Lecture by guest professor Christos Tsirogiannis, the lecture will be in english

For thousands of years art has been looted and stolen in various ways. Several countries, some as early as 200 years ago, created legislation to protect their ancient heritage. However, ancient sites and antiquities were always being targeted, continually supplying the global market.

The 1970 UNESCO Convention was practically ignored, while museums and private collections were supplied with antiquities looted post-1970 by an international trafficking network involving 'reputable' dealers and auction houses.

This talk will first present the most significant developments over the last 25 years. The focus will then move to the results of ongoing research based on confiscated visual evidence created by the market itself.  The conclusion will highlight obstacles, both traditional and new, encountered in this emerging field.

Christos Tsirogiannis is guest professor at the Museum of Ancient Art and Archaeology in the autumn semester thanks to a grant from Aarhus University Research Foundation. He is a leading expert on the illegal trade in antiquities and is participating in a research project at the museum on South Italian pottery found in a ware house of an antiquities dealer in Geneva in 2014.

After the lecture, there is a small reception. Doors will be open from 18.30.