Antiquities Authority to search for hidden treasures in attics

The Israel Antiquities Authority Tuesday launched an unprecedented campaign to identify private antiquities collectors in Israel and enable them to register their collections in exchange for being allowed to keep the antiquities.

Those who meet the authority's criteria and fail to register may be subject to criminal prosecution.

It is thought that over 100,000 collectors in Israel meet the official criteria requiring registration. They must have at least 15 items that are 300 years old or more. The Antiquities Authority hopes that the campaign will uncover collections of archaeological significance that are currently in the living rooms and attics of private collectors around the country.

Amir Ganor, who is heading the project at the Antiquities Authority, thinks there are significant finds among collectors, some of whom don't know the real value of their holdings.

"There are 30,000 recognized archaeological sites in Israel. We assume that a large number of items that were found at them ultimately landed in private hands. From our standpoint, it would be enough if we found one magnificent inscription from the Roman or Byzantine period, or an ancient Hebrew inscription, to justify this entire campaign."

The Antiquities Authority has said it has no intention of confiscating items or punishing collectors who identify themselves for the first time through the campaign, even if the items in their possession are found to be of extreme importance. In such instances, Ganor said the authority "would try to convince the owners to display [the items] in a museum, or to lend them to us."

Details regarding registration are available on the Israel Antiquities Authority Web site.

Those collectors who register will also be given the opportunity to have their collections assessed by a professional archaeologist. Once an artifact is registered with the authority, the collector is entitled to sell it without fear of violating the law. The state, for its part, will track ownership of the items.

The Israel Antiquities Authority also acknowledges that there are far-reaching consequences for collectors who are required to register and fail to do so.

"From the moment that they don't report they automatically become criminals," Ganor said, adding that unregistered collectors who try to sell items without approval would face a criminal investigation.