1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Israel-Hamas warUkraineAlternative for Germany
Arts

Stolen - Blood Antiquities

June 16, 2021

Antiquities stolen in the Middle East have resurfaced in art markets all over the world. Police have joined archaeologists in a global effort to stop criminals trafficking these priceless artefacts.

https://p.dw.com/p/3v1M7
Syrien, im Tal der Gräber von Palmyra
Image: Sammlung M. Meinecke/A. Schmidt-Colinet
Palmyra vor und nach ISIS
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid

The pillaging of archaeological artefacts took on an unprecedented scale with the destruction of Palmyra in Syria by the "Islamic State" in 2015, and continued with artefacts stolen from Iraq and Libya. Stolen antiquities have been exhibited at renowned galleries and sold around the world on online markets. The proceeds often end up funding more violence, including that carried out by ISIS.

Syrien Kunst Relief Palmyra
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Sana

In this unprecedented year-long investigation we follow special European police units and investigative archaeologists as they reveal a sprawling criminal network. From auction rooms in Paris, Brussels, and New York we trace the thread back to Libya, the new center for criminal dealers, some of whom have links to terrorist groups like ISIS.

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

TUE 13.07.2021 – 01:15 UTC
TUE 13.07.2021 – 04:15 UTC
WED 14.07.2021 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 17.07.2021 – 08:15 UTC
SUN 18.07.2021 – 12:15 UTC

Cape Town UTC +2 | Delhi UTC +5,5 | Hong Kong UTC +8
Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3

DW Deutsch+

WED 14.07.2021 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 17.07.2021 – 08:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC -7 | New York UTC -4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3