Global criminal trafficking network for ancient art

Trafficking Culture Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research Simon Mackenzie Tess Davis In the first ever empirical study of a statue trafficking network, researchers at the University of Glasgow have unveiled the structure of the network of criminals needed to illegally traffic antiquities from ancient archaeological sites to museums and collections around the world. A study by criminologist Simon Mackenzie and lawyer Tess Davis, both of the University of Glasgow, traced the figures involved along the trafficking chain, beginning with the theft of the antiquity - in this study from Cambodian temples - and ending with its sale to a legitimate buyer. Research showed there were as little as three to four mediators separating the looters from a legitimate collector. During the study, which was carried out by the Trafficking Culture research group in the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, based at the University of Glasgow, researchers ed people involved in the looting and trafficking, which took place at various archaeological sites in north-west Cambodia. They explored six major archaeological sites, including Angkor (including the Roulous grouping and Banteay Srei), Banteay Chhmar (including Banteay Torp), Koh Ker, Phnom Banan, Preah Khan of Kompong Svay (the Bakan) and Sambor Prei Kuk. Their research began with the locals who lived around the temples - some of whom had been involved in the looting themselves - rather than taking the approach of other research which has often begun with antique dealers.