Regulation of the trade in cultural objects. Historical and social perspectives

It is a well-established fact that the international antiquities market is responsible for the destruction and vandalism of archaeological and cultural sites worldwide. Material removed from these sites is traded across jurisdictions until it can be sold legally and acquired as “art” by private and institutional collectors in North America, Europe and, increasingly, East Asia.One consequence of this trade is that most countries outside the United States have now passed laws that protect archaeological heritage by proscribing the unauthorized excavation of antiquities, the export of antiquities, or both. Opinions are divided, however, as to the effectiveness and even the desirability of such strong regulations at the source of the artifacts.