Kudos to Larry Rothfield for exposing the fallacy of the outdated claim that demand from American and European collectors drives looting. These days wealthy Gulf Arabs, Chinese and Russians are far more likely to buy recently looted material.
The prohibitionist message the AIA and elements within the archaeological blogosphere preach against American and European collectors has had little positive impact on looting. On the other hand, it has driven a wedge between collectors and archaeologists and has diminished the public's knowledge and appreciation of ancient cultures.
Arthur Houghton asked me to post this:
ReplyDelete"Peter, Rothfield's discovery is not news. The market knows where things are going -- in the direction of the new moneyed collectors in Russia, China, the Gulf and elsewhere who have the means to buy virtually everything they want with no restraints and absolutely no scruples.
It is predictable that the undistinguished non-scholar in Poland would wring his hands and say 'oh no it can't be so'. The fellow, an America hater from the get-go, can't believe that the US is not the Great Satan in fact. Let him eat hotdogs.
Thank you again for your thoughtful articles.
Arthur"
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