Lab-Grown Provenance: Exploring Evidentiary and Legal Frameworks of Science as Provenance for Cultural Heritage

• In Event: Criminogenic Entanglements with Cultural Heritage

Abstract

The rise of scientific analysis as a form of provenance in cultural heritage has reshaped legal and market expectations, often equating scientific validation with authenticity and legality. This paper examines the evidentiary and legal frameworks governing scientific provenance, exploring how its increasing use influences ownership disputes, market trends, and the burden placed on source countries. While scientific methods can provide valuable insights, their growing dominance risks creating loopholes that enable misuse— over-reliance on scientific proof for restitution claims, and ambiguities around authoritative validation. By analyzing these issues, this paper highlights the need for stronger legal safeguards, interdisciplinary oversight, and a more balanced approach to integrating scientific evidence into cultural heritage law.

Author

• Summer R. Austin, Institute of Archaeology, UCL