“Saving the Past for the Future: Combatting the Illicit Antiquities Trade,”
“Attendance at this event with a follow-up brief contributes to the Anthropology Field Engagement requirement.”
The Department of Art History is enormously pleased to invite you to attend an extraordinary lecture next week by Col. Matthew Bogdanos (Ret.) on November 4th at 7:00 PM in LC 102.
Col. Bogdanos, a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, has led the fight to protect antiquities and ensure their return to their rightful homes since he spent months directing an operation to recover thousands of antiquities looted from the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. He rivetingly recounts his exploits in the book, Thieves of Baghdad (2005).
A recipient of the Bronze Star and a National Humanities Medal, Col. Bogdanos later turned his passion into the Antiquities Trafficking Unit that he founded at the Manhattan D.A.’s Office. The Antiquities Trafficking Unit is the world’s first prosecutorial squad dedicated to antiquities thievery. Col. Bogdanos and the ATU have recovered more than 4000 ancient objects valued at more than $200 million.
Col. Bogdanos’ talk, “Saving the Past for the Future: Combatting the Illicit Antiquities Trade,” will be followed by a reception, during which attendees will be able to purchase autographed copies of Thieves of Baghdad for $20 (cash preferred). All proceeds from book sales benefit the Iraq National Museum.
Please feel free to circulate the attached flyer widely to all in the SUNY New Paltz and broader Hudson Valley community whom you feel would be interested in participating.
For any accessibility questions or necessary accommodations, please contact me at (845) 257-3829 or heuerk@newpaltz.edu.
Final_F2024_Bogdanos_Saving the Past for the Future_8.5×11 flyer
With every good wish,
Keely