Lay of the Land

Dealing With Antiquities Trafficking on the Web

In its short history, the Internet has revolutionized the way many of us communicate, do research, and shop. It saves time and opens the world to us. But there is a down side, as we discuss in this issue of American Archaeology. The Internet has become a vehicle for selling looted archaeological artifacts from around the world. Only days after the invasion of Iraq and the looting of its museums and fabulous archaeological sites, the loot began to appear for sale on the Internet. More than a thousand artifacts from dozens of countries are for sale on any day.

The opening of this huge new marketplace has in turn been an incentive for increased looting. The national decline in looting that took place in the 1980s and 1990s has been reversed because this ready market encourages looters to hit once overlooked sites.

To date, attempts to curb this trade have largely failed. The big auction houses like eBay say they are unable to tell the difference between legal and illegal items. Law enforcement officials seem overwhelmed. A major effort is needed to curb this growing menace.

The U.S. Justice Department and Congress need to take an indepth look at the problem. If current laws are inadequate, then we must pass new ones. The big auction sites need to become more responsible.

MARK MICHEL, President

They should refuse to list any artifacts for sale. Archaeologists and preservationists must take the lead in pressing for reform. This problem will only get worse unless strong action is taken promptly.