Getty director wants to return artifacts to Greece
The director of the J. Paul Getty Museum has recommendedto his board that some ancient artifacts in its collectionbe returned to Greece.
"Talks are ongoing and representatives will be appointed to seek resolution of the matter within the next two or three months,"said Michael Brand, whomet with Greek officials in Athens on Tuesday.
Thejoint statement with Greek Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakisdid not specify which of the artifacts would be returned. The museum's board willdecide based on the strength of the documentation from Greek officials, Brand said.
Greece claimsfour disputed artifacts in theLos Angeles museum's collectionwere taken out of the country illegally:a gold wreath dating to about 400 B.C., a 6th century B.C. marble statue of a young woman, a votive relief and a funerary tablet.
The Los Angeles museummade an agreement with the Greek government that could involve loans of antiquities in future.
"Once the requirements of the Ministry of Culture are met, a fruitful co-operation, which could include long-term loans, can begin," the joint statement said, according to Associated Press.
Museums are under increasing pressure from countries such as Greece, Italy and Egypt to return archeological treasures. In Greece, all antiquities nowbelong to thestate and no one can export them without government permission.
The agreementraises the possibility that Greece maygo after other U.S. museums that own ancient Greek artifacts.
"We are examining all cases, we have our files, and we are now following a policy with specific steps, setting targets," Culture Ministry secretary-general Christos Zachopoulos said.
In February, the Metropolitan Museum of Art agreed to return more than 20 allegedly looted ancient artifacts to Italy in exchange for loans of Italian treasures.
Italy also has pressed a legal claim against the Getty involving Italian artifacts. Former Getty curator Marion True is on trial in Rome on charges of dealing in illegal artifacts.
Greek police have launched a crackdown on antiquities smuggling, with high-profile raids in the past three months on two island villas whose owners are linked with the international art trade. The Getty has denied any involvement with the seizures.
Colin Renfrew, an archaeologist and former director of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge, England, said museums should be pressured to change their policies on antiquities acquisitions.
"I don't think governments should lend material until the museum says that it will develop an acquisitions policy whereby it will not buy any more looted material," Renfrew said.