Our founder had the opportunity to speak with Sarah Cascone of Artnet about the sale of looted antiquities on social media sites. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, historical and archaeological sites are more vulnerable than ever to theft and damage. This type of vulnerability was previously witnessed during the Arab Spring and the rise of ISIS. Now, a new wave of antiquities looting has spread across the Middle East, Africa – and Facebook. As individuals in heritage-rich countries face diminished income and economic opportunities, they turn to theft, and the internet has provided countless willing buyers for looted antiquities. Facebook is a popular means for looters to display their wares and carry out sales. The Antiquities Trafficking and Heritage Anthropology Research Project is tracking and monitoring stolen artifacts in the digital underworld and notes that there has been a significant increase in these cases, including the looting of a historic mosque in Morocco last week, with images shared on relevant Facebook groups. These groups even share tips on how to proceed with excavations without getting caught. As with more traditional channels, it is illegal to sell looted antiquities through internet sites. However, criminals use loopholes to create private groups where they can sell the items quickly and before police get involved. By the time law enforcement is alerted, the objects may have already disappeared deeper into the black market, as noted by Leila. When there are financial gains with relatively little risk, looters and middlemen pursue illegal sales, and they will continue to proliferate and exploit the situation unless stronger standards of protection are put in place. With limited resources, it is difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor the global black market. Enacting firm policies prohibiting black market items, including antiquities, from being sold on the platform would help stem the tide of looting. Facebook could potentially employ a task force or a specialized compliance team to prevent the sale of illicit goods.

While some purchasers may turn a blind eye towards the provenance of these objects, some may genuinely be unaware that their purchased goods were stolen. Red flags in these types of transactions include depressed prices, unusual sources, origination in a conflict zone, and no verifiable provenance. For collectors to ensure that they have purchased legitimate works, they should carry out due diligence and request accompanying evidence as to the object of the sale, such as documentation pertaining to legal export and permission to sell from the country of origin, customs forms, verifiable information, prior publications, and research the sellers. Collectors should also contact knowledgeable legal counsel who can assist with transactions and ensure that everything is above board. Amineddoleh & Associates is experienced in a variety of cultural heritage transactions and our founder Leila Amineddoleh has been used by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as a legal expert for cases involving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern antiquities. Our firm has a successful track record in helping collectors perform due diligence and establish provenance, giving them piece of mind and allowing them to enjoy their purchases for years to come.