Stricter Punishments Proposed for Unlawful Archaeological Activities in Kazakhstan
Title: Toughening the Fight Against Illicit Archaeology in Kazakhstan 🚀
📍 Astana - Kazakhstan is taking action against the illegal digging of ancient artifacts. A new legislation proposal, currently under review in the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament), aims to impose stricter penalties and regulations in this field, according to Finprom.kz. 🛠️
📸 Photo credit: Turkistan Region's administration
Experts in the field have long advocated for a stronger stance against those who illegally hunt for ancient relics. This issue of cultural theft is a recurring concern that surfaces every time new archaeological discoveries are made, sparking discussions among experts.
Under the proposed amendments, penalties for unauthorized excavations would significantly increase, with fines ranging from 11.8 million tenge (approximately $23,016 USD) to 23.6 million tenge (nearly $46,033 USD) for repeat offenses or cases involving specialized equipment. Offenders caught working as part of a criminal group could face prison sentences of up to 12 years, similar to those imposed for serious crimes.
Recent enforcement measures have already shown promising results, with a fourfold drop in historical monument vandalism cases - from 28 in 2023 to just seven in 2024, authorities report. However, illegal excavations continue to be an issue. The number of administrative offenses concerning monument protection also decreased from 21 to 14 over the past year.
Presently, all discovered artifacts belong to the state and must be handed over to state museums. The proposed amendments suggest a state monopoly on the display of antiquities and stricter regulations surrounding the export of archaeological finds, requiring official approval.
Kazakhstan is committed to preserving its cultural heritage and promoting archaeological tourism. Notable sites such as the Tamgaly petroglyphs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, play an essential role in this endeavor. Kazakhstan boasts six such sites at present, and more may be added in the future. The country currently ranks 63rd globally in terms of UNESCO sites.
💡 Insights on New Regulations for Illegal Archaeology
New regulations on illegal archaeology often involve tighter controls over excavations and stricter licensing requirements, aiming to discourage unauthorized digging. When implemented effectively, these measures can lead to a decrease in illegal excavations and help protect cultural heritage.
Increased enforcement, public education, and protective measures are other aspects of such regulations, all working together to reduce incidents of historical monument vandalism and promote the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide. 🧪🏛️
- The field of archaeology, alongside medical-conditions, finance, lifestyle, business, technology, education-and-self-development, general-news, and sports, could benefit from stricter regulations, as shown by Kazakhstan's approach to combating illegal archaeology.
- As in the realm of sports, where offenders can face penalties for breaking rules, those found guilty of unauthorized excavations in archaeology could face fines or prison sentences, as seen in the proposed amendments in Kazakhstan.
- Just as the medical-conditions sector requires certain artifacts for research and study, the proposal in Kazakhstan suggests a state monopoly on the display of antiquities, with stricter regulations surrounding their export, further emphasizing the importance of these precious items.
- Archaeology shares a common goal with education-and-self-development, general-news, and sports—the preservation and promotion of heritage—a mission that could be supported globally through the implementation of effective new regulations, such as those now being considered in Kazakhstan.
