SOON: ‘Artifact War’ world premiere and best feature doc nominee at the @austinfilmfest. The film follows the work of @alazmamr @Adnan77227624 @AnthroPaulicy as they track trafficked Syrian antiquities from war zone looting sites to social media sites. https://t.co/94ryC5lFXg

More than 5 years ago, Facebook created a "policy" to ban the sale of artifacts. Today, we finally see the first Facebook antiquities trafficking group to reach more than 1 million members. Facebook's policies are nothing more than PR. There is no enforcement.

Chicago coin and antiquities dealer Harlan J Berk returns coins to US Navy that had been stolen from a shipwreck. Let’s hope the firm exercises the same due diligence on the antiquities it acquires from the developing world. https://t.co/ZO88GG4DTM

"These virtual investigations led to the opening of new cases, demonstrating how digital platforms are quickly becoming a channel of choice by traffickers to market and sell looted artefacts. A total of 4,298 cultural goods were seized as a result of the cyber patrols."

"Authorities recovered 2,500 archaeological items, primarily Roman coins ... These artifacts had been looted from protected archaeological sites in the province of Caceres using metal detectors and were being sold illegally through social media platforms."

This month, the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge dives into the world of art, history and illicit trade. Can you spot the telltale signs of stolen cultural artifacts and trace who handled them in the past? Give this month’s Bellingcat Challenge a try! https://t.co/cT8dBe2PJw

@alazmamr @newlinesmag @leonmccarron writes "While researching this story, I joined around a dozen Facebook treasure-hunting groups, some of which have upward of 500,000 members from Syria and elsewhere in the region"

ATHAR's @alazmamr tells @newlinesmag “The main take-home of this time is the phenomenal increase in material and activity in Syria," particularly for material trafficked online.

One trafficker makes clear, Facebook is their black market: "These days, many of his sales begin on Facebook. He had recently sold a collection of coins for $3,000 to an online buyer. He also uses TikTok, just like anyone else trying to generate interest in their business."

NEW: @leonmccarron speaks to ATHAR Peoject’s @alazmamr for @newlinesmag about the growing illicit antiquities trade in the new Syria 🧵 https://t.co/ocr8gjXP2R

Syria: the Defense Ministry thwarted an attempt to smuggle 2 artifacts from Palmyra out of the country. The 2 pieces - typical funerary portraits used to close burial niches - were taken to the local museum.

Contrary to what this antiquities market lobbyist claims, the State Department’s own fact sheet titles “100 Days of an America First State Department” considers its efforts on heritage in conflict zones very America First. https://t.co/d1Phwgji4O

The #PeoplingPodcast is BACK! Today, to kick off Season 4, we are joined by Katie Paul to discuss the role of Facebook in the illicit antiquities trade, and how the company has been complicit in the sale and destruction of cultural heritage. Listen here: https://t.co/gJsDTKq1y8

EVENT | Documentary Screening: Artifact War Join us for "Artifact War," exploring ISIS's antiquities trafficking in Syria, followed by a panel with the filmmaker and other experts. 📅 Apr 4, 10:30AM-12:30PM 📍RSVP: https://t.co/Fsg6rsddxS

The incredible work of @CounteringCrime members @ATHARProject is now being featured in a documentary. Archeologists go undercover to save antiquities stolen by ISIS and sold on...wait for it...FACEBOOK. Check out the trailer: https://t.co/Q2oihZaMtT

📷 A Visigothic silver medallion, dating between the 5th and 7th century CE, in circulation in New York with Phoenix Ancient Art is relinquished to Spain. https://t.co/5iq2kDbWh2

https://t.co/iEbW6FJr7o

NOW: They waited until late at night, but look at this little nugget and see what they snuck in in an effort to cut government: Scholars, museums, the Interagency Council on Homelessness and . . . "The Minority Business Development Agency"

Are you a keen researcher and passionate about environment or wildlife investigations? Bellingcat is looking for wildlife and environment related investigations that use open source methods and tools.

I talk a fair bit about the expectation that archaeologists will work for free. Even when we do get paid for appearing at events the reality can be grim. In this thread, I'm going to outline financial issues at play in giving a public lecture using a real world example...

Well known antiquities trafficker Doris Wiener cited as only provenance for this Sotheby’s sale Doris’s daughter Nancy Wiener was convicted of antiquities trafficking after her mother’s death