A 1946 poster emphasizes the message that we are all instrumental in controlling the buying and selling of illicit goods. Of course every single buyer and every single seller participating in the no-questions-asked antiquities market today will deny that any of the goods they encounter are actually illicit, though what they really mean is "not illegal (in my country)". There is a world of difference between "they can't touch you for it" legality (based on the unsuitability of unnuanced local laws for dealing with the problem) and "never been the subject of an illicit transaction" licitness of the purchased object.
A blog commenting on various aspects of the private collecting and trade in archaeological artefacts today and their effect on the archaeological record.
Tuesday 9 July 2013
You can STOP Black Market Antiquities
A 1946 poster emphasizes the message that we are all instrumental in controlling the buying and selling of illicit goods. Of course every single buyer and every single seller participating in the no-questions-asked antiquities market today will deny that any of the goods they encounter are actually illicit, though what they really mean is "not illegal (in my country)". There is a world of difference between "they can't touch you for it" legality (based on the unsuitability of unnuanced local laws for dealing with the problem) and "never been the subject of an illicit transaction" licitness of the purchased object.
This is brilliant in its simplicity.
ReplyDelete