Cultural Heritage Policy

At the Antiquity Preservation Fund, we are committed to the ethical and responsible acquisition, curation, and stewardship of cultural heritage artifacts. As an organization dedicated to the preservation and study of human history, we recognize the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our practices.

Acquisition Policy:

  1. Legal Acquisition: All artifacts in our collection have been acquired through legal means, such as reputable auctions, dealers, and sellers. We strictly prohibit the acquisition of any artifact that has been obtained through illegal excavation, looting, or unauthorized removal from its country of origin.

  2. Due Diligence: Prior to acquiring any artifact, we conduct thorough due diligence to ensure its authenticity and legality. This includes researching the artifact's provenance, verifying documentation, and consulting with experts in the field.

  3. Collaboration with Authorities: We maintain open lines of communication with the Department of Antiquities and other relevant authorities to ensure that our acquisitions comply with all applicable laws and regulations. In the event that we discover an artifact in our possession has been illegally obtained, we will immediately report it to the Department of Antiquities and take appropriate action, which may include returning the artifact to its rightful owner or country of origin.

Collections Management:

  1. Comprehensive Documentation: All artifacts in our collection are meticulously documented and listed on our website's collections page. This documentation includes, when known, the artifact's provenance, date of acquisition, purchase information, and any other relevant details.

  2. Transparency: We maintain open communication with the Department of Antiquities, they are also aware of all artifacts presently in our collection. We are committed to transparency and will promptly address any inquiries or concerns raised by the authorities.

  3. Preservation and Care: Our artifacts are stored in secure, climate-controlled environments to ensure their long-term preservation. We consult with professional conservators and adhere to best practices in collections care to minimize deterioration and damage.

Access and Loans:

  1. Public Access: While our artifacts are not for sale and have never been sold, we are committed to making them accessible to the public for educational and research purposes. Artifacts may be displayed in our own exhibitions or made available through short and long term loans to other reputable institutions.

  2. Loan Policy: Short-term and long-term loans of artifacts are available to qualified institutions, subject to availability and the terms of our loan agreement. Borrowing institutions must demonstrate their ability to properly care for and secure the artifacts during the loan period.

  3. Scholarly Research: We encourage and support scholarly research on the artifacts in our collection. Qualified researchers may request access to our artifacts and archives, subject to our research policies and procedures.

Ethical Standards:

  1. International Conventions: While we aim to adhere to international conventions like UNESCO 1970 whenever possible, many artifacts of significant cultural value do not have fully verifiable pre-1970 documentation. In these cases we make judgement calls based on the provenance, sellers track record, art crimes database checks and assumptions that items listed for long amounts of time publicly have been checked by the Department of Antiquities auction teams. We remain fully committed to combating looting, illegal excavation, and the black market trade in all cases. Any items that are found to have been looted or illegally exported will be returned to their respective governments.

  2. Professional Guidelines: Our staff members, including directors, are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards and professional guidelines.

  3. Continuous Improvement: We are committed to continuously reviewing and improving our policies and practices to ensure that we remain at the forefront of ethical and responsible cultural heritage management.

By adhering to this Cultural Heritage Policy, we aim to contribute to the preservation, study, and appreciation of our shared human history while respecting the rights and integrity of the cultures and communities from which these artifacts originate.