“As an academic archaeologist who works in Southern Italy (Calabria) I have often witnessed cases of illicit trade in antiquities. Working close to the sea that brought to light the Riace Warriors (now at the Reggio Calabria Museum) we hear often of illegal underwater 'excavations' and attempts to uncover and sell antiquities. For the academic archaeologists the damage is irreparable, as such works destroy the context where ancient materials are found and thus destroy for ever our chance to understand what they really meant fot the people who made them (as opposed to just admire them as 'objects d'art' in a private collection..). But even the local people mourn such loss, as they often care deeply about such finds that they see bound to their lives and histories. Making the illicit trade in antiquities as hard as possible is the only way to stop this scientific and cultural devastation. I say a very strong YES to the renewal of the bilateral agreement!!!”

Kostalena Michelaki
Dept. of Anthropology, McMaster University
1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L9
Canada