Preventing illicit trafficking of ancient cuneiform tablets through MCI conference connecting academics, law enforcement, and other federal partners

In September 2019, MCI Cultural Heritage Preservation Scholar, Katharyn Hanson, PhD, convened 55 experts, scholars, and members of law enforcement for a two-day conference entitled Cuneiform Tablets: Origins, trafficking, and best practices for the future. This conference sought to address the growth of the illicit trade of ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets and discuss strategies for preventing their trafficking. This project as generously supported by a Smithsonian's Scholarly Studies Grant.