Ortwin Knorr
Associate Professor of Classics
Willamette University
900 State St
Salem, OR 97301

August 9, 2005

Dear Members of the Committee:

As a professor of Classics and an officer of the Salem, OR chapter of the American Institute of Archaeology, I am writing today to urge you to renew the bilateral agreement that restricts the importation of certain categories of Italian cultural property to the United States.

The cultural heritage of Italy is an immensely important part of the cultural heritage of Western civilization and, thus, of the United States. The wide-spread trading of illegally excavated artifacts threatens to rob us of important insights into our own past. Without the context that only a properly executed, i.e., legal and professional excavation can provide, an ancient object may be pretty to look at, but it tells us little about who made it, who bought it, what it was used for, etc., etc.

By continuing to restrict the importation of Italy's cultural heritage to the United States, you would deprive the grave robbers of their largest customer, the U.S. art market, and help curb the illegal digging and trading of artifacts that prevents archaeologists from gaining new insights into our common past.

In addition, you would encourage the Italians to continue putting major artifacts on display in the United States. In the absence of major collections of ancient art here in Oregon, we are grateful for any opportunity to bring ancient art to Salem's Halley Ford Museum of Art.

The Italians are doing their part in trying to reduce illegal digging. Please support their efforts and renew this bilateral agreement for another five years.

Best regards,

Ortwin Knorr
Associate Professor of Classics
Willamette University
900 State St
Salem, OR 97301