ABSTRACT
The rise of online antiquities marketplaces has democratized the trade of cultural artifacts making a large number of objects available for easy purchase at affordable prices. This chapter addresses how the rise of online antiquities marketplaces has fundamentally transformed the trade of cultural artifacts and what this means for future investigations of this illicit market. By evaluating data collection methods from marketplace and social media data, the authors examine various technology and tools that can not only detect and disrupt antiquities trafficking but also promote the responsible acquisition of cultural property. The chapter illustrates the importance of open source intelligence (OSINT) in detecting, analysing and mapping illicit antiquities networks and explains the authors’ development of custom tailored software. The authors examine various technology and tools that can not only detect and disrupt antiquities trafficking but also promote the responsible collection of cultural property in the 21st century.
