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, Oxford University, University of Victoria at 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.
NEW BOOK Available now (20% discount available for a limited time): Trafficking Culture: New Directions in Researching the Global Market in Illicit Antiquities
Recent News

Yates speaking at Shaikh Ebrahim Center, 30 May
18 May 2022
Dr Donna Yates will give an in-person talk “Illicit Antiquities: A Global Criminal...

Conversation with Emiline Smith on Newsfirst Sri Lanka
21 Mar 2022
Dr Emiline Smith was interviewed on NewsFirst Sri Lanka. Dr Smith talked about looting, illegal...

Article by Emiline Smith on Hyperallergic
17 Mar 2022
Article “The Ongoing Looting of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Heritage” written by Dr Emiline...
Site Updates
Criminology towards the metaverse: Cryptocurrency scams, grey economy and the technosocial
Online markets in cryptocurrency represent a sprawling and eclectic alternative financial system,...
Crime and its objects: Human/object relationships and the market for illicit latin american antiquities
I would like to start this short essay with a clear statement: the trade in antiquities from Latin...
Global Trade in Stolen Culture and Nature as Neocolonial Hegemony
In this chapter, we first argue for a green criminological perspective on culture as well as...