Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property in the U.S.: Developments in Expert Interventions Since 2003

Public Talk by Brian I. Daniels, Ph.D.

6 PM
November 18, 2025

When the National Museum of Iraq was looted in 2003, the world was shocked to see thousands of irreplaceable cultural treasures stolen or destroyed. That moment sparked a wave of policy responses in the United States and abroad, aimed at preventing such losses from happening again. Yet the threats did not end there — the rise of ISIS and the deliberate destruction of cultural sites and museums in the following decade underscored how fragile heritage remains in times of conflict.

Brian I. Daniels, Ph.D., a leading figure in cultural heritage preservation and policy, brings insight into the U.S. battle against the illicit trafficking of cultural property. His talk will trace developments since 2003 and examine key measures such as the Emergency Protection for Iraqi Cultural Antiquities Act of 2004, the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act of 2016, the response to the ISIS attack on the Mosul Cultural Museum, and the launch of the Cultural Property Experts On Call Program in 2020. Over the last two decades, efforts to protect cultural treasures have shifted in remarkable ways. Museums and scholars now work side by side with law enforcement to trace stolen artifacts and shield heritage at risk. This program offers a chance to reflect on how these collaborations are shaping policy and ethics, and to consider what they mean for the future of cultural preservation.

As Director of Research and Programs at the Penn Cultural Heritage Center, Dr. Daniels has worked at the front lines of heritage protection during crises and in shaping museum practice worldwide. Dr. Daniels serves as First Vice President of the Archaeological Institute of America and as a Board Member of the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield, reflecting his leadership in international cultural policy and disaster response. He leads national projects that link museum professionals with law enforcement to address illicit trafficking and has advised institutions from the National Museum of Afghanistan to the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative. Recognized for his work in protecting Syrian and Iraqi heritage and for collaborations with Indigenous communities in California, Dr. Daniels brings distinguished and internationally renowned expertise in cultural exchange, heritage preservation, and cultural policy.

 

This program continues the Museum at Texas Tech University’s commitment to safeguarding cultural property and addressing the global challenge of illicit trafficking. In recent years, the Museum has hosted:

• Fighting for the Nation's Cultural Heritage: Efforts and Challenges of the National Museum of Afghanistan by Fahim Rahimi, former Director of the National Museum of Afghanistan (2016);
• Rebuilding of the Monuments Men and Women for the 21st Century by Colonel Andrew Scott DeJesse, Senior Heritage & Preservation Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense (2023);
• Secure Treasures, Ensure Peace by representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) (2024).