Antiquities & Archaeology

Romearchive

An Italian archaeologist pleads for professionals to gather information from farmers and from those living near ancient sites

The integrity of most archaeological sites in Italy has been compromised by extensive illicit excavations, which have caused the loss of an enormous quantity of archaeological information

Parthenonarchive

Campaign for Parthenon marbles' reinstatement soldiers on with candidates in running to design long-awaited Acropolis Museum and building of new station

A stop on the Athens metro line has been introduced decorated with imitations of Parthenon friezes, in proximity to the Acropolis Museum's intended site

Phillipsarchive

A new head of Asian art at Phillips: Interview with Colin Sheaf

“London remains a huge centre for collectors all over Europe”

Decisive times for underwater archaeology: Who owns the watery past?

There are an estimated three million undiscovered shipwrecks scattered throughout the world’s oceans. UNESCO is calling for a global treaty to protect them. Salvors say it is unrealistic and unworkable.

Unescoarchive

Deliberation over ownership of submerged vessels and their booty at the bottom of the ocean leads to Unesco intervention

An estimated three million shipwrecks lay undiscovered. UNESCO is calling for a global treaty to protect them. Salvors say it is unrealistic and unworkable, despite developments in deep-sea exploration technology

Antiquities dealer Shelby White included in US Cultural Property Advisory Committee: A fox among doves?

Anger at appointment of collector who imports the very objects the committee tries to keep out

Greece's indecision over where to Parthenon Marbles would reside

Twenty years after the government decided to build a new museum to house the sculptures, still no architect has been chosen

Agatha Christie and the Orient: Adventures on the Nile.

With over 200 objects on loan from the British Museum an exhibition which charts Agatha Christie’s travels in the Orient.

Iraqarchive

National Museum of Iraq recovers 5,000 Sumerian artefacts

Archaeologists descended upon three sites in Southern Iraq rumoured to contain antiquities

Declassified documents reveal near return of Elgin Marbles

In 1994, the Greek government was willing to accept the restitution of only a small number of the Parthenon pediment sculptures in exchange for an end to the dispute

How the British Museum's maintenance procedures for the Parthenon marbles have changed

After the sculptures' surfaces were damaged in the 1930s due to improper care, the museum has cleaned up its act

Cultura 1999 primed to replace TEFAF's Basel antiques fair in the market

Cultura must draw inspiration from its forerunner if it is to take advantage of collectors flocking to Basel

Lettersarchive

Letter: Nero is the subject of the Warren Cup

One of the British Museum's finest treasures may depict a notoriously licentious Roman emperor

May 1999archive

Richard Meier to obliterate Mussolini’s mark

The US architect's new building for ancient Roman monument to replace one commissioned by the Fascist dictator in the 1930s

Getty returns three stolen works to Italy

Curator voluntarily collaborates with Italy in accordance with museum’s policy

Art crimearchive

Revealed: the Mafia’s interest in archaeology

Esteemed artworld professionals have been arrested as part of a wide-reaching investigation into antiquities smuggling with links to an ongoing New York court case.

Collectorsarchive

Collector profile: Jan Mitchell's antiquities and the search for "the philosopher’s stone"

The man behind the Mitchell Prize, awarded last month, is also a major collector of Pre-Columbian gold sculpture

Parthenonarchive

William St Clair makes a rebuttal to the British Museum's defence of its competence to curate Parthenon Marbles

St Clair demands greater candour in the fallout of Lord Elgin and the Marbles' third edition, in which it was asserted that over-cleaning had irreparably damaged the marbles

Historian William St Clair's account of Parthenon marbles malpractice at British Museum revives lobby calling for their return

Greeks renew demands for return of sculptures following new allegations that they were irreparably damaged in the Thirties

Archaeologists move into war zone on Adriatic coast

The area, unfortunately located close to the conflict in Kosovo province, is largely unexplored

Unescoarchive

Where underwater treasure-hunters go, legislation must follow: Unesco's proposal explained

Unesco is calling for a global treaty to prevent commercial interests from destroying shipwrecks found in international waters