A Lawyer Looks at U.S. Antiquities Laws
Journal of Field Archaeology, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 385-387, Autumn, 1982
3 Pages Posted: 29 Sep 2011
Date Written: Autumn 1982
Abstract
The legal issues involved in trading antiquities across international borders are very complex; cases hinge on points that, to archaeologists, often seem to have little relevance to archaeological issues, or even to our sense of what the law "ought to be". A New York City art dealer was caught red-handed bringing into the U.S. Peruvian antiquities worth, reputedly, about a million dollars (see below). He had no export permit from Peru. Peru's antiquities laws require a permit for the export of all antiquities. It would seem very clear, then, that this dealer was engaged in an illegal activity. Unfortunately, perhaps, it is not that simple.
Keywords: antiquities trade, international borders, United States, Peru, export permits, David Bernstein, U.S. Customs, looting, National Stolen Property Act, NSPA
JEL Classification: F19, K19, K29, K33, K42
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation