LootBusters

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Dorothy King has just launched an interesting web resource

LOOT BUSTERS

ITEMS LOOTED FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
AND EGYPTIAN, GREEK & ROMAN
ANTIQUITIES SUSPECTED TO BE LOOTED

This is an offshoot of an earlier project of hers to create a database of looted objects. Readers may remember that I explained at some length some months ago why I was a bit critical of the original exceedingly ambitious idea. This version is far more modest and, I think, far less controversial, and through that - more useful.

The name is deliberately catchy, and the presentation is kept very minimalist and basic. The idea is for images to be freely available for all to see so that the objects they depict can be returned to the rightful owners. "That is the only agenda I have" she is careful to point out. "I went for this very simple web site that people can browse to get around any controversies". At the moment there are relatively few groups of objects included on the database, but Dr King promises to keep adding to it.

There is a web resource for antiquity collectors called Fakebusters which has been going since 2005, but concentrates mainly on ancient Egyptian artefact types.