ABSTRACT
In the past year, there was signifi cant progress toward wider acceptance and implementation of two signifi cant international conventions that aim to preserve cultural heritage: the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which addresses the trade in cultural materials, and the 1954 Hague Convention, which protects cultural property during time of war. Last year also saw the adoption of a new UNESCO convention. The fate of cultural heritage in Iraq continued to play a role in the development of United States law, in particular, to prevent the importation and dealing in cultural materials that have been illegally removed from Iraq. In addition, some of the most contentious disputes in the United States, particularly those concerning the restitution of artworks stolen during the Holocaust, moved toward settlement after protracted litigation. A U.S. district court decision was the fi rst to consider and apply the National Historic Preservation Act in an international context. Finally, the United Kingdom moved to permit national museums to restore human remains to indigenous and other cultural groups both within and outside of the United Kingdom.
