Vexed Antiquities: Introduction to the Challenges of Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century

The topic of looted art appears in the news on a weekly basis, with art historians, museums, archaeologists, economists and legal scholars all weighing in on the problem. In this class we will explore and debate issues concerning the looting of ancient sites; ethical, political, and legal aspects of the international trade in art objects and antiquities; authenticity and forgery of ancient art and the scientific technologies applied in the analysis of ancient objects; the management of museums and repatriation of cultural property; conservation and preservation of cultural heritage; and the protection of cultural property in armed conflict. By the end of the class, students should be able to apply critical reasoning to a variety of ethical issues related to the heritage of the ancient world and to articulate (in oral and written form) responses to these current controversial topics.