Table of Contents

List of illustrations Introduction 1. The destruction of the past 2. Unprovenanced antiquities: the role of the private collector and dealer 3. Causes for concern: illegitimate acquisition and reluctant restitution 4. A universal problem: Asia, Africa, America 5. Ineffective safeguards and evolving moralities 6. Antiquities in England: the local view 7. Envoi: the past has an uncertain future Appendices: Conventions, Resolutions, Documents i. The UNESCO Convention (1970) ii. The Unidroit Convention (1995) iii. The Philadelphia Declaration (1970) iv. International Council of Museums, Code of Professional Ethics v. Policy Statement by the Trustees of the British Museum (1998) vi. Resolution of the Council of the British Academy (1998) vii. Writ of Summons in the Sevso Case, London (1991) viii. The Treasure Act for England and Wales (1996) ix. The European Council on the export of cultural goods (1992) x. The Cambridge Resolution (1999) Bibliography Index

Promotional Information

Exposing the underbelly of the world of art and antiquities, this book asks why are some people looting archeological digs and getting away with it?

About the Author

Colin Renfrew was formerly Disney Professor of Archaeology and Director of the McDonald Institute for Archaeology, University of cambridge, UK, where he is now Senior Fellow. His publications include Figuring It Out: Parallel Visions of Artists and Archaeologists (2003); Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos, 1974-77, and Prehistory: the Making of the Human Mind (both 2007).