Greece and Italy Launch Joint Task Force on Illicit Antiquities

Kylix, ancient Greek Drinking Cup. Credit: Public Domain

Greece’s Ministry of Culture and its Italian counterpart  have formed a permanent joint scientific task force to identify, document, match, and conserve major ceramic antiquities recovered from illegal excavations in both countries. The program focuses primarily on pottery from Attic workshops and related collections that entered illicit trafficking networks.

Greek officials describe the initiative as a long-term cooperation framework that strengthens artifact attribution, restoration practice, and the lawful distribution of recovered material between the two states.

Greece and Italy seal formal antiquities agreement

The task force grew out of ministerial talks held in Athens in June 2025 between Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli. A major step forward came with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding covering the joint handling of antiquities previously held by the liquidators of Robin Symes Ltd.

Olympia Vikatos, General Director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of Greece, and Luigi La Rocca, head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Department at Italy’s Culture Ministry, signed the agreement. The framework sets common procedures for research, conservation, and distribution of recovered objects.

🇬🇷🤝🇮🇹 Ελλάδα και Ιταλία δμιουργούν κοινή ομάδα εργασίας, για τη συστηματική τεκμηρίωση, ταύτιση και συντήρηση σημαντικών συνόλων κεραμικής, αττικών, κυρίως εργαστηρίων, που προέρχονται από παράνομες ανασκαφές στις δυο χώρες.

🔗 https://t.co/LN0HWO9APt#MinCultureGr #UNESCO pic.twitter.com/MLC3HZyf1P

— Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού (@cultureGR) February 2, 2026

Work centered in Thessaloniki since September 2025

Teams launched the project in September 2025 at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and continue the work there on a systematic schedule. Archaeologists and conservators from Greek and Italian services work alongside specialists from the University of Basilicata to carry out technical study and restoration.

The Greek ministry reports early, measurable progress, with several ceramic groups already reassembled and fully recorded. Officials say the project advances through close technical coordination and mutual institutional trust, while also deepening cultural ties between the two countries.

Focus on restoration and balanced repatriation

Experts concentrate on rebuilding fragmented ceramic vessels that illegal excavation and trafficking had scattered. After restoration, the program will allocate an equal number of conserved antiquities to Greece and Italy.

Authorities say this approach supports heritage protection and balanced restitution while following the principles of the 1970 UNESCO Convention against illicit cultural property trade.

Greece and Italy share position against illicit antiquities trafficking

Greek authorities present the partnership as both a scientific mission and an ethical obligation, stressing that work on illicitly excavated antiquities carries institutional responsibility as well as research value. Italian officials also rank the fight against antiquities trafficking and the recovery of stolen artworks among their top priorities.

The cooperation also covers exchanges in conservation techniques, professional training, archaeological site protection, and heritage management. Both sides also aim to promote more sustainable cultural tourism by highlighting lesser-known archaeological locations and alternative cultural routes.