Value and doubt: the persuasive power of 'authenticity' in the antiquities market

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Heritage, crisis, and community crime prevention in Nepal

Following Nepal's 2015 earthquake there was speculation that sacred art would be looted from the ruins of severely damaged temples due to breakdown in formal security. Although pillage did not immediately occur, the months following the earthquake have seen the theft of sacred heritage items. As Nepali sacred art remains under threat of theft, we explore the processes by which government intervention can be destructive of the community dynamic that maintains local crime prevention on an informal and unofficial level. Can situational crime prevention measures when imposed in a top-down fashion upon communities by state actors be corrosive of collective efficacy, and therefore ultimately self-defeating in crime prevention terms? The case of post-quake Nepal seems to suggest that the answer to this question is, in some circumstances, yes

Museums, collectors, and value manipulation: tax fraud through donation of antiquities

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss the key aspects of the international trade in antiquities and the practice of philanthropic donation of objects to museums that allow for certain types of tax deduction manipulation, using a case of tax deduction manipulation from Australia and a case of tax fraud from the United States as examples. Design/methodology/approach – Two thoroughly researched case studies are presented which illustrate the particular features of current and past antiquities donation incentivisation schemes which leave them open to manipulation and fraud. Findings – The valuation of antiquities is subjective and problematic, and the operations of both the antiquities market and the museums sector are traditionally opaque. Because of this, tax incentivisation of antiquities donations is susceptible to fraud. Originality/value – This paper presents the mechanisms of the antiquities market and museum world to an audience that is not familiar with it. It then clearly demonstrates how the traditional practices of this world can be manipulated for the purposes of tax fraud. Two useful case studies are presented

Lies, damned lies, and archaeologists: Antiquities trafficking research as criminology and the ethics of identification

By definition, our interactions with those that we consider to be ‘extradisciplinary’ are predicated on our own self-identification as archaeologists. It isn’t news that some stakeholders react negatively to archaeologists. To them, we are not neutral, well-meaning stewards of the past, but rather a competing group that doesn’t compromise and stifles dissent by claiming a mandate on defining ‘the public good’. How can I effectively engage with such groups when my identity as an archaeologist is unforgivable?Perhaps the archaeologist must leave archaeology.This paper is about transitioning from a PhD in archaeology to apost doctoral fellowship in a criminology department. As part of theUniversity of Glasgow’s Trafficking Culture project, I study the looting of archaeological sites and the illicit trafficking of cultural property. For half a century archaeologists have clashed with antiquities intermediaries, collectors, and dealers leaving wounds and scars on both sides. These folks will not engage with an ‘archaeologist’, but they are willing to talk to a ‘sociologist’ or even a ‘criminologist’ which is how I now present myself.This paper will focus on the ethical issues of disciplinary labelling. What are the primary benefits of presenting myself as ‘extra-archaeological’? Of not asserting archaeological expertise? Am I obliged to reveal my archaeological background? Does this change of discipline have a tangible effect on the research that I conduct? Do I protect cultural property or protect informants? Am I still an archaeologist

Crowd-sourcing antiquities crime-fighting: a review of GlobalXplorer°

In early 2017, Sarah Parcak used her $1 million TED Prize to build the GlobalXplorer° platform (https://www.globalxplorer.org) “to identify and quantify looting and encroachment to sites of archaeological and historical importance,” using a crowdsourced “citizen science” methodology popularized by the Zooniverse web portal. GlobalXplorer° invited the public to search satellite imagery from Peru for evidence of looting within 100 m × 100 m squares, training them along the way and gamifying participation. In this review, I test the platform and consider the applicability of GlobalXplorer° as a vector for changing the way that the general public perceives the global illicit trade in cultural objects

Collectors on illicit collecting: Higher loyalties and other techniques of neutralization in the unlawful collecting of rare and precious orchids and antiquities

Trafficking natural objects and trafficking cultural objects have been treated separately both in regulatory policy and in criminological discussion. The former is generally taken to be ‘wildlife crime’ while the latter has come to be considered under the auspices of a debate on ‘illicit art and antiquities’. In this article we study the narrative discourse of high-end collectors of orchids and antiquities. The illicit parts of these global trades are subject to this analytical divide between wildlife trafficking and art trafficking, and this has resulted in quite different regulatory structures for each of these markets. However, the trafficking routines, the types and levels of harm involved, and the supply–demand dynamics in the trafficking of orchids and antiquities are actually quite similar, and in this study we find those structural similarities reflected in substantial common ground in the way collectors talk about their role in each market. Collectors of rare and precious orchids and antiquities valorize their participation in markets that are known to be in quite considerable degree illicit, appealing to ‘higher loyalties’ such as preservation, appreciation of aesthetic beauty and cultural edification. These higher loyalties, along with other techniques of neutralization, deplete the force of law as a guide to appropriate action. We propose that the appeal to higher loyalties is difficult to categorize as a technique of neutralization in this study as it appears to be a motivational explanation for the collectors involved. The other classic techniques of neutralization are deflective, guilt and critique reducing narrative mechanisms, while higher loyalties drives illicit behaviour in collecting markets for orchids and antiquities in ways that go significantly beyond the normal definition of neutralization

Policing heritage crime in Latin America

Artefacts from Latin America are popular on international art markets, however their supply is closely linked to heritage crimes such as looting, illegal excavations, and theft. This results in a wide and ongoing circulation of artefacts with illicit origins, despite Latin American states claiming ownership. Regulation and policy responses are continuously developed to address the opaque market structures and criminal networks facilitating this illicit trade in Latin America, with policing as the first line of defence against heritage crimes. Despite increasing research into the illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts in the region, specific strategies and interregional cooperation within heritage crime policing in Latin America has rarely been discussed. Therefore, we examine the policing, prevention, and legislation tactics in twelve Latin American countries as a state-by-state survey, and provide an overview of the current regional and international collaborations concerning the policing of heritage crime. We conclude that there is significant collaboration between Latin American countries, but that improvements could be made regarding the number of dedicated specialists within police and government agencies. This lack of economic resources and specialists within relevant agencies has been recorded in locations beyond Latin America, and we assert that this is the primary weakness in regional and global efforts to police heritage crimes

Archaeology and autonomies: the legal framework of heritage management in a new Bolivia

The 2009 Bolivian Constitution significantly changed the structure of the state and paved the way for the creation of regional, local, and even indigenous autonomies. These autonomies are charged with the management of archaeological sites and museums within their territory. This article answers the question of who currently owns the Bolivian past, it stems from concerns raised at the 2011 renewal hearing of the Memorandum of Understanding preventing the import of illicit Bolivian antiquities into the United States. By combining an analysis of recent legal changes related to the creation of the autonomies and a short discussion of a notable case study of local management of a Bolivian archaeological site, this article offers a basic summary of the legal framework in which Bolivian archaeology and heritage management functions and some preliminary recommendations for governments and professionals wishing to work with Bolivian authorities at the state and local level

Conceptualising dementia crisis and preferences for resolution: A public perspective

Background: Crisis intervention services for people with dementia in the United Kingdom are poorly defined with no standardized model of working. This may be due to the lack of a clear conceptualization of dementia crisis, resulting in variation in national service delivery. Methods: This study employed a novel public engagement questionnaire data collection technique with 57 participants to gain an updated perspective on the concept of health-related crisis from the point of view of the public. Results: Analysis revealed crisis as a transformational moment that may arrive unexpectedly but could also be the culmination of a sequence of events. Crisis resolution requires external and expert help, and associated feelings of panic and despair can engender the task of resolution by oneself insurmountable. Conclusions: Participants had clear expectations of crisis intervention services, with initial practical and emotional support to reduce risks, and a person-centered approach with family involvement