Gary Vikan, former director of the Walters Art Museum (1994-2013) and member of the president’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee (1999-2003) suggests that maybe there can. In an article published by the Wall Street Journal on the 19th of August he argues that “we should accept looted antiquities from these troubled areas, even when such action might be considered encouraging looting”.

I would have to respectfully disagree. The theft of artefacts is a demand driven crime, and to allow museums and governments to purchase illicit artefacts will do nothing more than drive an increase in looting worldwide, and in this particular instance fund the organisation behind these atrocities.