Poster #13 - An Analysis of Prior Looting as a Predictor of Current Looting at Archaeological Sites

• In Event: ASC Poster Session I

Abstract

The looting of antiquities damages archaeological sites and contributes to transnational crime (e.g., Bowman, 2008; UNESCO, 1970). The damage to archaeological sites impacts the cultural heritage of a site, harming the beliefs, values, and identities of people (Vlasic & Turku, 2016). From the framework of routine activity theory, this study aims to identify if prior attempted looting is a predictor of current attempted looting. Data on attempted looting was manually coded from satellite images of 30 archaeological sites from the Beheria governate of Egypt from 2014-2018. Incidents of attempted looting were aggregated to the site-quarter level and analyzed using fixed effects linear regression. The study found that prior attempted looting is a predictor of current attempted looting at archaeological sites. By identifying a predictor of archaeological looting, the methods for the detection and prevention of looting can be improved.

Authors

• Ashleigh Siciliano, University of New Haven

• Michelle Fabiani, University of New Haven