about

Hi! I’m Sam Hardy (or Dr. Samuel Andrew Hardy, which I use so my work is easier to find). I’m an Associate Researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research, on a project on Destructive Exploitation and care of Cultural Objects and Professional/Public Education for sustainable heritage management (DECOPE), under the Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage and Global Change – Cultural Heritage, Society and Ethics (JPI CH CHSE). You can contact me @samarkeolog, @conflictantiq or by e-mail.

Conflict Antiquities

Conflict antiquities are cultural objects that are looted/stolen, trafficked/smuggled, sold/bartered and/or taxed/racketeered to fund political violence, from invasion and espionage to insurgency and terrorism. On top of the immediate violence, this plunder has a devastating impact on communities’ self-understanding, development and peace.

Here, I explore the trade in illicit antiquities, and the destruction of community and cultural property, during economic crises, by organised crime and through political violence. I focus on investigating and analysing crimes against cultural heritage and community property.

I also cover other uses/treatments of cultural property (from appropriation to vandalism); and the social, economic and political context (for example, state censorship). My primary research area is Cyprus, Greece and Turkey; but I look at art crime and conflict outside the Eastern Mediterranean too.

Comments

I moderate comments, to block spam and bigotry. I do not always have regular internet access; but I will reply to e-mails and tweets (and approve and reply to comments) as soon as possible.