ART THEFT AND ITS CONTROL

Abstract

Some say that art theft is only a little younger than art itself. Art theft was surely known in ancient times. A recent reminder of this truth is the discovery in Egypt's Valley of the Kings of many chambers at the tomb of the sons of Ramses II. Earlier archaeologists had not gone beyond the first chambers which were ransacked in antiquity. We know that theft is older than the Ten Commandments. It is also true that decrying or prohibiting theft and art theft docs not help enough, and that it is always with us.