Exhibition on the subject of "Criminal Archaeology" at the main railway station in Mainz

The Roman-Germanic Central Museum (RGZM) in Mainz has been trying for years to find an effective way of combating the illegal trade in archaeological treasures of dubious origin. The prices fetched on the market by these antiquities provide an excellent financial incentive and are the force that drives the plundering and destruction of archaeological sites. The exhibition in the main hall of the main railway station in Mainz ran until 30 July 2011, informing visitors about the problems of handling stolen antiquities.

Spectacular criminal cases in recent history were used as examples by the Roman-Germanic Central Museum and its joint venture partners to provide insight into a part of their activities that has already been the focus of media interest. The presentation shows the close cooperation between archaeologists and criminalists and their efforts to protect archaeological sites by preventing illicit excavation and the illegal trade in antiquities. Therefore, several large information cubes, etc., have been set up to explain the exciting search for the grave of a Sumerian princess, who lived in the middle of the third millennium B.C., which was evidently only recently discovered by plunderers in Iraq. There is information about five Turkish bronze vessels that recently lit up telephone lines between diplomats in Ankara, Berlin, Wiesbaden, and Mainz. The exhibition is supplemented by documentary films on the subject and an interactive, three-dimensional presentation of confiscated original finds, compiled by the Institute for Media Design at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, headed by Professor Michael Orthwein. The basic design concept was developed by students of Mainz University of Applied Sciences under the leadership of Professor Susanne Maier-Staufen.

The presentation forms part of the project "Time window - the past has a future," which, in turn, is part of the "Mainz - City of Science 2011" project, and was jointly designed by the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, the Hessian State Criminal Police Office, the Director-General for Cultural Heritage in Rhineland-Palatinate, the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq, and Mainz University of Applied Sciences.

His Excellency Faris Ali Mohammed Al-Shoker, Consul General of the Republic of Iraq in Frankfurt, explained the devastating effects of illicit excavation on Iraqi culture. Following the events of 2003, Iraq lacked the rule of law and thus became a target for tomb raiders and illicit antiquities dealers. This illicit trade has resulted in some of Iraq's cultural heritage, dating back 6,500 years, being scattered all over the world. "The efforts and perseverance of the many people involved, the good cooperation of governments - especially the well-disposed German government - and cooperation with Dr. Michael Müller-Karpe of the RGZM, the Hessian State Criminal Police Office and the Director-General for Cultural Heritage of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, along with the firm conviction that these treasures should be returned to their country of origin, Iraq, has resulted in many plundered antiquities having now been handed over to the Iraqi embassy and returned to Iraq," the Consul General announced, expressing his gratitude on behalf of the Iraqi government for the support given to his country.

Eckhard Laufer from the Central Office for the Prevention of Criminal Activities and Trafficking of Cultural Assets at the Hessian State Criminal Police Office explained that the illicit excavations and lucrative illegal trade in archaeological cultural assets are phenomena with which the Hessian State Criminal Police Office has had to deal increasingly since 2003. According to Laufer: "This exhibition makes clear what the poorly known social and criminal consequences are, generally contributing towards heightening awareness of the fact that these are not trivial offences."

"The German authorities often turn to the Roman-Germanic Central Museum to help them solve crimes related to the trade in cultural assets, as specialized knowledge is required to determine the origin of archaeological objects," explained Professor Falko Daim, Executive Director of the RGZM. "We hope that the exhibition will promote awareness of the illegal trade in antiquities among a wider public and strengthen the feeling of responsibility in the antiquities market."

"Mainz University of Applied Sciences can look back on many years of cooperation with the RGZM, initially with the Institute for Spatial Information and Measuring Technology (i3mainz)," reported Professor Andrea Beyer, Vice-President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences. "This successful cooperation could now be extended to the Institute for Media Design as part of the activities within the framework of 'Mainz - City of Science 2011.' This is taking place under the direction of the 3D Animation Department headed by Professor Michael Orthwein. As far as the criminal archaeology project is concerned, Mainz University of Applied Sciences has made a contribution to the creative input in the form of 3D reconstructions and visualizations."

"The Directorate for National Archaeology has once or twice been approached with immoral proposals," reported Dr. Gerd Rupprecht from the Directorate for National Archaeology at the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage in Rhineland-Palatinate. "In principle, we buy nothing - especially when we suspect that theft was involved. To us, these finds have lost their historical life. It's as though someone has torn a page out of a book. Although he would possess the page, he would still not know what the novel is all about."

Dr Michael Müller-Karpe, an archaeologist at RGZM, the initiator and Spiritus rector of the exhibition, emphasized the significance of safeguarding archaeological heritage. "The information about people from whom we are separated in time which is contained within the context of the find remains undocumented and is irrevocably destroyed by illicit excavation work to supply antiquities to an unsaturated market. We must not allow this soil archive - the source of mankind's cultural memory - to be plundered and sacrificed to the short-sighted profit interests of individuals."

A message from the Vice-President of the Federal Criminal Office, Professor Jürgen Stock, reads as follows: "Illegal excavation work and the illicit trade in antiquities constitute a regular and lucrative business for criminals. The financial damage is often extensive, while the cultural damage is immense. Criminal prosecution is often difficult due to unusual circumstances, such as the perpetrators' professions and international activity. This is why I welcome the exhibition on the subject of 'Criminal Archaeology' initiated by the Roman-Germanic Central Museum. This is an excellent opportunity to provide information about this phenomenon and the associated problems. I wish the event a lot of success."

An accompanying booklet entitled "Criminal Archeology" is available for € 4.50 (ISBN: 978-3-88467-179-5) as part of the exhibition.