The closing decade of the 20th century was a difficult period for Albania. In 1991 and 1997 many important items of sculpture from Butrint and Phoenice were stolen and exported. Although the Institute of Archaeology responded by transporting many important items to Tirana for safekeeping, much of the looting went unnoticed by international agencies.

An online catalogue (www.icaa.org.al/missingantiquities) documenting missing antiquities from Albania has been developed to publicise their loss and facilitate their recovery. There is a large and growing international market for antiquities; unfortunately, the demand for antiquities far outstrips the supply of legally traded objects. As a result, looters target archaeological sites and monuments. The theft of antiquities from archaeological sites is particularly problematic: it deprives a nation of its heritage and identity and prevents an understanding of these objects in their appropriate historical context.

Happily, several pieces have recently been recovered. At Butrint, returned artefacts are now on display in the new site museum. The portrait head of the empress Livia was recovered in 2000 after having been purchased by a New York art dealer and offered for resale at auction with several other unprovenanced objects. Five other sculptures were identified by Greek authorities and seized from criminal gangs – three of these were returned to Albania in 2003. The remaining two are still being held as evidence in criminal trials though it is hoped that they too will be returned to Albania in the near future. In 2006, the marble head of Asclepius, stolen in 1991, was found to be in a private collection in Italy and negotiations are ongoing for its return to Albania.

Success stories like these depend on the awareness of both international and local communities of the consequences of looting. The ICAA is committed to raise this awareness through publications, the online catalogue and through active education and cultural heritage projects.