The course offers a transversal and interdisciplinary examination of the phenomenon of illicit trafficking of cultural property, analyzing its multiple dimensions: international, EU and national legislative frameworks, differences between source, market and transit countries, criminological aspects and crime deterrence strategies, economic dimensions, use of forensic traceable technologies for deterrence and prevention, damage to cultural knowledge and ethical issues surrounding collecting and trade in antiquities. While tackling various aspects, the course adopts a holistic rights-based approach to cultural heritage protection unveiling human rights implications of the illicit trafficking and trade. The course develops as an immersive thematic path efficiently combining theoretical knowledge component with guided brainstorming activities, active reflection, group work and peer presentations continuously stimulating students to go beyond a mere acquisition of knowledge by critically approaching the discussed issues and confronting themselves with a variety of possible perspectives.

Conceived as a laboratory and structured within a 24-hour duration frame, the course also provides foundational knowledge of provenance research and accompanies students in carrying out a hands-on laboratorial exercise consisting in the analysis of publicly-available antiquities’ market records. The exercise is conducted independently by each student in parallel to the lectures; the students are expected to deliver a final presentation showcasing the results of their research work and receive a detailed professional feedback from the instructors. The course concludes with a specifically-tailored professional advice session by the instructors offering an overview of professional opportunities in the field and individual mentorship, both during the course and beyond, on advancing their professional path. Attracting professionals, experts and researchers from a multiplicity of profiles (law enforcement agents, international organizations staff, lawyers, NGOs members, criminologists, archaeologists, psychologists, anthropologists, post-graduate students of various disciplines and others) joining from all over the world, the course offers a unique networking platform, which scope goes much beyond a mere professional interaction allowing to establish life-long relationships and collaborations.

The course takes place remotely on the Google Meet platform allowing for a continuous interaction with the instructors while staying comfortably at home.

The course is held by Prof. Alesia Koush, UNESCO Chair in Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property and Cultural Rights - University of Siena, in collaboration with Dr. Christos Tsirogiannis, Forensic Archaeologist and Provenance Research Lead of the Chair.