Collectors are the real looters

Article Abstract:

Ricardo Elia believes that looting of archaeological artifacts is caused by the market created not only by rich collectors, but by scholars and museums also. Many of the exhibits found in the British museum, the Louvre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are well preserved artifacts that have been purchased from looters. Collectors, however, cause more harm than scholars and museums because they purchase looted artifacts for fun rather than for educational purposes.

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Ricardo Elia responds

Article Abstract:

The review of 'The Cycladic Spirit' stressed the role of the collector in encouraging the looting of archaeological sites, and the implications of the scholar's contribution to looting during the study of such collections. The book seems to venerate the looted artifacts regardless of the way in which they were acquired. The only way to curb looting is to reduce the demand for artifacts by making the collection of antiquities socially unacceptable.

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The war within the war: in southern Iraq specialized troops pursue armed looters

Article Abstract:

The Carabinieri, a part of the coalition force since the autumn of 2003 are conducting random patrols on the ground and by helicopter as well as aerial reconnaissance to photograph and document the damage from looters. The 1980s war between Iraq and Iran destroyed many archaeological sites along the border, and after the Gulf War in 1991, widespread looting began, peaking in 1994 and 1999.

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