A CALL TO PROTECT LIBYAN ANTIQUITIES AND
CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ECONOMY
We, the presidents of the undersigned cultural organizations, call on the international
community to protect the ancient sites and antiquities of Libya, which face very real
threats of damage and destruction caused by the unfortunate events and military action
currently taking place there. The cultural heritage and archaeological resources located in
Libya are irreplaceable elements of the world’s shared memory, going back thousands of
years. The importance of guarding these treasures while civil unrest is underway cannot
be overestimated.
We strongly urge immediate action to protect Libyan antiquities, cultural heritage, and
archaeological sites, as illustrated at http://archaeological.org/news/aianews/4604.
Through such action, significant archaeological artifacts and irreplaceable historic objects
will be preserved in situ and in the many museums and sites across the country. Such an
initiative will also help stem illicit international crime organizations that have links to
money laundering, human trafficking and the drug trade and are known to exploit civil
unrest and political instability for profiteering.
Whereas, cultural heritage and archaeological resources located in Libya are
irreplaceable elements of the world’s shared memory, going back thousands of years,
Whereas, some ancient Libyan artifacts of unknown provenance and antiquity may
already have been stolen and are in private hands,
Whereas, the United Nations has called for international mobilization to block stolen
cultural artifacts from Libya,
Whereas, the tourism industry in Libya is closely tied to cultural expeditions, is a source
of employment for Libyans, and has a huge potential to contribute to the rebuilding
efforts of the new Libyan economy:
We call upon Congress and the United States President to direct the following actions:

The Department of State to work with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Agency in implementing import restrictions on undocumented cultural artifacts from
Libya.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and ICE to coordinate with foreign counterparts
and intensify their antiquities enforcement operations, with a view to initiating
targeted law enforcement operations with the aim of the seizure of the stolen or
illegally exported cultural property, the arrest of the criminals involved, and the
seizure of the proceeds of these and related crimes.

US-AID to grant additional monies for protection and management of archaeological
sites, museums, and historical monuments.
We call upon Parliament and President of the EEU to direct the following actions:

The Department of Customs and Border Protection Agencies of member nations in
implementing import restrictions on undocumented cultural artifacts from Libya.

The crimes and intelligence services to coordinate with foreign counterparts and
intensify their antiquities enforcement operations, with a view to initiating targeted
law enforcement operations with the aim of the seizure of the stolen or illegally
exported cultural property, the arrest of the criminals involved, and the seizure of the
proceeds of these and related crimes.

EEU to grant additional monies for protection and management of archaeological
sites, museums, and historical monuments.
We call upon Parliament and President of the African Union, AU, to direct the following
actions:

The Departments of Customs and Border Protection Agencies of members nations in
implementing import restrictions on undocumented cultural artifacts from Libya.

The crimes and intelligence services of members nations to coordinate with foreign
counterparts and intensify their antiquities enforcement operations, with a view to
initiating targeted law enforcement operations with the aim of the seizure of the
stolen or illegally exported cultural property, the arrest of the criminals involved, and
the seizure of the proceeds of these and related crimes.

AU to grant additional monies for protection and management of archaeological sites,
museums, and historical monuments.
We further call for the following additional actions:

INTERPOL to use its special expertise in identifying and sharing critical information
throughout its 188 member countries, and in particular to use its I- 24/7
telecommunications system for the exchange of information related to crimes
involving Libyan cultural property and to identify suspicious financial transactions
which can lead to the freezing and confiscation of the proceeds.

The United Nations to work with the various other organizations, including the
African Union, Arab League of Nations, EEU, and Russian Federation, and China to
designate funds for the protection of Libyan antiquities as part of its economic aid
package for Libya.
These actions are in keeping with U.S. international obligations under the 1970 UNESCO
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and
Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Goods. They will help promote the protection of
invaluable cultural artifacts. They will continue to provide the crucial basis for tourism
revenue as Libya seeks to build a successful democratic economy.
President Ben A. Nelson
Archaeology Division-American Anthropological Association
www.aaanet.org/sections/ad/index.html
President Lucy Wayne
American Cultural Resources Association
www.acra-crm.org
President William (Fred) Limp
Society for American Archaeology
www.saa.org
President Elizabeth Bartman
Archaeological Institute of America-AIA
www.archaeological.org
President Lynley Wallis
Australian Archaeological Association
www.australianarchaeologicalassociation.com.au
President Eldon Yellowhorn
Canadian Archaeological Association
www.canadianarchaeology.com
President Friedrich Lüth
European Association of Archaeologists-EAA
www.e-a-a.org/
Co-Presidents Douglas C. Comer and Prof. dr. Willem J.H. Willems
International Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management-ICAHM
Secretary-General Luiz Oosterbeek
International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences- UISPP
www.uispp.pt.vu/
President Benjamin Smith
Pan African Archaeological Association for Prehistory and Related Studies
www.panafprehistory.org
President Chapurukha Kusimba
Society of Africanist
Archaeologists (SAfA)
www.safa.rice.edu
President Patrick Degryse
Society for Archaeological Sciences
www.socarchsci.org
President William B. Lees
Society for Historical Archaeology-SHA
www.sha.org
President Dr. Leslie C. Aiello
Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research
www.wennergren.org
President Claire Smith
World Archaeological Congress-WAC
www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org