ATHAR Project is a project of @AchillesResearc that investigates antiquities black markets on social media platforms. Partner organization of @counteringcrime
United States
Joined November 2018
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SOON: ‘Artifact War’ world premiere and best feature doc nominee at the
@austinfilmfest. The film follows the work of @alazmamr @Adnan77227624 @AnthroPaulicy as they track trafficked Syrian antiquities from war zone looting sites to social media sites.
youtu.be/dapILdUU6bk?feature…
More than 5 years ago, Facebook created a "policy" to ban the sale of artifacts.
Today, we finally see the first Facebook antiquities trafficking group to reach more than 1 million members.
Facebook's policies are nothing more than PR. There is no enforcement.
Chicago coin and antiquities dealer Harlan J Berk returns coins to US Navy that had been stolen from a shipwreck.
Let’s hope the firm exercises the same due diligence on the antiquities it acquires from the developing world.
wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/…
"These virtual investigations led to the opening of new cases, demonstrating how digital platforms are quickly becoming a channel of choice by traffickers to market and sell looted artefacts. A total of 4,298 cultural goods were seized as a result of the cyber patrols."
"Authorities recovered 2,500 archaeological items, primarily Roman coins ... These artifacts had been looted from protected archaeological sites in the province of Caceres using metal detectors and were being sold illegally through social media platforms." interpol.int/en/News-and-Eve…
ATHAR Project retweeted
This month, the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge dives into the world of art, history and illicit trade. Can you spot the telltale signs of stolen cultural artifacts and trace who handled them in the past? Give this month’s Bellingcat Challenge a try! Challenge.bellingcat.com
NEW: @leonmccarron speaks to ATHAR Peoject’s @alazmamr for @newlinesmag about the growing illicit antiquities trade in the new Syria 🧵
newlinesmag.com/reportage/tr…
With 90% of the population going hungry, Syrians are turning to looting of archaeological sites just to survive. Leon McCarron reports from across Syria to assess the damage, for @newlinesmag
newlinesmag.com/reportage/tr…
ATHAR's @alazmamr tells @newlinesmag “The main take-home of this time is the phenomenal increase in material and activity in Syria," particularly for material trafficked online.
@leonmccarron writes "While researching this story, I joined around a dozen Facebook treasure-hunting groups, some of which have upward of 500,000 members from Syria and elsewhere in the region"
Contrary to what this antiquities market lobbyist claims, the State Department’s own fact sheet titles “100 Days of an America First State Department” considers its efforts on heritage in conflict zones very America First.
state.gov/releases/2025/04/1…
Cultural Property Observer: NOT MAGA- New Emergency Import Restrictions Mandate Repatriation of Cultural Goods Seized from Americans to the Failing State of Lebanon @SecRubio @ECAatState @HeritageAtState ??? Off the rails!!! culturalpropertyobserver.blo…
ATHAR Project retweeted
The #PeoplingPodcast is BACK! Today, to kick off Season 4, we are joined by Katie Paul to discuss the role of Facebook in the illicit antiquities trade, and how the company has been complicit in the sale and destruction of cultural heritage. Listen here: peoplingthepast.com/2025/04/…
ATHAR Project retweeted
EVENT | Documentary Screening: Artifact War
Join us for "Artifact War," exploring ISIS's antiquities trafficking in Syria, followed by a panel with the filmmaker and other experts.
📅 Apr 4, 10:30AM-12:30PM
📍RSVP:
wilsoncenter.org/event/docum…
ATHAR Project retweeted
The incredible work of @CounteringCrime members
@ATHARProject is now being featured in a documentary. Archeologists go undercover to save antiquities stolen by ISIS and sold on...wait for it...FACEBOOK. Check out the trailer:
youtube.com/watch?v=sngcIglw…
ATHAR Project retweeted
📷 A Visigothic silver medallion, dating between the 5th and 7th century CE, in circulation in New York with Phoenix Ancient Art is relinquished to Spain.
art-crime.blogspot.com/2025/…
ATHAR Project retweeted
NOW: They waited until late at night, but look at this little nugget and see what they snuck in in an effort to cut government: Scholars, museums, the Interagency Council on Homelessness and . . .
"The Minority Business Development Agency"
ATHAR Project retweeted
Are you a keen researcher and passionate about environment or wildlife investigations? Bellingcat is looking for wildlife and environment related investigations that use open source methods and tools. bellingcat.com/uncategorized…
ATHAR Project retweeted
I talk a fair bit about the expectation that archaeologists will work for free. Even when we do get paid for appearing at events the reality can be grim. In this thread, I'm going to outline financial issues at play in giving a public lecture using a real world example...
