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To uncover the origins of this factoid, Drs Donna Yates and Neil Brodie, from the Trafficking Culture research group, carried out a systematic examination of literature relating to the claim. Their results are published in the journal Antiquity.
The authors traced the factoid back to a note in the Journal of Field Archaeology from 1974, in which it was claimed that international traffic in art was second only to narcotics. Even though that statement was not substantiated with any evidence, it was quickly repeated by others.
“Public understanding and policy need to be based on evidence, not rhetoric”, state the authors. “Good policy can only be developed from good research; if it is based on factoids and false information, it cannot succeed.”
Unsubstantiated factoids should not influence the policy-making of major international bodies. It undermines the importance of real data and potentially leads to ineffective measures being taken against the illicit antiquities trade.
It also sets a dangerous precedent for quantifying the damage criminal activity causes.
“Antiquities and other cultural objects are fundamental components of our heritage and identity. We do not need to rank their illicit trade financially to render the social harms more damaging.”
More information:
Donna Yates et al, The illicit trade in antiquities is not the world’s third-largest illicit trade: a critical evaluation of a factoid, Antiquity (2023). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2023.90
Provided by
Antiquity
Citation:
Unproven numbers distract from the real harm of the illicit antiquities trade, says study (2023, July 22)
retrieved 23 July 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-07-unproven-distract-real-illicit-antiquities.html
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