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Two books delve into the controversies surrounding the acquisition of antiquities by curators and collectors, focusing on the Museum of the Bible funded by the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby. Roberta Mazza's "Stolen Fragments" details the museum's acquisition of objects from illicit sources, leading to a scandal involving seized artifacts and forgeries. Justin M. Jacobs' "Plunder?" challenges the narrative of imperial theft in museum collections, arguing that many works were acquired through diplomacy or market purchases. Both books raise questions about the ethics of collecting and the impact on cultural heritage. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the announcement by U.S. federal officials on January 11, 2022 that James H. Clark, the founder of computer services company Netscape, has decided to return a collection of 35 items of stolen Cambodian and Southeast Asian antiquities he had purchased 10 years ago. Topics covered include the reason behind his decision to return the items he bought from the late British art dealer Douglas A. J. Latchford, and antiquities trafficking allegations filed against Latchford.

The article focuses on the efforts of archaeologist Martin McAllister for the protection of archaeological resources against looting. It says that the head of the Archaeological Damage Investigation and Assessment (ADIA) in Missoula, Montana is McAllister who is also regarded by U.S. Forest Service's regional archaeologist Carl Davis as the foremost expert in the field. McAllister adds that law enforcements of illegal artifact collections should be the focus of the archaeology agencies.

The article focuses on the controversy surrounding the relics of the Machu Picchu Site, Peru, with Peru claiming that the collection of Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut belongs to them. It states that explorer Hiram Bingham III found Machu Picchu and took several objects from the Site. Peru is demanding the return of the relics which they claim were taken by Bingham illegally. However, anthropologists at Yale argue that the relics are better protected at the university's museum.

The article discusses the exhibit "Collecting Paradise: Buddhist Art of Kashmir and Its Legacies" at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City as well as the same exhibit and its accompanying exhibit, "Collecting Culture: Himalaya Through the Lens," at its earlier venue, the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

The article informs that investigators has raided in the house of investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist Michael H. Steinhardt and have seized collections of artworks which were stole from Italy, and Greece.

The article discusses the March 11, 2014 request proposed by Egyptian antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim Ali to U.S. President Barack Obama to place emergency restrictions on the import of ancient artifacts into the U.S. in an effort to locate antiquities stolen during the Arab Spring revolt in 2011. Topics include the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the steps a country must take to receive emergency restrictions, and the cooperation of U.S. auctioneers to recover lost items.

The article discusses disputes between source countries and museums over claims requesting the repatriation of ancient artifacts in Western museums' collections as of July 1, 2013. Topics addressed include a dispute between Turkey and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California over a fifth century bronze bed, and ethical and legal considerations of cultural property claims.

The article focuses on recent raids by the criminal investigation divisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Interior, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency on art museums in southern California. The agencies are investigating art objects imported from Southeast Asia that are appraised at an artificially low level. Joyce White, an archaeologist who has aided the agencies, says the damage to the sites from which the objects were looted is the real crime.

The article reports on the December 5, 2007 opening of the Fordham University Museum of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Art in New York City. The museum was built to house the antiquities collected by financier and philanthropist William D. Walsh, who donated his collection to the school in 2006. It was also built to create public access to the collection.

This article looks at problems at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California. The former antiquities curator, Marion True, has been on trial in Rome, Italy for 19 months on charges of trafficking in looted antiques. The museum is also locked in a standoff over 51 artifacts that Italy wants returned. Despite all the difficulties of buying non-looted goods, curator Karol Wight says she will still try to purchase items.

This article looks at a collection of artifacts belonging to Mayme Agnew Clayton, a retired university librarian who died in October 2006, which was found in Los Angeles, California. According to the author, the collections of artifacts, mostly devoted to the history of African-Americans, will be put in a museum by Clayton's son, Avery Clayton.

The article focuses on Holocaust survivor and artist Dina Babbitt. The author reviews how several portraits painted by Babbitt are being housed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland. Details related to Babbitt's three-decade effort to retrieve the painting are reviewed. Comments from Babbitt regarding her efforts are included.

The article reports that officials at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California have announced that the museum has agreed to reliquish ownership of two of four rare ancient works that the government of Greece says were illegally removed from within its borders. Details related to the comprimise accord reached with Greek culture minister Michael Brand are reviewed. Details related to the two peices involved in the deal are also reviewed.

The author looks at how the J. Paul Getty Museum of Los Angeles and the Italian Culture Ministry have begun talks over several dozen ancient artifacts that the Italian government wants returned. Comments regarding the negotiations from Italy's Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli are included. Also included are comments from Ronald Olson, the lawyer representing the Getty Museum in the case.

The article focuses on American antiquities dealer Robert Hecht. Hecht is on trial for conspiracy to traffic in looted objects. Details related to the disputed objects in Hecht's case are reviewed. Comments from trial prosecutor Paolo Ferri are included. According to the author, Hecht seems relatively unperturbed by the trial.

The author looks at how archeological journals do not report on pieces bought by private collectors that do not come from documented scientific excavations. According to the author, scholars are having to grapple with the reality that a growing number of important works lack a clear provenance. Details regarding the ongoing debate among archaeologists are discussed.

The article focuses on Philippe de Montebello, director of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. According to the author, de Montebello has been hailed for his willingness to part with some of the museum's finest treasures in the face of evidence that they were probably looted. The author reviews how the museum has built one of the world's greatest Classical collections, often acquiring works with little knowledge of their origins. The article includes comments from de Montebello regarding his work.

The article reports that the Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced that it would relinquish ownership of a 2,500-year-old Greek vase to Italy. The author reviews how Italy has long contended that the vase was stolen from an Etruscan tomb near Rome and smuggled from the country. Details of the arrangement made between museum officials and Italian authorities are reviewed.

The article looks at how a Machu Picchu exhibit at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University is affecting the university's relationship with Peru. The author reviews the conflict involving a large group of artifacts that form the core of the show that were excavated at Machu Picchu in a historic dig by a Yale explorer in 1912. According to the author, the government of Peru wants all of the objects to be given back.

The article discusses efforts by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Italy's culture ministry to settle Italy's claims to antiquities in the museum's collection. It has been decided that Italy will own the items while the Met will keep them as long-term loans. Italy has had a longstanding claim to some of the museum's most important pieces. However, the director of the Met has stated that Italy would have to provide "incontrovertible evidence" that the works were illegally excavated. Details of some of the items being questioned and the history of their excavation are presented.

Profiles Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. Role of Hawass in arranging the exhibit of King Tutankhamen's treasures in the U.S.; Details of Hawass' influence on Egyptian archaeology; Changes made by Hawass to Egyptian laws on the preservation of archaeological treasures; Report that Hawass seeks to raise money with the exhibit, "Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," which opens in Los Angeles, California; Criticism from some archaeology leaders that Hawass' policies are too focused on publicity and profitability; Description of the key features of the King Tutankhamen exhibition.

Focuses on the "Archaeology of War" exhibition of works found in 1945 in a Berlin, Germany bunker, at the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. How the war's dark legacies continue to divide Russia and Germany; Observation that the ancient works of art are all spoils of war, seized by Soviet troops from the ruins of Berlin; Argument between Russia and Germany over the fate of artworks that the Soviet Union captured and claimed as compensation; Comments of Irina A. Antonova, the Pushkin's director; Highlights of the exhibit.

Focuses on the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Number of artifacts collected by Ford, many of which signify important moments in American history; Ford's view of history as it was taught in the books; How Ford was able to acquire the limousine in which former U.S. President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed; Comments from the museum president, Steve Hemp., regarding the symbolism of the artifacts; Amount invested to reinvigorate the museum, which has led to a significant increase in museum visitors.

The article reports on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) train car No. 745 which is an artifact of the World Trade Center bombing on September 11, 2001 was hauled out from Hangar 17 of Kenndy Airport to East Haven, Connecticut as collection of Shore Line Trolley Museum.

The article reports on the search conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, preservation officer of Indian Museum. It mentions the Upadhyay is the one who uncovered artefact theft in the museum. It adds that the search is requested by the family of Upadhyay for their fear of foul play.

The article presents questions and answers on antique objects, including the value of collector cards of the television show “Davy Crocket", purchasing of antique Depression glasses and valuation of antique pedestal cake plate.

The article reports on the decision of the U.S. State Department to return a trove of Jewish artifacts previously found in Saddam Hussein's secret police headquarters and were restored outside Washington D.C. to Iraq.

The article presents the author's comments on the donations made by British musician Phil Collins to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. He views on artifacts donated by British musician Phil Collins remind the story of independence and courage of Texas. Views on Collins and how he started collecting artifacts after watching a Disney TV production in 1950s are also presented. The author's opinion on the effect of the brief return of the Travis Letter to the Alamo on the Texans is also presented.

The article focuses on the issue of refusal of the Canberra-based National Gallery of Australia (NGA), to return the dancing statue of Shiva it purchased from an Indian-origin antiquities dealer despite evidence that it was stolen from an Indian temple.

The article discusses the effect of a severe drought on Folsom Lake in California as of January 2014, with a focus on visitors to the reservoir seeking historical artifacts from the 19th century California gold rush era, vandalism concerns, and the submerged Mormon Island town.

The article discusses New York City's Metropolitian Museum of Art's (Met) decision to return two statues from the Prasat Chen Khmer temple to Cambodia as of May 15, 2013. Topics addressed include pressure on other American museums to return artifacts that were originally looted from Cambodia, and various Hindu statues from the Koh Ker archaeological site in Cambodia.

International SPURRED BY THE INTERNET, [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experiences as a collector of artifacts related to Abraham Lincoln.

The article features the American historic flag collection of Morris Offit of the Offit Capital Advisors.

The article offers information on various railway museums and places in British Columbia. It states that the Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum houses nine historical buildings, over 70 pieces of rolling stock, and many smaller rail artifacts. It says that the British Columbia Forestry Museum holds special events like themed train rides. It adds that a 20-minute steam train ride is being offered at the Fort Steele Heritage Town on a vintage locomotive.

The article reports on the role of the ordinary citizens, the government's antiquities department and the military in limiting the damage caused by Molotov cocktails hurled by protested onto the front of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt on January 28, 2011.

The article reports on the move of the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History in Texas to preserve treasured objects and artifacts it held with the help of a system called the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources. The system donated by the Institute of Museum of Library Services is aimed at enabling staff member to research the respective parts of the collection in detail.

Fourteen works from the antiquities collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art were officially presented to the Italian public in Rome on Thursday, underscoring ''the excellent collaboration between the United States institution and the Italian Culture Ministry,'' Attorney General Oscar Fiumara of Italy said. The return follows two years of negotiations about their rightful ownership. The Italians maintained that the works had been looted from sites in Sicily, Sardinia, Apulia and Campania. An accord between the museum and the culture ministry was signed in November, and the artifacts -- which date from the 9th century B.C. to the 14th century A.D. -- will now be returned to museums in their regions of provenance. The Cleveland museum will receive long-term loans of similar works in exchange. The returned works include a rare 4th-century B.C. Apulian volute krater, above, and a 14th-century gold-plated cross, left. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To the Editor: Re ''Museums Set Stricter Guidelines for Acquiring Antiquities'' (Arts pages, June 4): [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

JERRY PODANY knows the kind of damage earthquakes can wreak. But he has concerns beyond collapsed buildings, cracked roads and fallen bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the issue of cultural restitution with reference to the consensus among the museums over the return of stolen artifacts. It is mentioned that the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts agreed to return the 13 artifacts belonging to Italy, setting an example for cultural restitution. It is mentioned that the International Council of Museums had adopted a code of professional ethics in 1986 to deal effectively with the ownership issue.

The article reports on the public display of 'Stories from the Southesk Collection: A 150-Year Journey' on May 5, 2007 at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton. The artifacts were collected by James Carnegie, the ninth Earl of Southesk, during his visit to the Canadian west and were being stored in a trunk at a castle in Scotland for 150 years. The display items were considered as one of the most significant collections of Northern Plains artifacts.

The article focuses on the efforts made by Randall Dana to salvage artifacts from more than 500 buildings, including the Broadway Central Hotel and the Women's House of Detention, in New York, which were damaged during the 1970s. Dana had collected more than 50 tons of keystones, cameos, friezes and spandrels. He learned to create replicas of the artifacts with clay. He is operating the web site www.lostnewyorkcity.com, which offers information on the damaged buildings.

The article presents information on the discovery of several archaeological remains under an Olympic site in China. The remains, that are related to the Hans Dynasty which existed 2000 years ago, include 1538 artifacts including porcelain urns, jade jewelry, and 6000 ancient coins. The excavation site seems to be the example of how the antiquities protecting system of China should work.

The article focuses on the purchase of antiquities by the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California.

Reports on developments related to arts. Restoration of a 1,700-year-old, two-foot marble head of the Emperor Constantine discovered in the Trajan markets in Rome, Italy; Sale of the handwritten lyrics of John Lennon for the song "All You Need is Love at an auction in London, England; Premieres of Hollywood films at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival in Italy.