News & Issues in Cultural Heritage

Fighting for preservation — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-11-2008 12:37 PM

Hopi Tribe, environmentalists work to save ancient petroglyphs

Antiquities dealer has colorful, checkered career — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-11-2008 12:32 PM

Antiquities dealer has colorful, checkered career "The guy is legendary in the field," said Michael Coe, a retired Yale anthropology professor who told authorities that a 1997 Patterson exhibit in Spain included possible fakes. "He has managed to have a career that is just unbelievable

Yemen’s cultural heritage threatened by smugglers — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-11-2008 10:10 AM

With its long history and rich culture, Yemen is a virtual treasure trove of priceless archeological artifacts. It is perhaps unsurprising then that Yemen is a prime target for artifact smugglers. Owing to lax security at historical sites and weak laws governing the protection of ancient artifacts, Yemen is seeing increasing incidences of archeological theft. Three smugglers have been captured this year alone at Sana’a airport carrying large numbers of artifacts for sale to collectors overseas.

Yemeni Courts luke warm towards smugglers of Yemeni artifacts — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-11-2008 10:08 AM

The theft of Yemen’s cultural heritage remains a major problem. Lax punishments and poorly defined laws against smuggling Yemeni artifacts out of the country ensure that these crimes continue unabated.

Stolen antiquities may be auctioned, ex-minister warns — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-10-2008 09:40 AM

An unknown number of antiquities stolen from Italy in the 1970s may be auctioned off in London instead of being returned to Italy, former culture minister Francesco Rutelli warned on Thursday

Greece has the right to the Elgin Marbles — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-09-2008 11:00 AM

Christopher Hitchens tells Christina Borg why the marbles must be returned to Athens

Italy Defends Treasures (and Laws) With a Show — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:57 PM

ROME — An exhibition celebrating a century-old piece of legislation may not seem an obvious crowd pleaser. But for the curators, it’s a way of arguing that Italy’s art treasures would be vastly diminished were it not for its strict — some assert, draconian — cultural-heritage laws.

ASEAN to crack down on antique smuggling — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

MYANMAR is inviting other ASEAN members to come together to protect the region’s cultural heritage – by cracking down on the illegal trade and smuggling of antiques.

Peruvian minister joins Inca talks — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

More than a year has passed since Yale and Peru signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the rightful ownership of ancient Inca artifacts housed at Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. For much of the time since last September’s memorandum, the parties were locked in a stalemate over the objects excavated nearly a century ago. But now, Peru has sent a higher-level official to the negotiations, and some on Yale’s side say there is new hope that a final agreement can be reached,

Centuries-old antiques stolen from Afghan museum: officials — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

Antiques dating back 1,300 years have been stolen from a museum in western Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, blaming a "powerful gang" for the theft after a suspect was found dead.

Back to the source: Who Owns Antiquity? Museums and the Battle Over Our Ancient Heritage — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

Who Owns Antiquity? Museums and the Battle Over Our Ancient Heritage By James Cuno Princeton University Press, 228pp, $US24.95 The encyclopedic museums' argument against repatriation of classical artefacts is self-servingly flawed, writes Ingrid D. Rowland

Artifact thief to serve prison time — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

A former state archivist and Civil War expert who stole hundreds of historical documents and artifacts belonging to the New York State Library and sold some of them over the Internet for personal profit was sentenced on Thursday to two to six years in prison.

The Midas Crutch — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

Greed, gold and stolen art

LAND LETTER: Looting of artifacts rampant in economic downturn — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

From Mimbres pottery in New Mexico to Civil War bullets in Georgia, public treasures are being stripped from public lands across the country

Egypt to retrieve ancient statue from Netherlands- — by Gary Nurkin — last modified 10-08-2008 04:56 PM

DISCOVERED in Saqara in 1985, stolen then auctioned, an ancient funerary statue “could finally go home to Egypt where it belongs,” according to the Cairo government.