Read all of antiquities dealer Michel van Rijn’s odd and amazing early blog online here. It is spectacular. #artcrime #archaeology www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2025/11/read...

Through the narratives of violence and control in auction sales of Pacific cultural objects, I consider consumer desire: "Marketing, Narratives, and Consumer Desire within Auction Catalogs of Cultural Objects" out now, Open Access, in Advances in Archaeological Practice. doi.org/10.1017/aap....

Colleagues at Maastricht University. I'm running for University Council. I would truly appreciate your vote. Take a moment and vote here: elections.maastrichtuniversity.nl and if you would like to see the platform I'm running on, here: leadmaastricht.nl

A film that takes place where you’re from

Holy heck, and this is being used to sell luxury handbags? This is very my research times a million.

Well I've just submitted my application to create a new UNESCO chair in Global Heritage and Emerging Crime. Let's see what they think!

I’m looking to hire a postdoc (100%, 22 months, salary significantly above the standard postdoc in Austria or Germany). The position is set to begin on 1 June 2025. The project explores how biases in the fossil record affect our ability to use past biodiversity data for modern conservation. 1/3

Today, I'm on strike.

🟥 Maastricht University is on strike today to protest devastating cuts in higher ed 🟥 👉 Show up @ Vrijthof @ 12:30! 👉 Bring your colleagues! 👉 Post your photos & tag us! 👉 Help us to spread the word - share this post! #WOinACTIE #DefendMaastrichtUniversity #KabinetSlooptHogerOnderwijs #StakingHO

Today is not just about UM but also about Limburg and education in NL! You are still in time to convince colleagues and students to join. Does somebody need convincing? That is why WOinActie created a video series addressing the key questions. Visit the video series here: edu.nl/paw8e #WoinActie

The strike in Maastricht is on, come and join us! 🟥 Organised by FNV, AOb & MOSA. Here's the plan: 🕛 12:00 Meet & walk to Vrijthof 🎶 12:30 Music + free fries 📢 13:00 Speeches & music 🚶‍♀️ 14:00 March through city 🛍️ 14:45 Strike market Full info & updates 👉 edu.nl/xaa3q #WOinActie

People interested in antiquities trafficking research, take a moment to read "In Want of Methodological Rigor: A Critique of Suber et al. (2022)" by Michelle Fabiani and @dremilinesmith.bsky.social. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Belfast: Two men charged after 'high value piece of art' stolen

Sigh. I have a photograph that I took of that door in 2007 behind me in my office right now. A small but painful loss.

Roban piezas históricas de iglesia de San Agustín en Quito y la comunidad reacciona

I've spent a lot of time on Leonardo Patterson and have published no less than 4 academic journal papers that involve him. I suppose I always thought I'd meet him. I'll share the papers here (all open access). They barely scratch the surface of this man's remarkable life in the illicit antiquities.

If anyone here has access to a PDF of this article, I'd love a copy. The amount of my life that I've spent on Patterson's life is no small amount. It would be interesting to see what the times said about him.

Leonardo Patterson, 82, High-Flying Antiquities Dealer Brought Low, Dies

Shakespeare First Folio back on show 27 years after it was stolen

Cyprus Customs returns stolen ancient coins to Department of Antiquities

MPF repatria fósseis de 100 mi de anos levados ilegalmente do país

After 120 Years Stored in a Museum, an Indigenous Shrine Returns Home

PhD candidate Marie Kolbenstetter helps repatriate Honduran heritage

Mystery Surrounds Artefacts Allegedly Stolen from Old Goa Excavation Site Amidst Police Investigation into Activists

Art Institute Of Chicago Returned A Sculpture To Nepal But Obscured Its Connection To A Wealthy Donor

Cambodia reclaims two looted artefacts www.khmertimeskh.com/501661215/ca...

New images reveal extent of looting at Sudan’s national museum as rooms stripped of treasures

Does anyone know of a heritage, tourism, museum, memory studies journal that publishes short reflexive pieces? Notes from the field? One of my PhDs wrote a compelling reflection on fieldwork at Chinese dark heritage/genocide memorial sites (~3000 words). I would love to see it published somewhere.

‘We are crying’: heritage authorities express sorrow after Sudan National Museum looted and ransacked

Art crime, art law and provenance research opportunities for 3 April! www.anonymousswisscollector.com/2025/04/art-... Don't forget to sign up to get the (monthly) list in your email: www.anonymousswisscollector.com/opportunities

Henry Gibbs painting looted by Nazis to be returned to Jewish art dealer’s family

I'm sending another opportunities list out today. Reply with anything to include and don't forget to sign up to receive it.

Art Expert Accused of Duping Prince and Palace of Versailles Stands Trial

Proyecto arqueológico en Barrio de la Cruz busca frenar el saqueo y rescatar la historia - Tribuna de Querétaro

Security system failed during Drents Museum gold theft, says Romanian curator

Ghana: Manhyia Palace Museum, Justice and Repair sign MOU to repatriate stolen Asante artifacts

Parliamentary panel recommends setting up task force to reclaim India’s stolen artifacts

Luxembourg : Art and jewellery reportedly stolen from Prince Guillaume's home

The fight for Nazi stolen masterpieces heads to the big screen in "Auction"

Manhattan DA Secures Return of Valuable Antiquities to Spain and Cyprus in Ongoing Trafficking Battle hoodline.com/2025/03/manh...

Bronze Age Corsican statue sold at auction in London is a ‘fake’, French cultural authorities claim

Famed German robber’s skeleton identified after 220-year-long mix-up www.popsci.com/science/crim...

17th Century Painting Up for Auction. But a Carabiniere from Cagliari Realizes It's Stolen

How an iPad under the Thames solved museum thieves' murder plot

I get a lot of emails asking me about opportunities in art crime/provenance/art law research. I can't send out individual emails , so I set up an email list! Once or twice a month I send out conference, job, publishing, or other opportunities. Sign up: www.anonymousswisscollector.com/opportunities

South Korea: Former heritage research center director under investigation for keeping artifacts at home

Jordan: Customs foil attempt to smuggle 204 antiquities through Queen Alia Airport

Yemen: Antiquities Authority receives two ancient tombstones, illicit trade prevented

I'm having trouble writing at the moment: I'm still writing about megalodon tooth markets so awesome, but my focus just isn't here. In the (dark, distant) past I would turn to social media as a way to just drift for a while, but I find I have forgotten how to do that since being off for so long.

Fellow Maastricht people: these events are ALWAYS interesting and I am always glad that I attended. At the last one my jaw dropped with surprise on multiple occasions and I somehow emerged with a whole mini-research project idea (seriously). Go. Tell your PhDs to go. Go.