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This book examines the illicit trade in antiquities, a trade which has increased massively following the destruction and looting of ancient Near Eastern sites in the Middle East. Focusing on the distribution networks for looted antiquities, especially the routes to the West, the book considers the dealers and facilitators who are key in getting the objects to market, explores the methods used including online marketplaces and social media sites, analyses demand and buyers, revealing that objects are often available at very affordable prices. It outlines the efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the military, and legal systems to contain the trade. Throughout the book highlights the difficulties of putting a stop to this illicit trade, particularly in a conflict region.
List of contents
Part I: Setting the Context Introduction Louise Shelley and Layla Hashemi 1. The Looting and Trafficking of Syrian Antiquities Since 2011 Neil Brodie 2. Hobby Lobby, the Museum of the Bible, and the Law: A Case Study of the Looting of Archaeological Artifacts from Iraq Patty Gerstenblith 3. The Hearing Hand: Scribes and Seal Cutters in the Ancient Near East Ira Spar and Antonietta Catanzariti Part II: The Illicit Antiquities Trade 4. Antiquities Trafficking from Syria along the Northern Route Mahmut Cengiz 5. The Value of Financial Investigations in the Battle Against Artifact Smuggling Michael Loughnane 6. Working a Case on Looted and Smuggled Ancient Coins as an Expert Witness Nathan Elkins Part III: Antiquities Trade in the Cyberworld 7. Plenitudinous: An Analysis of Ancient Coin Sales on eBay Ute Wartenberg and Barbora Dmitricenko 8. Investigating the Online Trade of Illicit Antiquities Layla Hashemi and Abi Waddell
About the author
Layla Hashemi is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Terrorism, Transnational Crime, and Corruption Center at George Mason University, Washington, DC
Louise Shelley is the Hirst Chair, Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government and Director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime, and Corruption Center at George Mason University, Washington, DC
Summary
This book examines the illicit trade in antiquities, a trade which has increased massively following the destruction and looting of ancient Near Eastern sites in the Middle East.
