Seizure of 22,000 Objects Exposes the Scale of Heritage Trafficking

The seizure of around 22,000 archaeological and cultural objects in the United States has revived scrutiny of provenance and legal circulation in the art trade. The scale highlights not only enforcement but the responsibility of museums, collectors and dealers to verify chains of documentation. The decisive question is not simply whether objects are recovered, but whether they are transparently returned to the communities and countries to which they belong.