antiquities

A Roman-era statue, thought to represent Marcus Aurelius, stands in a gallery at the Cleveland Museum of Art on June 25, 2010.

Roman emperor statue seized from Cleveland Museum of Art in smuggling investigation

5:17pm September 01, 2023

by Juliana Kim

The headless statue is believed to depict Marcus Aurelius. The investigation into its origins comes over a decade after Turkey claimed that 21 objects at the museum were linked to an illicit trade.

Iraqi National Museum Deputy Director Musin Hassan holds his head in his hands as he sits amid destroyed artifacts in the Baghdad museum in 2003.

World News

In Iraq, Authorities Continue To Fight Uphill Battle Against Antiquities Plunder

1:49pm August 20, 2020

by Jane Arraf

Heritage experts say hundreds of thousands of pieces have been looted at archaeological sites and museums. As the illegal trade in antiquities continues, Iraq is trying to get objects returned.

Screenshot of video on Facebook showing an Egyptian sarcophagus with mummy inside for sale. According to the ATHAR Project, the video is from an area known for extensive antiquities looting. Facebook bans trade in antiquities and human remains, but relies

World News

Facebook Has Moved To Ban Sales Of Looted Antiquities. Will It Make A Difference?

2:47pm July 31, 2020

by Jane Arraf

Archaeologists have ID'ed 100-plus Facebook groups offering looted and illicit antiquities for sale. New rules ban the sale of "historical artifacts" on Facebook but critics want more enforcement.

The Museum of the Bible is located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The entrance is flanked by large bronze doors depicting the first lines of the Book of Genesis.

World News

After 'Missteps' And Controversies, Museum Of The Bible Works To Clean Up Its Act

4:29pm June 23, 2020

by Jane Arraf

The museum has tightened its acquisition policies and is working to return potentially looted objects. Early acquisitions reflected a lack of expertise and lack of policy, its chief curator tells NPR.

Hobby Lobby bought the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet for more than $1.6 million in 2014. "This rare tablet was pillaged from Iraq and years later sold at a major auction house, with a questionable and unsupported provenance," Peter C. Fitzhugh, special agent in

World News

U.S. Authorities Say Hobby Lobby's Gilgamesh Tablet Is 'Stolen,' Must Go Back To Iraq

3:56pm May 19, 2020

by Jane Arraf

U.S. federal prosecutors are seeking the return of the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, purchased by Hobby Lobby for display in the Museum of the Bible, which authorities say cooperated with the investigation.

Assyrian artifacts are displayed at Iraq's National Museum in Baghdad in 2016. The $30 million sale of a 3,000-year-old Assyrian relief is sparking concern that similar artifacts will be looted.

World News

Record-Setting Sale Of An Ancient Assyrian Stone Relief Sparks Looting Fears In Iraq

7:48am November 04, 2018

by Jane Arraf

The 3,000-year-old relief fetched more than $28 million at Christie's, more than any other similar work. But some archaeologists worry the high price could trigger looting of other ancient artifacts.

A clay tablet from the seized Hobby Lobby collection bears a cuneiform inscription referring to the disbursement of leather bags to hold water, known as water skins. The inscription is dated with the name of a month used exclusively in Irasagrig, a lost a

Hobby Lobby's Illegal Antiquities Shed Light On A Lost, Looted Ancient City In Iraq

11:22am June 28, 2018

by Jane Arraf

About 3,800 objects purchased by Hobby Lobby were returned to Iraq in May. Some come from an ancient Sumerian city, Irisagrig, and indicate that life there was "pretty good," an archaeologist says.

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Ancient artifacts wrapped in newspapers and plastic bags were discovered by firefighters under bushes in central Greece

In Greece, Fire Reveals Ancient Artifacts, Possibly Hidden By Thieves

5:24pm June 08, 2018

by Daniella Cheslow

Firefighters discovered a trove of 200 antiquities stashed in plastic bags. Authorities suspected smugglers.

Hobby Lobby agreed earlier this month to a forfeiture of smuggled artifacts.

Israeli Authorities Arrest Antiquities Dealers In Connection With Hobby Lobby Scandal

5:04pm July 31, 2017

by Daniel Estrin

Israel's Antiquities Authority says the dealers, arrested early Sunday morning, were involved in sales of antiquities to Hobby Lobby — including items that U.S. authorities determined were smuggled.

The front of the rare coin found by a hiker in northern Israel.

World News

That's No Bottlecap! Hiker In Israel Finds Rare Gold Coin

4:44pm March 14, 2016

by Emily Harris

A hiker in Israel found a gold coin so rare that Israeli archaeologists say there's only one other with the same symbols known in the world.