STOLEN CULTURAL PROPERTY ISSUES
Moderator: William G. Tompkins, National Collections Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
LEGAL ASPECTS OF STOLEN CULTURAL PROPERTY

Sherry Hutt, Superior Court Judge, Phoenix, AZ

Museums retain a legal, ethical, and professional obligation for the collections they acquire and hold in trust for the public. This presentation provided an overview of federal cultural property law, highlighted recent court cases involving stolen cultural property, and discussed a museum=s responsibilities for federal property in their possession and potential criminal or civil liabilities for possession of stolen cultural property.

 
 
TO HAVE AND TO DISPOSE OF FROM THIS DAY FORWARD

Judy Reed, Cultural Resources Manager, Pecos National Historical Park, National Park Service,
    Pecos, NM

This presentation outlined guideposts developed by an interagency undercover cultural resources criminal investigative team over the course of four years. The guideposts include: the archaeologist=s role in investigating violations of the law; managing Aevidence@ during the investigation; and final disposition of the property.