The CPRI calls collectable ancient objects which have no provenence "orphan objects". But they all came from somewhere - no ancient artefacts grow on trees. The truth is that they have been decontextualised, their provenances discarded by the dealers that sell them. So who or what has "orphaned" these objects?
One of the principles of human trafficking is to take the victims' passports away so they have no means of identification and nowhere to turn. Let us not forget that the same organized crime groups that are among those that smuggle antiquities from the source countries to no-questions-asked dealers in the richer market countries do not necessarily make their money from breaking laws and conventions concerning trafficking portable antiquities alone.
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