The United States is one of over 115 states party to the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property ("the Convention") (PDF). The Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act ("the Act") (PDF) empowers the Department of State to consider requests from governments party to the Convention to impose import restrictions on archaeological or ethnological material.

Process and Purpose

Learn more about the purpose of the International Cultural Property Protection initiative and the process for establishing import restrictions on artifacts.

Learn More
Announcements
Monastery in Georgia
November 9, 2020
Preserving an Invaluable Monastery in Georgia
Read more
September 10, 2020
Cultural Property Advisory Committee Meeting October 27-29, 2020
Read more
June 10, 2020
Cultural Property Advisory Committee Meeting July 22-23, 2020
Read more

Pages

Fact Sheet
Cultural Property Protection One-Pager
Process and Purpose
Background
Foreign Government Requests
Cultural Property Advisory Committee
Laws, Conventions, and Agreements
Resources
Chart of Import Restrictions (PDF)

Bilateral Agreements

Learn more about the agreements countries have signed with the U.S. to protect cultural artifacts.


In their own words

Mamadou Cisse visiting Chaco park with small group of people
Mamadou C. Participant Participant›Civic and Government Leaders Sub-Saharan Africa International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Western Hemisphere Read the story
Pause
17
Countries
Have cultural property agreements to preserve their heritage