An undercover documentary follows archaeologist Gino Caspari as he poses as a buyer to trace looted artifacts from northwestern China to dealers in Hong Kong. The filmmakers say "Among Thieves" aims to show how relics move from tomb raiders to private buyers and institutions.

Xinjiang

Archaeologist Gino Kasperi undertook an undercover operation, posing as a buyer to track the movement of looted artifacts from northwestern China to dealers in Hong Kong. Using hidden cameras, Kasperi documented interactions with traders and examined items such as a gold mask believed to be from the Sanxingdui culture, confirming its authenticity through scientific analysis.

The investigation, featured in Kasperi's documentary 'Among Thieves', reveals the complex network involving informal diggers, smugglers, and established buyers. The film comes as Asia's art market faces increased scrutiny, with Hong Kong remaining a central hub for Chinese artifacts. Chinese authorities have intensified efforts against tomb raiding and trafficking, with a significant rise in prosecutions. Kasperi emphasizes that ongoing demand for such artifacts continues to threaten archaeological heritage.

Archaeologist goes undercover to trace looted artifacts

This hidden camera footage is capturing an undercover operation by archaeologist Gino Kasperi, who is posing as a buyer to trace looted artifacts from northwestern China to dealers in Hong Kong. The looting was so severe, though, that I couldn't help but wonder, where are all the artifacts going? Kasperi is a tracker of tomb raiders, so to speak, and he says his documentary, Among Thieves, aims to show how relics get smuggled to private buyers and institutions. I have been working in Central Asia and Siberia for the past 10 years. During my research in northwestern China, I came across so many looted tombs that I really started wondering, where are all these artifacts going? And that was the initial trigger for me to then go undercover and track the supply chain. In this scene of the documentary, Kasperi examines a gold mask that a dealer in Hong Kong's Antique District said was smuggled from mainland China and linked to Sichuan. The mask's heavy brows, bold eyes, and wide mouth echo known pieces from the Sanxingdui culture. We talked to dozens of traders, and we stated our objective of obtaining high-value items for a rich collector. And the Sanxingdui mask was one of the items that really raised an eyebrow, because if something like this would hit an international auction, then we are talking at least double-digit millions. We took the sample in order to analyze the elementary composition. I then asked him for a tissue and pretended to sneeze and put the sample into the tissue and put it into my pocket. And that's how we obtained the gold sample, which ultimately showed that it is likely a genuine item. It found the mask was mostly gold, with small amounts of silver and copper, consistent with ancient gold. The filmmakers say their footage shows how informal diggers, organized smugglers, and established buyers intersect across borders. The film comes amid scrutiny of Asia's art market. Hong Kong remains a key auction hub for Chinese art, while dealers court high-value buyers even as fakes and legal risks complicate sales. China has stepped up enforcement against tomb raiding and trafficking in recent years. Prosecutors charged more than 2,000 people in 2023, up 37.4 percent from 2022, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Casperi argues that demand fuels site destruction. It is ultimately destroying the knowledge that we could get from the ground. And archaeological heritage is a non-renewable resource, and this is happening on a global scale.

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