Cultural Heritage Center (ECA/P/C) SA-5, Fifth Floor U.S.

Department of State Washington, DC 20522-0505

November 2, 2011

Dear Members of the Committee: I support the request of the Government of the Republic of Belize [Docket No. DOS-2011-01160001] to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) protecting Pre-Columbian archaeological materials from Belize provided for under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention and the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2601-2613 (1982). I started working in Belize in 1993. I worked first as an archaeologist in the northern part of the country. It was during that time that I noticed and became very concerned with the large-scale destruction of archaeological sites caused by looting and illegal trafficking in antiquities and the fact that most of my workers had looted or had an Uncle who looted. Like most countries in the region, Belize is developing and becoming increasingly urbanized. As this happens, many archaeological resources are either disturbed or destroyed. In addition, the international demand for Pre-Columbian antiquities has resulted in intensive, systematic looting of archaeological sites in the country. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many local residents and tourists do not understand why archaeology and preservation of the cultural heritage are important. It is important to protect and preserve cultural heritage in order to learn from the past and strive for the future. In the late 1990s, I was in Belmopan (the Capital), and worked for the Department of Archaeology (DoA) (which is now the Institute of Archaeology (IA). It was enlightening to me to go from being field archaeologists in the country to working for the Government. At this time, The DOA and I created a comprehensive archaeological heritage management program that would address the problem of looting in Belize. This program could be applied to any country that is in jeopardy of loosing its cultural resources.

The first stage, education and outreach, focuses on communication and coordination with law enforcement officers. This was to be done by organizing lectures and presentations that emphasized the following points: the importance of maintaining and preserving heritage; the importance of contextual information in understanding the cultural significance of artifacts; a demonstration of identified specific types of artifacts, such as ceramics, stone work, and other materials; and finally, a review of all legislation and policies concerning the protection and preservation of cultural patrimony. We visited every police station and port of entry and departure in the country. We also used various media, such as radio announcements, newspaper articles, and posters to illustrate problems and describe important points of the law protecting cultural patrimony. The second stage assesses the situation in Belize by gathering documentation of past situations in which laws have been violated and the identification of policies that concern looting or illegal export of artifacts. This research resulted in the development of a new system for reporting incidents that violate the law. The information I was able to obtain allowed me to create a possible profile that would aid law enforcement agencies in their future work. In documenting the history of violations, I was able to show an association between crimes involving illegal drug use and/or charges of illegal arms trafficking and the looting and illicit transportation of antiquities. The third stage evaluates the art market and assess the international demand for antiquities in the United States. This research involves the analysis of Pre-Columbian antiquities auctions at Sothebys, the worlds largest action house, in an effort to identify the types of artifacts that are most in demand on the antiquities market. The Sothebys data confirm the international desire for Pre-Columbian material, and indicate its worth. This market leads to continued looting to acquire these archaeological materials. Although the provenience of Belize is rarely specified, it is possible that up to 67% of the Sothebys database could have originated there. In 2000, the Institute of Archaeology (IA) was created. The current Belizean Legislation (National Institute of Culture and History Act, Chapter 331 of the Subsidiary Laws of Belize 2000, Revised in 2003) replaced the DoA with the Institute of Archaeology (IA). It is very clear from the work the IA has been conducting for the past number of years, they have completed the final stage of the heritage management plan. The final stage involves the training of government officers to maintain and enforce the heritage management program and aims to create better relations amongst the various departments and or ministries.

The current legislation, also made it possible for Belize to create a national Museum (Museum of Belize, which opened in 2002). There are and had been a number of visitor centers throughout the country but now a national museum just demonstrates how important the Maya cultural heritage is to the Belizean people. The country of Belize has a long history of heritage management. Although there has been legislation concerned with protecting and preserving cultural material since the late 1800s, looting and illegal exportation of artifacts still occur. Sandwiched between Mexico and Guatemala, Belize also is in a prime location to serve as a transit point for illegal exportation of Pre-Columbian patrimony from neighboring countries. One must also remember that Belize is a young country, gaining its independence in 1981. At times, while I was collecting the information in Belize, I would become discouraged. However, I felt that most, if not all, of the law enforcement officers wanted to help preserve Belizean heritage for themselves and their families. These officers saw ancient monuments being looted and antiquities leaving the country everyday. To most of these officers, this is very disconcerting. Many really want to improve the situation. A short time ago, I was contacted by the IA via e-mail with the following report. The IA explained to me that two Police officers from a remote village in the southern part of Belize had traveled all day by bus to the capital, Belmopan. With them they had antiquities that they had seized from an individual in their village. The reason for their visit to Belmopan was to authenticate the artifacts in order to press charges against the individual. The artifacts were indeed authentic Maya objects and when the officers were told this they were pleased. The officers also explained that if it had not been for the gringa, we would have never cared about these objects or how the individual got the objects. Belizes policy in protecting and preserving ancient sites and objects can only get better from this point. Since the education seminars conducted in the late 1990s, there has been an increase in the number of arrests involving looting and the illicit export of artifacts. Respectfully Submitted, Elizabeth Gilgan SAFE/Saving Antiquities for Everyone, Board Member