algerian Minister of Culture Meriem Merdaci, commits both countries to combating the illicit trade. It moreover closes U.S. borders to illegally acquired or exported Algerian antiquities. The agreement will also open new opportunities for responsible cultural exchange between the two nations, such as traveling exhibitions, museum loans, and research projects.

Algeria is internationally celebrated for its rich heritage, from prehistoric rock art, to Roman ruins, Islamic forts, and Ottoman palaces. The country is home to seven World Heritage Sites recognized as having “outstanding universal value,” as well as leading museums. However, in recent years, thieves and traffickers have increasingly targeted sites and collections. Experts fear that some looted and stolen pieces may be marketed to unsuspecting collectors in the United States, the world’s largest art market.  

Today’s signing is the 19th such agreement between the United States and a partner nation on cultural heritage protection. They are negotiated with requesting nations by the State Department after advice from the presidentially-appointed Cultural Property Advisory Committee.  

The Antiquities Coalition’s community of scholars, museums, educational institutions, and responsible art market actors commends both countries for their actions today, and urges other countries to seek similar agreements. We likewise call on members of the international community concerned with heritage preservation to join in support of Algeria’s protection initiatives.

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About the Antiquities Coalition 

The Antiquities Coalition unites a diverse group of experts in the fight against cultural racketeering, the illicit trade in antiquities by organized criminals and terrorist organizations. This plunder for profit funds crime and conflict around the world—erasing our past and threatening our future. The Coalition’s innovative and practical solutions tackle crimes against heritage head on, empowering communities and countries in crisis. Learn more at theantiquitiescoalition.org. Follow us on Twitter @CombatLooting.

Media Contact

Albert Fujii, afujii@theantiquitiescoalition.org