Stolen Antiquities Recovered

August 3, 2009

Around the same time, an IAA press release acknowledged that they had recovered an ancient papyrus document, written in Hebrew, worth up to millions of dollars in a Jerusalem operation involving Palestinians trying to market the item. The document mentions “Year 4 to the destruction of Israel” and could be the first document ever discovered that specifically dates itself to an event in the Second Temple Period. Since it was taken in an operation, and not found as part of an archeological excavation, it will have to undergo lab analysis to make sure it is genuine.

Out of 14,000 IAA sites within the pre-1967 borders, at least 11,000 have been robbed, so the prevention of antiquities theft is no small matter. Since 1978, Israel’s Antiquities Law makes all antiquities found in Israel the property of the State. Established in 1985, the Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit has the power to conduct searches, make arrests, investigate any suspicious business operation in the antiquities field, and supervise the commerce of such items. Guilty parties face up to six months in prison and hefty fines. I wonder…are there any other confessions that need to be made by ignorant tourists? One thing is for sure, don’t trust your tour guide if he offers you a “gift”!