Our awards

The European Archaeological Heritage Prize for 2004 has been awarded to the Illicit Antiquities Research Centre at the McDonald Institute at the University of Cambridge, for its internationally unique contribution to European and World Heritage protection through their work on investigating and effectively bringing to the attention of individuals, institutions and authorities the illicit trade in antiquities at all levels. And further for having promoted a change of attitude, ethics and legislation through these activities.

The European Archaeological Heritage Prize was instituted by the European Association of Archaeologists in 1999. The prize is awarded annually by an independent committee to an individual, institution or government for an outstanding contribution to the protection and presentation of the European archaeological heritage.

The Illicit Antiquities Research Centre was launched in 1997 as a response to increasing international concerns raised about the irreplaceable loss of knowledge of the past caused by all forms of illicit excavations and trade in antiquities. The centre intended first of all to raise public awareness in Britain and internationally about these issues and through that seek appropriate national and international legislation, codes of conduct and other conventions to place restraint upon it.

It further would seek to ensure agreements among national organisations and museums in the UK and beyond on an appropriate policy on the acquisition, display and publication on unprovenanced artefacts. However, it would also seek to co-operate with dealers and auction houses in furthering the understanding of such issues and the adherence to appropriate practices. Finally it would investigate and make publicly known illicit activities relating to antiquities of the Near East, Egypt and Asia Minor and to publish such information.

The Centre has not a big staff, but has done an impressive job in raising awareness and changing attitudes all over the world. It has been achieved by effective information campaigns, such as the publication and exhibition Stealing History, an active website and a newsletter Culture Without Context. Impressive downloading numbers from the website testifies to its general impact. In addition appearances on radio and television, and political work has resulted in concrete improvements in legislation, especially in the UK. It demonstrates the political importance of a centre like the IARC.

The IARC remains the only centre in the world dedicated to the problems caused by trade in illicit antiquities. Being independent it has successfully co-ordinated and hosted meetings, conferences and gathering where archaeologists, police, government ministers and lawyers from countries around the work can meet. From one of these meetings in 1999 a Cambridge Resolution was passed to encourage effective national legislation, and a new International Standing Committee on Traffic in Illicit Antiquities was founded. In addition several conference proceedings have been published in the McDonald Monograph Series.

Over a short span of years the IARC has achieved a major change of attitude among museums and politicians. It was reflected in the United Kingdoms ratification after 30 years of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. However, problems of illicit trade in antiquities have not decreased in scope or complexity, as demonstrated by the situation in Iraq where the centre has played an active role. On this background we find it timely to award the EAA Heritage Prize for 2004 to the Illicit Antiquities Research Centre. We hope the prize will help to make the IARC an internationally recognised centre of information and policy formation as regards trade in illicit antiquities, and ensure international support for its work.

The EAA Committee for the European Archaeological Heritage Prize, consisting of:

David Breeze, Scotland
Jurgen Kunow, Germany
Katalin Wollak, Hungary
Sebastiano Tusa, Italy
Kristian Kristiansen, Sweden (Chairperson)

The Archaeological Institute of America is proud to present the 2006 Award for Outstanding Public Service to the Illicit Antiquities Research Centre.  The Illicit Antiquities Research Centre (IARC) was founded in May 1996 in response to increasing concern about both the destruction of archaeological sites and ancient monuments throughout the world and the resulting loss of historical knowledge.  Working under the auspices of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge, the Centre raises awareness about the problem of looting and its connection to the illicit antiquities trade through public education and media campaigns.  Emphasizing that the true value of an artifact is irreparably diminished by the loss of cultural information caused by its unrecorded divorce from context, the IARC has attempted to create a climate of opinion that will discourage the collection of illicit antiquities.  IARC has a small but extremely dedicated staff including Colin Renfrew, Neil Brodie, Chris Scarre, Augusta McMahon, Peter Watson and Jenny Doole.

IARC has been active in supporting national legislation and international agreements for the protection of cultural heritage.  The recent ratification by the United Kingdom of the 1097 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property reflects a growing awareness among British politicians, the museum and dealer communities and the general public about the need to safeguard the world's archaeological patrimony.  IARC has contributed in no small way to this change in perception regarding the preservation of the past.  IARC's thorough research is frequently cited by journalists.

IARC also organized conferences that bring together archaeologists, government and law-enforcement officials, and museum representatives from around the world to exchange information about illicit trade and potential solutions to the problems.  One such gathering in 1999 resulted in the establishment of the International Standing Committee on the Traffic in Illicit Antiquities and the passing of the 'Cambridge Resolution', in which a group of international experts agreed to join forces to combat the illicit trade and raise public awareness about it.

In 2000 IARC published Stealing History:  the Illicit Trade in Cultural Material - a report commissioned by the Museums Association and ICOM-UK - and in 2001, the highly influential Trade In Illicit Antiquities:  the Destruction of the World's Archaeological Heritage.  Both these books have become standard references in the field, used by students, archaeological professionals, the media, and national and international policy makers. In addition, IARC maintains an active and frequently visited website and publishes a regular newsletter, Culture Without Context.

In its mission and activities IARC is unique in the world and has had a major impact in its ten years of existence.  In recognition of notable achievement, the Archaeological Institute of America presents the Outstanding Public Service Award for the year 2006 to the Illicit Antiquities Research Centre.