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Stolen Fragments: Black Markets, Bad Faith, and the Illicit Trade in Ancient Artefacts

Apr 17, 2025

Roberta Mazza, an Associate Professor of Papyrology at the University of Bologna, dives into the murky waters of the illicit trade in ancient artifacts. She recounts her decade-long investigation into controversial acquisitions by Hobby Lobby's Steve Green, revealing hidden networks that exploit cultural heritage. The discussion unveils ethical dilemmas surrounding artifact ownership and the impact of colonialism on contemporary collecting practices. Mazza advocates for improved dialogue on repatriation and a shift towards preserving rather than plundering history.

58:33

Episode guests

Roberta Mazza

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Quick takeaways

The illicit trade in ancient artifacts, exemplified by the Green Collection, highlights significant ethical concerns regarding provenance and ownership amidst global market dynamics.

The podcast critiques the colonial legacy in antiquities collecting, emphasizing the importance of respecting the cultural heritage of source countries and promoting responsible practices.

Deep dives

The Impact of the Green Collection

The Green Collection, centered around biblical antiquities, illustrates a large network involved in the illicit trade of ancient artifacts. This collection was initiated by the Green family, who were spurred on by evangelical interests, particularly through a man named Scott Carroll. The collection's origins are tied to a marketplace that became increasingly flooded with antiquities following political instability in the Middle East, raising ethical questions about ownership and provenance. The author highlights the urgent need for scrutiny in collecting practices and the significance of considering the cultural heritage of source countries.

Intro

4min

Cultural Heritage and Ethical Dilemmas

15min

The Ethical Dilemmas of Artifact Ownership

4min

Antiquities, Ethics, and Intrigue

15min

Evolving Methodologies in Archaeology: From Destruction to Preservation

4min

Ethics and History in Artifact Collection

14min

In 2012, Steve Green, billionaire and president of the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores, announced a recent purchase of a Biblical artefact—a fragment of papyrus, just discovered, carrying lines from Paul's letter to the Romans, and dated to the second century CE. Noted scholar Roberta Mazza was stunned. When was this piece discovered, and how could Green acquire such a rare item? The answers, which Mazza spent the next ten years uncovering, came as a shock: the fragment had come from a famous collection held at Oxford University, and its rightful owners had no idea it had been sold. The letter to the Romans was not the only extraordinary piece in the Green collection. They soon announced newly recovered fragments from the Gospels and writings of Sappho. Dr. Mazza's quest to confirm the provenance of these priceless fragments revealed shadowy global networks that make big business of ancient manuscripts, from the Greens' Museum of the Bible and world-famous auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's, to antique shops in Jerusalem and Istanbul, dealers on eBay, and into the collections of renowned museums and universities.

Dr. Mazza's investigation informs her book, Stolen Fragments: Black Markets, Bad Faith, and the Illicit Trade in Ancient Artefacts (Redwood Press, 2024), and forces us to ask what happens when the supposed custodians of our ancient heritage act in ways that threaten to destroy it. Stolen Fragments illuminates how these recent dealings are not isolated events, but the inevitable result of longstanding colonial practices and the outcome of generations of scholars who have profited from extracting the cultural heritage of places they claim they wish to preserve. Where is the boundary between protection and exploitation, between scholarship and larceny?

Our guest is: Dr. Roberta Mazza, who is Associate Professor of Papyrology at the University of Bologna. She previously held positions at the University of Manchester, where she was honorary curator of the Manchester Museum, and at the University of California, Berkeley.

Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who works as a developmental editor for scholars, and is the producer of the Academic Life podcast.

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