Objects from Pakistan's archaeological sites on sale in London
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

LONDON (UK): A British professor of Archaeology Robin Coningham has claimed that major archeological sites in Pakistan and Iran are being plundered and their objects are being brought in London for sale.

"Ninety per cent of the major archaeological sites in Pakistan and Iran have been looted and the spoils are flooding into London," claimed a leading British daily on Monday.

Robin Coningham, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Bradford after his six year survey of the major archaeological sites in Pakistan and Iran was quoted as saying "Although the illegal destruction occurs abroad, much of the looted material is channelled here to Britain and is sold in London. The best material is coming to London."

Of the Research

His research found that "Iran is being plundered of treasures dating from 3,000BC to AD500, and Pakistan is being robbed of antiquities created between 500BC and AD400," said the British daily 'The Times'.

"Are we really happy to do nothing as the cultural heritage of the developing world is asset-stripped while we serve as a market stall for objects of dubious provenance?" Professor Coningham said.

Antiquities

Once the antiquities are in Britain, anyone selling them is operating within British law. Anyone can buy an object legally through an auction house or dealer, as long as they show due diligence, said the paper.

Coningham conducted the surveying in collaboration with the universities of Peshawar and Tehran, and with the backing of the Royal Geographical Society, the British Institute of Persian Studies and the British Academy, said the daily.●