Salt Lake Feds Tackle Artefact Black Market
A total of 25 people have been arrested in a sting operation on the illegal ancient artefacts trade in the United States. Federal authorities say they have already seen a marked dip in the black market following the bust in Salt Lake City, Utah. Of the suspects detained, 23 have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them - while two have taken their own lives.
Officials are confident they have already quelled illegal trade in the 'Four Corners' region, yet many more arrests are expected. "It's fair to say the investigation is looking at all levels, from diggers and dealers to high-end collectors," says Carlie Christensen, assistant attorney for Utah. The sting is the first to delve into the murky world of the US artefact black market, and has involved a Donnie Brasco-style trader-cum-informant working contacts all over the country for two-and-a-half years. The informant has even been able to supply officials with looting 'tactics', like digging in camouflage and looting the soft grounds of springtime.
"The investigation is looking at all levels, from diggers and dealers to high-end collectors."
The arrests deal a hefty blow to the trade, and have given a lifeline to the ancient tribal heritage of the Four Corners which comprises Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. The area is famous for its Native American heritage, being the indigenous home of several tribes including the Navajo and Ute - yet thousands of invaluable items have been pulled from the ground, to appear in private homes and collections, over the past few decades. Experts and enthusiasts across the world are hoping this American operation can spur their own governments to act on an issue which is stripping many countries of their most prized assets. Illegal treasure hunting in Bulgaria has reached boiling point, and the fate of Iraq's innumerable treasures is a matter of concern for ancient world lovers everywhere.
Image by Wolfgang Staudt.
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A 66-year-old man has become the latest person arrested for selling illegally taken Indian artefacts. Robert B. Knowlton, from Grand Junction, Colorado, has been indicted for selling a 'cloud blower' pipe, used for medicinal purposes, for $750; and two arrowhead knives for $3,000 each. If found guilty, Knowlton faces two years in jail and a $20,000 fine for each count. He is also charged with transporting stolen goods across state borders, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years and a $250,000 fine. "The value of any particular artifact is not that it can be hunted, looted, traded and sold as a collectible novelty treasure," Jeanne Proctor, Bureau of Land Management special agent, tells the Denver Post. "Rather, the true nature of cultural resources lies in their context, as well as the sacred and scientific meanings such archaeological artifacts provided us as a people."
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