Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime

The devastation caused by the trafficking of illicit antiquities and the theft of art has gained widespread public attention in recent years. Confronted with the pock-marked “lunar landscapes” of archaeological sites in Iraq and Syria, freshly decapitated Buddha sculptures in Cambodia and empty frames on the walls of museums, we face a difficult question: how do we protect our heritage from theft, illegal sale, and destruction? In Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime we will tackle this question together. Shed light on the grey market for stolen art On this free online course, taught by researchers from the Trafficking Culture international research consortium and hosted by the University of Glasgow, you will gain a better understanding of: the criminal networks that engage in antiquities trafficking and art crime; the harmful effects that these phenomena have on communities and society as a whole; and what scholars, police, and lawmakers are doing to protect our heritage. By combining cutting-edge research in the fields of criminology, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, art history, museums studies, and law, we will shed light on the grey market for stolen art. Learn how and why art is stolen, trafficked, found, and returned In Week 1, we will track how ancient artefacts are looted from archaeological sites, trafficked across multiple international borders, and end up in the possession of some of the world’s most respectable museums and collectors. In Week 2, we will learn about crimes of fine art: heists, fakes, and vandalism. In Week 3, we will discuss the ethical, legal, and emotional issues associated with the return of stolen cultural objects. Art and antiquities represent our collective cultural identity and crimes against art affect all of us. When an artefact is looted or an artwork is stolen, we have ALL been robbed. We must work together to protect our heritage before it is too late. Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime is a great first step. If you want to find out more about the financial implications of art crime, have a look at this blog post from Meg Lambert: Does art crime pay? 5 stolen artefacts and what they sold for.

• Donna Yates