Raiders of the Lost Antiquities: Illicit Archaeology and the Ethics of Collections - Marie Hélène van de Ven

Year
2025
Summary

Looted artifacts lose vital historical context, limiting their research value. This project reconstructs lost histories of Greek painted vases by combining warehouse records, stylistic comparison, landscape analysis, and cultural context. Treating artifacts like detective cases allows scholars to reintegrate looted objects into archaeology without legitimizing illegal trade.