Cultural heritage
The biggest threats to heritage sites worldwide? War, urbanisation, tourism, climate change and lack of funding
According to World Monuments Fund, the top issue varies widely depending on geography
Kosovar artist Petrit Halilaj leads restoration of cultural centre in home village
As the UN holds its first official Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day on 11 July, Halilaj is hoping his work reviving the House of Culture in Runik will inspire conversations about heritage lost under Serbian rule
World Monuments Fund announces over $15m for climate change initiative
New initiatives emphasize WMF's commitment to the preservation and revitalisation of historic sites under threat of destruction from climate change
US authorities return a $3.7m trove of antiquities to Greece
Many of the 30 objects being repatriated are linked to the disgraced dealers Michael Ward and Robin Symes
Manhattan District Attorney's Office seizes $5m bronze bust in Turkish repatriation sting
The sculpture, which depicts a daughter of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, is the second out-of-state item to be seized by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit
US returns almost 100 stolen pre-Hispanic artefacts to Mexico
They had been smuggled into the US after a 2008 museum heist
Ornate pre-Hispanic incense burner returned to Mexican officials in Texas ceremony
The clay archaeological marvel, which was recovered thanks to a Texan artist, is believed to be more than 1,300 years old
San Diego-based collectors hand over pre-Hispanic artefacts to Mexican authorities
The 65 heritage objects in question include a glass with a clay pedestal dating from the Mesoamerican Classic period and a ceramic bowl dating from 200CE
Shake-up announced for the UK’s £300m National Lottery Heritage Fund
New builds—inspired by the so-called ‘Bilbao effect’—will now be discouraged as the chair of the organisation, Simon Thurley, outlines a change of priorities in favour of long-term benefits
The Netherlands returns more than 200 pre-Hispanic artefacts to Mexico
In all, 223 pre-Hispanic objects have been repatriated to Mexico by the Dutch government, largely through the power of social media
Trove of terracotta figurines discovered in ancient Chinese tomb
An archaeological team from the Datong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology has unearthed a trove of well-preserved figures that provide a glimpse at life in the region 1,500 years ago
Getty Trust pledges $1m to help protect Ukrainian cultural heritage
The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas is partnering with the Getty to save Ukraine’s museums and monuments
Western arrogance on parade in new book about culture and conflict
Different methods of protecting heritage during times of war are explored with mixed success in this challenging read
Archaeologists discover mural of Aztec god of alcohol in Mexican convent
Archaeologists believe the pre-Columbian wall drawing of a god wearing a feathered headdress likely depicts Tepoztēcatl, the god of pulque
Italy’s far right weaponises culture in the interests of nationalism
Concern over Brothers of Italy policies ahead of 25 September election
Ukrainian stone statues—likened to Easter Island's Moai—destroyed during Russian invasion
Dating from the ninth to the 13th century, the stelae were once considered sacred
Horniman Museum in London hands over Benin bronzes to Nigeria
Major restitution development coincides with publication of new Arts Council England guidelines
Oxford and Cambridge universities approve returning 213 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria
Charity Commission could veto the decision to repatriate objects from Ashmolean Museum and Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
London foundry redevelopment still ringing alarm bells for heritage campaigners
Question mark over historic Whitechapel site a year after boutique hotel plan approved
Copies of the Parthenon Marbles—carved by a robot—to go on show in London
Project by Oxford’s Institute for Digital Archaeology fuels debate about restitution of controversial sculptures
‘The Benin Bronzes are returning home’: Germany and Nigeria sign historic restitution agreement
More than 1,100 looted items will be transferred though some artefacts will remain on loan to German museums
Is Ukraine's cultural heritage under coordinated attack?
Sites are suffering widespread destruction, but a coalition of organisations is working to provide evidence of deliberate targeting by Russian forces
‘Putin’s Palace’ architect investigated over alleged €50m tax bill
Italian authorities seize valuable paintings in Lanfranco Cirillo's collection, including works by Picasso, Cézanne and Kandinsky
Chinese heritage sites see boost from local tourists as pandemic closes borders
The travel restrictions—and political encouragement—have driven increasing domestic demand for cultural travel experiences in China, prompting concerns over preservation
Of teapots and rubabs: a story of breaking and mending in Afghanistan
In a country that has been at war with others and itself for decades, the danger lies in forgetting how to repair the damage, says archaeologist and cultural heritage specialist Bastien Varoutsikos
Ancient Chinese sites hit by flash floods this summer
Deadly rains in central Henan province threatened key Unesco World Heritage sites and hundreds of national relics. Experts warn the disaster may be a taste of future trouble
An ancient Buddhist city is perched on top of an Afghan copper reserve worth $50 billion—what will happen to it under Taliban control?
Cultural heritage workers estimate they have five years to secure the heritage site’s contents before it is destroyed to extract the ore
Afghanistan: the historical sites of key concern after the Taliban's return
From the Bamiyan Valley to an ancient spiritual centre of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, former Unesco senior official Francesco Bandarin looks at the embattled country’s most important landmarks
Under the Biden administration, can US cultural policy better reflect American values?
Building relationships with all stakeholders—from dealers and collectors to museums and archaeologists—is vital