negativeSYS.SOURCE: ArtNet• 2026-07-12T17:00:29Z
Illicit Antiquities Trade Persisting Due to Sustained Demand
The illicit trade in looted antiquities persists due to sustained demand from collectors and institutions, as illustrated by the 1997 looting of Cambodian temple statues and their subsequent sale to private collectors and museums. The article highlights how demand fuels trafficking networks, enabling the continued exploitation of cultural heritage sites.
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