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The Great Giveback: New Report Examines the Global Return of More Than One Million Cultural Objects
A new report, The Great Giveback: Analysis of the Museum of Looted Antiquities Dataset, examines the global return of cultural objects to their countries and communities of origin. Published in 2026 by the Achilles Research Group (ARG) and the Antiquities Coalition, the report analyzes nearly 1,400 repatriation cases documented by the Museum of Looted Antiquities, a project of ARG.
Welcome to Dark Arts
Welcome to Dark Arts, where we’re publishing insights and updates from the Achilles Research Group, a non-profit research collaborative investigating the dark side of the art market.
Facebook’s Black Market in Antiquities
Facebook’s “Groups” feature, which allows users to create and control a contained network of individuals with “shared interests,” has become a facilitator for the expansion of antiquities trafficking networks. The Groups provide a seamless environment for digital interactions and cross-border networking between users interested in buying and selling antiquities, allowing them to communicate efficiently and discretely. The ATHAR Project’s report covers nearly two-years of investigative research.
Chasing Aphrodite: An Investigative Blog Uncovering the Secrets of Looted Antiquities
The Chasing Aphrodite website and blog (managed by investigative journalist Jason Felch, founder of the "Museum of Looted Antiquities" project) serves as a live documentary platform tracking the paths of stolen artifacts hidden in the world's most famous museums. The site is named after the renowned book that helped expose the involvement of major art institutions in acquiring smuggled antiquities.