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Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World

Roger Atwood

3.88 · Rating details · 263 Ratings · 21 Reviews

Roger Atwood knows more about the market for ancient objects than almost anyone. He knows where priceless antiquities are buried, who is digging them up, and who is fencing and buying them. In this fascinating book, Atwood takes readers on a journey through Iraq, Peru, Hong Kong, and across America, showing how the worldwide antiquities trade is destroying what's left of

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Hardcover, 337 pages

Published December 16th 2004 by St. Martin's Press (first published 2004)

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Mar 05, 2012 David Ward rated it really liked it

Shelves: art, crime, history, non-fiction

Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World by Roger Atwood (St. Martin's Press 2004) (364.162) is a wannabe archaeologists' dream. The book highlights the divide between private collectors (and the worldwide tomb looting that feeds the collectors' supply) and professional archaeologists (whose authorized tomb looting at least attempts to provide the historical context from which the objects are removed) and the role of museums in accepting and displaying obje ...more

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May 24, 2014 John Gaudet rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

In the area of antiquity theft this book is a tour de force, a fast-paced revelation of the dark side of the modern world of antiques. Stealing antiquities in Iraq under battleground conditions, stealing them at night with tomb robbers in Peru, stealing them by lobbying in the US capitol, and stealing them by international, high stakes illicit, money-laundering operations funded by organized crime, you name it, the sky's the limit for Atwood. The most rewarding part of this book is in the last f ...more

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May 18, 2008 Damian rated it liked it

Entertaining collection of stories about why Indiana Jones is really a douchebag.

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Jul 07, 2008 Kate rated it it was amazing

Great book!

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May 31, 2017 Kathleen McRae rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

This book is full of names I won't remember. It is a detailed account of the looting at Sipan Peru with a few detours to other sites of looting.It was interesting but had such an excess of detail that eventually became plodding.

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Feb 27, 2013 Yasmin rated it liked it

Three stars not because I liked it personally but because it was well written. When I got this book from the local library I actually thought the book would be a history of artifacts and culture that had been stolen over many, many years. Not so. I would say the history of archeology is tricky at best as it is currently. Unfortunately the author did not adequately in my opinion argue his case. There are two arguments mentioned in this book. Pro and anti looting, however not as easy as it sounds. Three stars not because I liked it personally but because it was well written. When I got this book from the local library I actually thought the book would be a history of artifacts and culture that had been stolen over many, many years. Not so. I would say the history of archeology is tricky at best as it is currently. Unfortunately the author did not adequately in my opinion argue his case. There are two arguments mentioned in this book. Pro and anti looting, however not as easy as it sounds. There is a lot of detail which I will save for the reader to read. I will say this that I am not a staunch supporter of archelogists as I pointed out in a previous book about archeology work in Greenland. The author there said that inexperienced archeologists can do serious damage to excavation sites when they work. Furthermore I don't agree that the British museums not returning pieces from Greece. Why do history enthusiasts go all the way to England to see someone else's history? If the history of humanity belongs to us all then there should be more displays going between museums in other cities in different countries. As well more museums should be free admission and special displays should be cheaper so that more people can enjoy history. Are enough people appreciating history? How do you get history to matter now? I agree with the opinion that most archeologists write long scholarly dissertations that is beyond understanding for non scholarly readers and there is a sort of finders keepers attitude. As well there are many museums that have artifacts that are not on display but are locked away somewhere gathering dust. It can be said in some defence that there is no room to display everything. Well there are two answers to that. Loan the item or items to another museum or shuffle the displays around. I also to start with agreed it is better the artifacts are on display in private homes and appreciated. Then you read what greedy swines are the collectors no one gets to appreciate anything that should. But this does bring about the age old question should tombs and burial mounds be excavated in the first place? The author asked some looters how would they like their tombs/burials ransacked? Well in a sense archelogists disturb the dead too. Originally these items and so on were meant to stay in the ground for the dead. Is digging them up any less of a sacrilege? With all the years of archelogists digging and do on to appreciate history we some how forgot do we now appreciate our world now for it's bounty to inspire us to have once created these 'treasures'? Can we borrow from the past to make more treasures and a greater joy for our lives? History is always stolen. In battles the so called loosing side has lost a way of life, archeologists pull history up from the ground and when it is sent away to other countries that history has been stolen, when collectors pay looters yes that too is stealing. We steal from the dead. But they are bones and dust do they matter or is it actually psychological? Yes people everywhere should be proud from where they have come from. That despite been said in the not so distant past they are not backward savages. But when you are poor and hungry and you don't know what tomorrow will bring where is your pride then? It has to be sacrificed in order to live? What us there to be done? Governments that would rather wage war and line their pockets with money must feed their people and educate them freely to have national pride. More too museums must return the artifacts from other countries. Their history is as rich and once amicable relations begin there can be travelling museum pieces. Every museum can share the bounty of our history. In this sense admission can be free, bigger displays have a fee but reasonably priced and then and only then will it be fair to everyone and the looting will stop. Also if you want the rich to stop paying for looted history tax the lot so they can't afford collections! Read the book and draw your own conclusions but sadly there is a lot remiss on both sides of the collection of history pieces. ...more

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Sep 15, 2015 Anthony Romanelli rated it really liked it

I found Atwood's account of tomb looting extremely interesting and his arguments for both sides of the looting debate very compelling. It made me wonder though. Atwood makes the case that the Peruvian people do not "respect" their heritage, which leads to their looting. But what gives Atwood,Alva or anyone else the authority to judge what is respect and what isn't? Granted, looting is not a good thing, but haven't colonial homes been torn down and replaced in Atwood's homeland of America? What m ...more

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Sep 11, 2009 Cindy rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, art, 20th-century

From the opening pages set in Iraq after the downfall of Saddam Hussein to the mountains of Peru to the Museum of Art in New Mexico, Atwood traces the looting of art, textiles, and other artifacts from the tomb to the looter to the middleman to the collector. He's not afraid to ask questions and follow the story. He comes up with a few solutions in the end, but how many of them will ever be followed is anyone's guess. My bet is not very many. As long as there are people willing to buy history, s ...more

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Nov 16, 2014 Sara rated it really liked it

I would give this more 3.5-4.00, but I was giving it the benefit given what other books are on the market right now. The book summary itself is a bit misleading, as it leads you to believe that you will be reading about art looting worldwide when in fact the book primarily focuses on Sipan Peru with brief, intermittent mentions of worldwide affairs. This is further complicated by the fact that the cover is a sculpture from Asia. However, this seriously misleading summary should not be its downfa ...more

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Feb 03, 2015 Megan rated it liked it

I thought this was a pretty good book. It focused on Peru, specifically Sipan, Peru and the Pre-Colombian artifacts found there. Roger Atwood did a really great job of presenting all sides of the argument in regards to the antiquities market. He showed the point of view of the looters, collectors, archaeologists, and the museums. I really liked that he did that. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Pre-Colombian artifacts, and their path to the museums and collections o ...more

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May 09, 2013 Victoria Blacke rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-nonfiction

This book made me wish I was involved in a book club where I could have a detailed discussion about the moral and ethical dilemma about removing artwork from its country of origin, about private collections, about museums benefiting from past misdeeds...the topics are endless!! It definitely had it's slow parts but that was more b/c of the necessity of imparting some less than fascinating facts in order to further the story.

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Jul 15, 2013 Wayland Smith rated it liked it

It was an interesting study in the looting of historical sites, focusing especially on Peru, but also Iraq and a few other areas. It can get a bit academic, and the author gets a bit preachy at times, but it's an interesting read. It told me about a culture I'd never heard of, and gave me an idea for another story down the road. Recommended to fans of archeology, history, and the like.

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Apr 06, 2012 Katrina rated it really liked it

Shelves: cultural-property-project

Highly intriguing and engaging, even for someone who knows very little about cultural property law, archaeology, or pre-Columbian art. Atwood is very much an activist in this book, which makes the reading very satisfying (assuming you agree with him), but it also makes me reserved in accepting everything he presens as fact. Well worth the read.

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Jun 30, 2014 Stephen C. rated it it was amazing

Very interesting if you're into archaeology or art history, but I could see this book getting a bit dry for other people. Reads a lot like a true crime documentary, with some exciting twists and turns as the FBI, antiquities smugglers, gangsters, and Peruvian authorities all play with and against one another.

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Nov 12, 2012 Madeline Savage rated it really liked it

A very informative book which even the beginner can pick up. A very easy read that delves into the ancient World. It has a lot of history of looting especially from the 20th century. Atwood shows the story from the perspective of looters, collectors, archeologists and law enforcers.

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Aug 14, 2016 Debbie rated it liked it

Shelves: history, archaeology, culture, peru

The first part was a better read than the later part. Very informative and enlightening

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Oct 05, 2008 Ami rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I loved this book SO MUCH.

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Jun 09, 2007 Taryn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: science

This book is why I am going to law school- it's amazing the book hasn't fallen apart seeing as how many times I threw it on the ground, but I always picked it up again.

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Jan 31, 2013 Marissa rated it it was ok

I'm a history buff and I found the writing completely dry. It wasn't descriptive enough for me. I'd enjoy this if it were a little more cerebral, even if it is a non-fiction piece.

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