It is clear from satellite images of antiquities-rich ancient sites that Syria is being looted. ISIS is destroying pre-Islamic work of arts and selling valuable items on the international black market, eliminating the archaeological context of these objects. As cited in many reports during the past few weeks, there has been a 145% increase in American imports of Syrian cultural objects and a 61 percent increase in American imports of Iraqi cultural property between 2011 and 2013,[1] suggesting that the illicit trade is reaching American consumers by mixing with the legal trade.

Most experts agree that objects leave war-torn areas like Syria and enter the black market in countries like Turkey and Lebanon. After that point, they enter the black market in the Gulf Countries (such as the UAE) and make their way to larger markets in Europe and the US.  Looted antiquities are smuggled as crafts, laundered without documentation (or with falsified provenance) and then sold on the open market. As the objects move up the market, prices escalate.

The demand drives the market. ISIS is able to fund terrorist activities with looted antiquities because there is a market for these objects. If we eliminate the demand, then we can stop (or at least reduce) the looting. It is impossible to protect all of the archaeologically significant sites in war-torn areas and areas under ISIS control; a better and safer method (and one that does not endanger the lives of soldiers), is to eliminate the market. However, some collectors do not care whether works were properly excavated and legally sold. To halt this activity, the UK passed an emergency measure to prohibit the importation of antiquities that appear to be from Syria. Current U.S. law does not prohibit selling looted objects unless there is an existing agreement with the source nation. But earlier this month, a bill to protect cultural objects was introduced to the House of Representatives by Representatives Smith and Engel. The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act (H.R. 5703) would create a cultural property coordinator who would work with US officials to establish import restrictions to prevent looted and smuggled Syrian objects from entering into the United States.

Leila Amineddoleh speaks with British reporter John Rees about the destruction and looting of antiquities in war-torn areas in the Middle East.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpAHVx9l4Mg&index=1&list=PLe8UYjTcvNTBK1jY2VepVpP3IJiJRtqiH