Page 94 - Tourism Legislation
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unauthorized excavation of archaeological sites and trade in
stolen antiquities in recent decades. In the 1960s and 1970s, the
plundering of African cultural property assumed gigantic
proportions.
Among African countries, Egypt is considered the first in
archaeological riches followed perhaps by Nigeria and Mali.
Looting is an enormous and continuous threat to the preservation
of our cultural heritage. From the past there can be numerous
examples of objects taken by explorer “under the name of
research”. A famous historic example is the expeditions of
Napoleon into Egypt at the end of the 18th century, taking home to
France many important treasures, until today there are discussions
about the fact if Egyptian objects in the Louvre did end up there
in a proper and legal way. Sometimes this results in the return of
objects to Egypt.
Tourism Legislations Page 93
