It's always a dilemma. It seems obvious to me that the country in which artifacts are found should have first claim upon them. The English laws are excellent on that point and I think the new Italian laws will be effective as well. The bigger nations in The West used to claim that they were saving these antiquities for the world by taking them out of the hands of the incompetent little countries where they originated. The trend now is to work with the country of origin to help with the proper preservation. The smaller countries have realized the great value to their economies and are doing a good job of preservation. Places like Albania are devoting scarce funds to archaeology and preservation and it is paying off big time for them. The little archaeology park recently opened at Butrini brought 50,000 paying visitors last year. That message shall not go unheeded.

The gorgeous new museum in Athens built to house The Elgin Marbles is the best example. You positively ache to see them on that blank accusatory wall where you can turn and look out the window at the pediment on The Parthenon where once they were.

The United Nations and particularly UNESCO are doing such an outstanding job all over the world that the old excuse of big brother keeping it for you seems suspicious, don't you think?