|
Newsletter archive |
Success stories 
November 2005 Syria recovered important antiquities which were smuggled outside the country A large number of antiquities including coins, clay figures, amulets and jewelry that had been stolen in Syria in 2002 and smuggled out of the country, were seized at the German-Swiss border as two Syrians tried to smuggle them into Germany. KUNA, November 5, 2005
Treasures recovered after decades-long struggle A Kwakwaka'wakw transformation mask that was part of a group of about 200 artifacts turned over to the Canadian government in 1921 has been returned to the tribe by the British Museum which currently owned it. The mask will be on long term loan at the U'mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay. Times Colonist, November 5, 2005
Police arrest archaeologist suspected of ancient relic trade After an investigation by the Israel Antiquities Authority, professor Hanan Eshel of Bar Ilan University was arrested on suspicion of having knowingly purchased pieces of a stolen scroll from the Bar Kokhba period (132-135 CE). Haaretz, November 2, 2005
October 2005 Briton returns relic from Ethiopia's ancient Magdala treasure A 16th century helmet, part of the treasury of Emperor Tewadros of Ethiopia that had been taken by British troops in 1868, has been returned to Ethiopia by the private collector who owned it. Deutsche Presse-Agentur, October 29, 2005.
Pounamu theft guilty plea Kerry Thomas, an Auckland (New Zealand) resident, pleaded guilty to receiving a Pounamu carving of a Maori war canoe that had been stolen from the Opal Centre in Queenstown in 2001. The police found the carving and five stolen paintings buried under a false floor in a garage. Crime, October 25, 2005
Three jailed for smuggling artifacts Three men including Abdul Karim Abu Shanab, former head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, have been given life sentences and four others have received lesser sentences for their roles in a scam to declare genuine antiquities fakes and take them abroad for sale. Some 57,000 pieces worth about $55 million were involved. Muslim News , October 22, 2005
Arrests in "museum curse" case The Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Police have arrested on charges of stealing and trying to sell three Old Kingdom statues on loan to the Egyptian Museum two men who had been part of a crew restoring the basement of the Museum. The theft has caused the Museum to revise its security policy. Now, all staff leaving the building will be searched for artifacts. AHRAM.org , October 14, 2005
UK returns historic sword to Ethiopia A sword that was among the sacred objects and artifacts looted by British troops in Ethiopia after they defeated the Ethiopian army in the Battle of Maqdala in 1868, has been returned to Ethiopia where it will be displayed in the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. The sword had been in the possession of a London theatrical props company. Al Jazeera, October 12, 2005
UK museums to return Aboriginal remains The British government has put into law the Human Tissue Act which will now allow the nine British Museums created by acts of parliament and previously barred from disposing of items in their collections to repatriate human remains less than 1,000 years old to Aboriginal groups. Applications for the return of such remains are being actively considered on a case by case basis. Reuters, October 17, 2005
Italy breaks art smuggling ring Following a tip from Roman archaeologists, an 82 year old Austrian tour guide who had access to archaeological sites through his job and five Italian men have been arrested on charges of participating in a smuggling ring that illegally excavated and sold over 3,500 artifacts from the Etruscan site at Crustumerium (near Rome) and sites in Sicily and Puglia. More than 600 artifacts were found in the possession of the gang when they were arrested. Reuters, October 9, 2005 We thank the Museum Security Network Mailinglist and Cultural Property Protection Net Mailinglist for their work. |
