About us
The Antiquities Trafficking and Heritage Anthropology Research (ATHAR) Project is an investigative study led by a collection of anthropologists and heritage experts digging into the digital underworld of transnational trafficking, terrorism financing, and organized crime. The ATHAR Project is a project of Achilles Research Group and a partner of UNESCO, The Day After Heritage Protection Initiative and is a proud partner and founding member of the Alliance to Counter Crime Online.
Athar (الآثار) is the Arabic word for antiquities, and whether it is referencing artifacts or ancient monuments, it’s used to describe a piece of the past – often one that is lost to trafficking.
ATHAR Project is proud top be part of a documentary that follows archaeologists and researchers in their fight to track trafficked antiquities throughout Syria’s civil war. Check the trail video.
Activity locations
Explore the countries where ATHAR Project is actively working to protect cultural heritage and combat antiquities trafficking.
Explore Research / Download Latest Report
Meet Our Team Members
AMR AL-AZM
Amr Al-Azm is a founder and board member on The Day After project (TDA) and currently coordinates the Heritage Protection Initiative (HPI) for cultural heritage protection at the TDA. He serves as a Co-Director of the ATHAR Project.
Katie A. Paul
Katie A. Paul is an Anthropologist based in Washington, DC, and Co-Director of the ATHAR Project. Her work investigates the trafficking of cultural property and its connection to transnational crime and terrorism.
Lakshmi Venugopal Menon
Lakshmi Venugopal Menon is a doctoral candidate at the Gulf Studies Program, Qatar University. She was previously a Qatar History Instructor and a Research Associate at the National Institute of Advanced studies, Indian Institute of Sciences.
KHALED HIATLIH
Khaled Hiatlih is a Syrian archaeologist Based in the Hague. He is coordinating the 3D modeling project in Syria (IDA), Focus Raqqa Project and ASOR Heritage protection initiative and participating in other initiatives.
Stéphane Ipert
Stéphane Ipert is an art historian and trained conservator with a background in art law and crime. He served as the Director of the Heritage Library at Qatar National Library, where he developed expertise in combating the trafficking and facilitating the restitution of manuscripts and archives, with a particular focus on the MENA region and Central Asia.
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