Treasure Trove on eBay

People who find treasure may be breaking the law if they do not report it to the authorities, eBay and the British Museum are warning.

Experts from the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) will now monitor all antiquities sales on eBay, reporting any illegal activity to the Metropolitan Police Art and Antiques Unit.

I spent too long sitting in university lectures with archaeologists not to sometimes feel concerned by the antiquities being sold on eBay. I’m glad to see this double approach: education for those who might be acting illegally from ignorance, and prosecution for those who deprive our society of its heritage for their own profit.