Returning Antiquities: Some Lessons
The 1970 UNESCO ‘Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property’ addressed the issue of “the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property”. This was followed by the 1973 Archaeological Institute of America declaration
“The Archaeological Institute of America believes that Museums can henceforth best implement such cooperation by refusing to acquire through purchase, gift, or bequest cultural property exported subsequent to December 30, 1973, in violation of the laws obtaining in the countries of origin.”
Yet distinguished North American Museums kept acquiring.
And then came the raid on the Geneva Freeport and the seizure of Polaroids showing antiquities that had passed through the hands of the tombaroli.
So what are some of the lessons?