Trafficking Culture
Trafficking Culture is a research consortium that produces evidence-based research into the contemporary global trade in looted cultural objects.
Our researchers, based at Maastricht University, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, and University of Glasgow, combine criminological and archaeological expertise. Our work is geographically diverse and interdisciplinary.
By conducting innovative quantitative and qualitative research we have established a body of reliable evidence that supports the formulation of effective cultural heritage protection policy. We are committed to raising awareness about these issues through social media, on-line education, and professional training.
Our book is available now: Trafficking Culture: New Directions in Researching the Global Market in Illicit Antiquities
Recent News
Machine-learning method to dig deeper into antiquities trafficking
02 Jun 2023
Professor Shawn Graham and his team worked alongside Dr Donna Yates to design a machine-learning...
Yates will participate in Round Table ‘Science Diplomacy: As a tool for tackling cultural property illicit trafficking’, May 25
23 May 2023
Dr Donna Yates will participate in Round Table ‘Science Diplomacy: As a tool for tackling...
Yates speaking at conference on use of AML/CFT in Investigation of Art & Antiquities Criminality
10 May 2023
Dr Donna Yates is speaking at a regional conference on use of AML/CFT in Investigation of Art &
Site Updates
Relationship Prediction in a Knowledge Graph Embedding Model of the Illicit Antiquities Trade
Abstract The transnational networks of the illicit and illegal antiquities trade are hard to...
Criminological Frameworks for Understanding Mexican Antiquities in Contemporary European Auctions
Excerpt: On 3 December 2021, when we were preparing the presentation that inspired this writing,...
Money Laundering and Antiquities
Recent amendments to anti-money-laundering regulations in Europe and the United States have...