Who is Christos Tsirogiannis and what does he do?

Christos Tsirogiannis is a forensic archaeologist at Cambridge University who specializes in tracking down and exposing illegally trafficked antiquities found in museums and auction houses worldwide.

How do illicit antiquities end up in auction houses like Bonhams?

Illicit antiquities often enter the market with fake or incomplete provenances, obscuring their illegal excavation and trafficking history, making it difficult for auction houses to verify their origins without rigorous investigation.

What is being done to combat antiquities trafficking?

Efforts include forensic research by experts like Tsirogiannis, cooperation with authorities, and institutions like the Allard Pierson Museum proactively auditing collections to identify and return illicitly obtained artifacts.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Archaeologist Hunts Illicit Antiquities in Auctions

Archaeologist Hunts Illicit Antiquities in Auctions

13 Dec

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Summary

Forensic archaeologist Christos Tsirogiannis tracks trafficked antiquities globally.
He identified over 1,700 items linked to illicit trafficking networks.
Auction houses are urged to rigorously vet provenances before sales.

Archaeologist Hunts Illicit Antiquities in Auctions

Forensic archaeologist Christos Tsirogiannis is a leading figure in the fight against illicit antiquities trafficking, having identified over 1,700 items linked to criminal networks over nearly two decades. His meticulous work involves scrutinizing inventories of museums and auction houses, leading to the recent withdrawal of two artifacts from Bonhams due to suspicious provenance. Tsirogiannis collaborates closely with Italian and Greek authorities, leveraging extensive archives of trafficked goods to trace and recover stolen cultural heritage.

His efforts are crucial in bringing attention to an often-overlooked aspect of cultural heritage crime. The discovery of a detailed network map in 1995 significantly aided investigations into major traffickers like Giacomo Medici and Gianfranco Becchina. Tsirogiannis's discoveries have prompted other major auction houses, such as Christie's and the Kallos Gallery, to withdraw items from sale, underscoring the importance of robust provenance research.