Latest News
Andy Hayler R.I.P.
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of Andy Hayler, our former member, on April 3. He had spent almost 20 years fighting his own illness. Ultimately, he died in hospital after a very short illness related to a chest infection, but his...
None of the world’s top authorities able to supply accurate global data on cultural goods trafficking
Despite myriad figures for illicit trade worth billions or even tens of billions of dollars, no one can point to any reliable source for claims A survey of a dozen of the world’s top law enforcement agencies and government departments has revealed that none of them...
How the BBC helped Ittai Gradel crack the British Museum thefts – Chalke Valley Festival revelations
On June 25, The Chalke Valley History Festival played host to a BBC seminar on the thefts from the British Museum. BBC Culture Editor Katies Razzall and her team of investigators shared a platform with whistleblower Dr Ittai Gradel in front of a packed audience as they told the tale of how the thefts came to light and Dr Gradel’s pivotal role in exposing them.
Latest Views
The real cultural heritage rift that all stakeholders need to heal
Academic and cultural institutions, as well as governments, continue to look down on the art market – it’s unfair and is in no one’s interest Provenance and Due Diligence have become the critical factors in assessing cultural goods in recent years. Theft, trafficking,...
Lost Horizon – what is all this E.U. funding for?
Countless millions are spent investigating cultural property trafficking to little effect Preventing trafficking in cultural goods is a major preoccupation of the European Union. It is one of the key objectives of the constantly updating anti-money laundering...
Who is really digging a hole for themselves with this attack on amateur metal detectorists?
Academic archaeologists scorn metal detectorists and are outraged at one of their own putting a hoard up for auction. But they do not have a monopoly on ethics when it comes to cultural property and overlook the major contribution that amateurs make to our understanding of the past. It’s time they revised their opinions.