Summer Rose Austin
@summeraustin.bsky.social
Archaeologist researching cultural heritage crime, looting, trafficking, il/licit markets, museum ethics and law | 1st Gen PhD Candidate at @uclarchaeology.bsky.social | she/her
Pinned
📚 I’m thrilled to share that “Researching a Rigged Game: Digital Approaches to Tracing the Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects”, edited by @dremilinesmith.bsky.social and myself, is now published and available as Open Access via @springernature.com.
🔗https://lnkd.in/gBCv2KDH
🔗https://lnkd.in/gBCv2KDH
📚 I’m thrilled to share that “Researching a Rigged Game: Digital Approaches to Tracing the Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects”, edited by @dremilinesmith.bsky.social and myself, is now published and available as Open Access via @springernature.com.
🔗https://lnkd.in/gBCv2KDH
🔗https://lnkd.in/gBCv2KDH
November 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
📚 I’m thrilled to share that “Researching a Rigged Game: Digital Approaches to Tracing the Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects”, edited by @dremilinesmith.bsky.social and myself, is now published and available as Open Access via @springernature.com.
🔗https://lnkd.in/gBCv2KDH
🔗https://lnkd.in/gBCv2KDH
“The old arguments against return are crumbling,” @monicahanna.bsky.social The new museum, she argued, was a signal to the world: “Egypt possesses the capacity, the will and the world-class facilities to house its own heritage.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a...
Egypt’s Grand Museum Is Finally Open. Now, ‘We Need Our Stuff Back.’
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:04 AM
“The old arguments against return are crumbling,” @monicahanna.bsky.social The new museum, she argued, was a signal to the world: “Egypt possesses the capacity, the will and the world-class facilities to house its own heritage.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a...
In an era marked in Canada by systems of forced conversion and the moral scourge of residential schools, this Inuvialuit kayak serves as a reminder of colonialist iniquity and Indigenous resilience. www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/11/06/v...
Vatican Museums will return rare Indigenous kayak to Canada
The Vatican is working with the Canadian Catholic Church to return Indigenous artefacts
www.theartnewspaper.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:04 AM
In an era marked in Canada by systems of forced conversion and the moral scourge of residential schools, this Inuvialuit kayak serves as a reminder of colonialist iniquity and Indigenous resilience. www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/11/06/v...
A really interesting read about rare book thefts
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist
The long read: Between 2022 and 2023, as many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bi...
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
A really interesting read about rare book thefts
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Excited (and relieved!) to share that I have officially submitted my doctoral thesis: “Tut on Tour: 30 Years of Demand Creation through Blockbuster Exhibition” at @uclarchaeology.bsky.social
I’m grateful to my supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family for their unending support throughout!
I’m grateful to my supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family for their unending support throughout!
October 2, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Excited (and relieved!) to share that I have officially submitted my doctoral thesis: “Tut on Tour: 30 Years of Demand Creation through Blockbuster Exhibition” at @uclarchaeology.bsky.social
I’m grateful to my supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family for their unending support throughout!
I’m grateful to my supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family for their unending support throughout!
Reposted by Summer Rose Austin
'ChatGPT’s interpretation of contested memoryscapes favours the voice of current governments, capitalism and the far-right'. Our new article, led by Tania Gonzáles Cantera, is out. It is an outcome of Tania's visit to the #HeritageMindsLab @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social last yr doi.org/10.1080/1352...
ChatGPT’s interpretation of contested memoryscapes favours the voice of current governments, capitalism and the far-right
This study examines political biases in ChatGPT-4o’s interpretations of memoryscapes linked to dictatorial regimes in Spanish-speaking countries. Using a least-to-most prompting model and a Discour...
doi.org
September 1, 2025 at 7:38 AM
'ChatGPT’s interpretation of contested memoryscapes favours the voice of current governments, capitalism and the far-right'. Our new article, led by Tania Gonzáles Cantera, is out. It is an outcome of Tania's visit to the #HeritageMindsLab @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social last yr doi.org/10.1080/1352...
On top of the valid points made by Morgan, this is an example of broadcasting a list of sites exact locations without protections in place, literally providing potential looters a map to sites that are not protected. All as a publicity stunt. #dobetter
This makes me uncomfortable. Not only is this a question of ethics & respect, but perhaps these two archaeologists should ask themselves WHY a tech titan from Meta would want to locate heritage sites in resource-rich, Indigenous regions like the Amazon.
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
www.nationalgeographic.com/science/arti...
Where should archaeologists dig next? The winners of this OpenAI contest can tell them.
Archeological sites, like those in the Amazon, are disappearing faster than we can find them. Can AI help?
www.nationalgeographic.com
September 1, 2025 at 9:54 AM
On top of the valid points made by Morgan, this is an example of broadcasting a list of sites exact locations without protections in place, literally providing potential looters a map to sites that are not protected. All as a publicity stunt. #dobetter
The Met using its go to line of “you never owned it anyway” to not return something, even to the Rolling Stones 😂
Representatives for Mick Taylor, the Rolling Stones’ former guitarist, said a Les Paul guitar was stolen from him decades ago. The instrument ended up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who says Taylor never owned the guitar and has not made a claim.
A Former Rolling Stone Says the Met Has His Lost Guitar. The Museum Says No Way.
Representatives for Mick Taylor, the Rolling Stones’ former guitarist, said the Les Paul was stolen from him decades ago. The museum says he never owned it and has not made a claim.
nyti.ms
August 1, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The Met using its go to line of “you never owned it anyway” to not return something, even to the Rolling Stones 😂
Anytime something is linked to the “time of Tut”, that object skyrockets in market value. This publicity around the grasshopper is bound to increase its sale price.
Was This Artifact From King Tut’s Tomb? It’s for Sale Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/a...
Was This Artifact From King Tut’s Tomb? It’s for Sale Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/a...
Was This Artifact From King Tut’s Tomb? It’s for Sale Anyway.
www.nytimes.com
July 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Anytime something is linked to the “time of Tut”, that object skyrockets in market value. This publicity around the grasshopper is bound to increase its sale price.
Was This Artifact From King Tut’s Tomb? It’s for Sale Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/a...
Was This Artifact From King Tut’s Tomb? It’s for Sale Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/a...
Reposted by Summer Rose Austin
News | Man charged after glass case holding Stone of Scone is broken – ‘no damage’ to artefact after incident forced @perthmuseum.bsky.social to evacuate visitors
Man charged after glass case holding Stone of Scone is broken - Museums Association
‘No damage’ to artefact after incident forced Perth Museum to evacuate visitors
www.museumsassociation.org
July 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
News | Man charged after glass case holding Stone of Scone is broken – ‘no damage’ to artefact after incident forced @perthmuseum.bsky.social to evacuate visitors
The presence of the mosaic in Germany only came to light after the relatives of the deceased contacted Italy’s Carabinieri cultural heritage protection squad in Rome and asked how to return it to the Italian state.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Erotic mosaic stolen by Nazi captain in second world war returned to Pompeii
Wehrmacht officer gave relic to German citizen whose family contacted Italian heritage officials after his death
www.theguardian.com
July 15, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The presence of the mosaic in Germany only came to light after the relatives of the deceased contacted Italy’s Carabinieri cultural heritage protection squad in Rome and asked how to return it to the Italian state.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Concerns around loans from private collections meeting the new regulations standards and how that could impact museum loans; however, if private owners can't prove good-title than it shouldn't be shown in a museum anyway
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/26/w...
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/26/w...
Why a new EU antiquities law aimed at stopping antiquities trafficking may hamper museum loans
While loans between museums are exempt from the additional requirements for proof of legal export from the country of origin and provenance documentation, those from private collectors will be affecte...
www.theartnewspaper.com
June 26, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Concerns around loans from private collections meeting the new regulations standards and how that could impact museum loans; however, if private owners can't prove good-title than it shouldn't be shown in a museum anyway
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/26/w...
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/26/w...
Reposted by Summer Rose Austin
250 members of staff at the British Museum have written to the institution’s leadership criticising the decision to hire its galleries to the Israeli embassy in London artreview.com/british-muse...
British Museum staffers in revolt over Israeli corporate hire
250 members of staff have criticised decision to host Israeli embassy event
artreview.com
June 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
250 members of staff at the British Museum have written to the institution’s leadership criticising the decision to hire its galleries to the Israeli embassy in London artreview.com/british-muse...
I mostly post about heritage related issues but this is an incredibly insightful read about the normalisation of atrocities and the need to stay informed and vigilant:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
Opinion | Beware: We Are Entering a New Phase of the Trump Era
www.nytimes.com
May 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I mostly post about heritage related issues but this is an incredibly insightful read about the normalisation of atrocities and the need to stay informed and vigilant:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...
👏👏👏 This is an excellent read and a much needed counter to the absolute out of touch drivel that the BM's newest director was spouting in their recent interview with The Times. Museums have a responsibility to explain the realities of their collections 👏👏👏 www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/22/a...
Are museums ‘guilt tripping’ their visitors? No, they aren’t doing enough
Engaging with the difficult histories behind objects has deepened, not dampened, my experiences at cultural institutions—and the fact it is different for everyone is a good thing
www.theartnewspaper.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:53 AM
👏👏👏 This is an excellent read and a much needed counter to the absolute out of touch drivel that the BM's newest director was spouting in their recent interview with The Times. Museums have a responsibility to explain the realities of their collections 👏👏👏 www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/22/a...
Reposted by Summer Rose Austin
Full house: Exploitation of #Indigenous land and destruction of #CulturalHeritage, all spiced up with a pinch of cultural chauvinism that calls into question #Aboriginal authorship of these sites in the first place ...
🏺 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05... via @abcaustralia.bsky.social
🏺 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05... via @abcaustralia.bsky.social
Aboriginal relics 'squashed' by golf course developer, court hears
A company with an exclusive lease to develop a golf course on public land near Hobart has been accused in court of "squashing" Aboriginal relics into the ground.
www.abc.net.au
May 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Full house: Exploitation of #Indigenous land and destruction of #CulturalHeritage, all spiced up with a pinch of cultural chauvinism that calls into question #Aboriginal authorship of these sites in the first place ...
🏺 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05... via @abcaustralia.bsky.social
🏺 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05... via @abcaustralia.bsky.social
Oops 😬
A British art dealer who appeared on a BBC antiques show pleaded guilty to selling artworks to a suspected financier for Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
U.K. Antiques Show Expert Admits Selling Art to Suspected Hezbollah Financier
www.nytimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Oops 😬
Reposted by Summer Rose Austin
Moreover, what can students in Iraq learn from these antiquities? I assume nothing, because they don't get to engage with them. It is much easier to get Iraqi antiquities into the US (or UK, or anywhere in Europe), than Iraqi researchers.
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Moreover, what can students in Iraq learn from these antiquities? I assume nothing, because they don't get to engage with them. It is much easier to get Iraqi antiquities into the US (or UK, or anywhere in Europe), than Iraqi researchers.
Reposted by Summer Rose Austin
Oh hey, it's my thing! Looted text finds from recent war zones! You know, the thing I've been thinking about for, uh, *checks notes* about seven years now!
I haven't found an easy answer that lets me sleep soundly, but apparently, some people have. Good for them. Allow me to add some thoughts.🧵
I haven't found an easy answer that lets me sleep soundly, but apparently, some people have. Good for them. Allow me to add some thoughts.🧵
Should educators ever teach with materials obtained illegally or unethically?
“As an archaeologist who teaches at Emory, I have decided yes: Learning with and from these objects can help amend their problematic acquisition—so long as that history pervades the lesson”
www.sapiens.org/archaeology/...
“As an archaeologist who teaches at Emory, I have decided yes: Learning with and from these objects can help amend their problematic acquisition—so long as that history pervades the lesson”
www.sapiens.org/archaeology/...
When Wartime Plunder Comes to Campus
An archaeologist considers whether she should teach with antiquities looted during the U.S invasion of Iraq.
www.sapiens.org
May 8, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Oh hey, it's my thing! Looted text finds from recent war zones! You know, the thing I've been thinking about for, uh, *checks notes* about seven years now!
I haven't found an easy answer that lets me sleep soundly, but apparently, some people have. Good for them. Allow me to add some thoughts.🧵
I haven't found an easy answer that lets me sleep soundly, but apparently, some people have. Good for them. Allow me to add some thoughts.🧵