La Chimera is a fairytale-like drama about the misadventures of a young archaeologist who becomes entangled in the web of tombaroli, illegal looters of Etruscan tombs in Italy. The talk is designed to foster a dynamic discussion with the audience regarding the complex legal, social, and criminological themes in the film. Drawing upon the characters and events depicted in La Chimera, the discussion will focus on the illicit trade of antiquities in Italy and beyond, exploring the intricate interplay between private property, cultural artefacts and criminal activities, in the quest to preserve a cultural heritage that belongs to all humankind.

Participants in the panel discussion are:

• Claudia Lo Cascio, PhD candidate in Criminal Law at Università degli Studi di Bari. Claudia’s PhD research in Criminal Law focuses on threats to archaeological heritage from organized crime, with a particular focus on antiquities trafficking.

• Livia Solaro, PhD candidate in Private Law at Maastricht University. Livia’s PhD research in Private Law considers transnational litigation around restitution of Nazi-looted art from a comparative perspective.

• Dr Donna Yates, Associate Professor in the department of Criminal Law and Criminology at Maastricht University. Donna is a criminologist and archaeologist who for the past 20 years has been a key contributor to international discussions and debates about crime related to art, antiquities, and fossils.

Programme