Algeria to protect archaeological heritage from looting

28/01/2007

Algeria is stepping up efforts to curb the theft of its archaeological treasures. The police plans to recruit archaeology graduates and curb the illegal trade of stolen items.

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers—28/01/07

[Lyes Aflou] One of the pieces found during the arrests.

Algerian authorities are taking measures to curb the theft and illegal trade of highly prized archaeological artefacts.

In the second week of January, police in the wilaya of Algiers arrested three people caught in possession of 98 archaeological artefacts stolen from the Djebrine Museum in the Tassili National Park in the wilaya of IIlizi. The stolen items included cleavers, scrapers, leaf points, arrowheads and blades, some of which are over a million years old. These historic artefacts are classified by UNESCO as human heritage, but are being sold to foreign agents abroad.

The trafficking and forgery of works of art and archaeological artefacts are among the forms of organised crime which the Algerian authorities have decided to crack down on.

According to the police force information office, in 2005, Algerian police seized 444 archaeological artefacts, including statues and vases, and 111 coins which people were trying to sell in Tunisia. In November of last year, a gang was apprehended trying to smuggle canvases of Spanish paintings at the western border. Three out of seven items, including a bust of Picasso, were recovered in Medrissa in the wilaya of Tiaret -- the others were sold in the capital. The police was able to identify the buyers, who will have to return them or face prosecution for receipt of stolen goods.

Police officers have made around 30 arrests in the last year. Four people are currently in custody awaiting trial and another four have been placed under restrictions.

Four regional police units have been set up in Oran, Constantine, Ouargla and Tamanrasset to track down people involved in this illegal trade. The units make inventories of archaeological sites and carry out aerial surveillance. In the future, the police plan to step up these efforts by recruiting students from institutes of archaeology.

Particular importance is being placed on making checks at airports and borders. A special squad to tackle the theft and illegal trade of cultural items and works of art -- a special department under the control of the National Office for the Prevention of Organised Crime that was originally created in 1996 -- has been brought back into operation and its resources boosted.

Last July, the squad arrested a craftsman in Khenchela who was illegally selling archaeological artefacts and works of art including coins from various periods, Neolithic flint arrowheads valued at $63,000 each, a sculpted marble column and fragments of pottery.