Note: Answers to FAQs about careers in heritage crime research can be found here: click click!
1. Who is behind this site?
Me! Dr. Donna Yates. See the bio section.
This site represents my opinions and everything posted on this site should be treated as opinion. My opinions are based on my research and my academic expertise, but they are opinions none the less.
2. How did you get into research into art and heritage crime?
By June of 2003 I had been in Central America for four months conducting archaeological fieldwork. I switched digs, crossed the border from Belize into Guatemala, and ended up at a massive Maya metropolis that had been gutted by looters. Every palace and temple was transected by a looters trench. It was horrible. We were terrified that our site would get looted while we slept. The local workers told me that a site was being looted RIGHT THEN and that the people involved had already killed people. I now know that site was Cancuén. I couldn’t believe that archaeologists just kept working like none of this was happening. That wasn’t going to be me.
3. ¿Hablas español?
¡Si!
3.1 Spreek je Nederlands?
You and I both know that whatever Dutch I speak is inferior to your English, asker!
4. Are you accepting students? Volunteers?
PhDs: Kinda, with a few important caveats:
- I do not currently have funding to hire PhD researchers. I will post when I do. There are some other options to fund PhDs but they are limited and only come about at certain times of the year.
- My work is based in a department of criminology and criminal law. There are possibilities for supervising students outside these fields, but they are limited
- I am very selective about the PhD projects that I accept and I expect prospective PhDs to already have a strong research idea
- READ THIS POST FIRST!
If this sounds interesting to you, please get in contact with me.
Master’s students: I am not currently teaching on any master’s programme except for a few lectures. I do, however, supervise Master’s dissertation projects for Maastricht University’s master’s in Forensics, Criminology, and Law.
Volunteers: Sometimes. It is a bit complicated. Read this post.
5. I’m a reporter and I have some questions, can you help?
Maybe. Send me an email and let me know what you are looking for and I will see if I am the right person to speak to or if I can point you in the right direction.
If you are looking to develop for commercial film/tv, consultancy rates likely apply.
6. Will you review my book/paper/film for your site?
Maybe! But you have to send it to me.
7. Are you available for guest lectures/seminars on this topic? Training workshops?
Maybe. I have less and less time available for such things so please don’t be upset if I have to say no. Contact me.
8. Do you consult?
Yes. Best email me and tell me what you are looking for.
9. Can I guest post on your blog?
If you are a legit researcher and have something interesting to say, drop me an email and we will see if it fits.
10. Will you promote [x] on your blog?
No. However, if you would like to post a job advert, a call for papers, an educational opportunity, or something along those lines to my opportunities list, please send it to me via email.
I do review books, films, etc, so if you want me to do that, get in touch.
11. What is an illicit antiquity?
An artefact that is not where it should be, perhaps because it has been looted from an archaeological site or trafficked from its country of origin. The legal situation is complex: the object may only be illegal in some places (but not others) or its legal status is not yet determined. However, an illicit antiquity is dodgy, there is no doubt about that, and possessing it might just be criminal. For more information see: Illicit Antiquities
12. Will you authenticate this artefact/art object for me?
No. Not unless you are a government, an intergovernmental, or the police (if you are, email me).
13. Can you at least tell me if this antiquity/art object is illicit/illegal?
No. I work under the assumption that if you have to ask that question, you should assume that it is illegal and act accordingly. However, I am not a lawyer. If you are not the police, a government official, or someone who has hired me as an official consultant, I cannot comment. Do the right thing, contact the ministry of culture of the country of origin or the police.
14. I amassed/inherited a collection of unprovenanced antiquities/dodgy art, what should I do?
I can’t offer you specific advice: I am not a lawyer. You should hire one. There are specialist art and cultural property lawyers to talk to.
15. I want advice on [insert anything else]…
If I can, I offer advice to students, potential students, academic colleagues, legitimate journalists, law enforcement, and individuals/groups in lower income countries for free. But see this post first. I warn, however, that I can’t sort out your life for you! Consultancy rates likely apply to anyone else.
16. Why don’t you have comments enabled?
Because no one comments other than spambots. Also I think comments bring out the worst in people. I you have something to tell me, you can email me.
17. Where exactly are you from?
Well I’m not Dutch! I am a USA-en and a naturalis[z]ed Brit who lives in Maastricht. Columbus, Georgia is your answer. I’m a peach. However I’ve lived in Boston, Cambridge (UK and US), and Glasgow for extended periods of time before the Netherlands, with longish stints in New Zealand, Ecuador, Bolivia, Belize, and Guatemala.