Within Bahrain Hoaxes
How Fake Antiquities Passed Through Bahrain
A Heathrow seizure revealed how modern clay forgeries can imitate ancient Mesopotamian treasures and mislead collectors.
On this page
- What officers found inside the trunks
- How museum specialists detected modern manufacture
- Why weak provenance helps forged artefacts circulate
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Introduction
The most clearly documented case linking Bahrain to a modern antiquities fraud emerged in 2019, when UK Border Force officers intercepted two metal trunks shipped from Bahrain to a private address in Britain. At first glance the contents appeared remarkable: hundreds of clay tablets covered in ancient-looking writing, figurines, cylinder seals and pottery seemingly connected to the civilisations of ancient Mesopotamia. Had the objects been genuine, they might have represented a significant cultural-property case involving looted archaeological material. Instead, British Museum specialists concluded that the entire shipment consisted of modern counterfeits.[Sky News]news.sky.comNews Middle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to beSky NewsMiddle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be…May 5, 2020 — 5 May 2020 — Two trunks filled with individually bubble…
The episode matters because it illustrates how forged antiquities circulate in the modern market. The objects did not need to fool leading scholars for decades. They only needed to appear convincing enough to attract a buyer who lacked hands-on experience with genuine artefacts. The Bahrain connection is therefore less a story about local manufacture than about how international trade routes can be used to move convincing-looking fakes through the antiquities market.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
What officers found inside the trunks
On 1 July 2019, Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport inspected two trunks that had arrived from Bahrain. Inside were around 190 objects individually wrapped in bubble wrap and tape. The shipment included clay tablets bearing supposed cuneiform inscriptions, figurines, cylinder seals and unusual animal-shaped vessels. To customs officers, the collection initially resembled a cache of ancient Middle Eastern artefacts.[sky.com]news.sky.comNews Middle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to beSky NewsMiddle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be…May 5, 2020 — 5 May 2020 — Two trunks filled with individually bubble…
Several features made the find appear plausible:
- The objects were made from fired clay, a material strongly associated with ancient Mesopotamia.
- Many carried inscriptions resembling cuneiform, one of the world’s earliest writing systems.
- The shipment contained a wide variety of object types that collectors commonly associate with the ancient Near East.
- Each piece had been carefully packaged, creating the impression that it possessed significant value.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
Because genuine Mesopotamian artefacts have been trafficked internationally in the past, officials initially had to consider the possibility that they were dealing with looted cultural heritage. The objects were therefore referred to the British Museum for expert examination.[Sky News]news.sky.comNews Middle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to beSky NewsMiddle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be…May 5, 2020 — 5 May 2020 — Two trunks filled with individually bubble…
How museum specialists detected modern manufacture
The shipment began to unravel almost immediately when experts looked closely at the tablets and inscriptions. According to British Museum specialists, the collection seemed suspicious because it contained what appeared to be an almost complete catalogue of common Mesopotamian object types. Rather than reflecting the random and fragmentary nature of genuine archaeological discoveries, it looked like a collection assembled from photographs and reference books.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
The strongest clues came from physical examination.
The tablets looked wrong
Curators noted that the tablets differed from authentic examples in size, thickness and overall construction. Such mistakes are common when counterfeiters copy images without having handled original artefacts. Photographs can show the appearance of an object, but they often fail to convey weight, texture, proportions and manufacturing details.[returningheritage.com]returningheritage.comFaked artefacts: Exposing a damaging trendMay 6, 2020 — 6 May 2020 — The size and thickness of the fake tablets failed to match originals in the Museum's collection, a common erro…
The writing was unconvincing
Many inscriptions resembled cuneiform only superficially. Specialists found signs that were poorly formed, inconsistent or effectively meaningless. The writing appeared designed to look ancient rather than to communicate actual text. To a casual observer, rows of wedge-shaped marks might suggest authenticity; to someone familiar with ancient scripts, they raised immediate doubts.[Sky News]news.sky.comNews Middle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to beSky NewsMiddle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be…May 5, 2020 — 5 May 2020 — Two trunks filled with individually bubble…
The collection was too perfect
Authentic archaeological material is usually incomplete. Objects break, erode and fragment over centuries. Yet the Heathrow shipment contained a strikingly broad range of intact and display-ready pieces. This completeness, attractive to collectors, became one of the strongest indicators that the assemblage had been manufactured for sale rather than excavated from antiquity.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
Why weak provenance helps forged artefacts circulate
The Heathrow seizure highlights a central weakness in the antiquities market: provenance.
Provenance is the documented history of an object’s ownership and origin. When such documentation is weak, missing or difficult to verify, forged artefacts can move through the market more easily. A buyer may see an impressive object and focus on appearance rather than evidence showing where it came from and how it reached the seller.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
Counterfeiters exploit several assumptions:
- Ancient-looking materials suggest authenticity.
- Exotic scripts can appear authoritative even when meaningless.
- Large collections create an illusion of legitimacy.
- Buyers may assume customs paperwork or international shipping implies authenticity.
- Private transactions often receive less scrutiny than museum acquisitions.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
British Museum curator St John Simpson argued that the likely target was not a specialist institution but a relatively inexperienced collector interested in owning examples of early writing and ancient civilisation. The fraud depended on enthusiasm exceeding expertise.[Arab News]arabnews.comArab NewsWhy fakes are replacing real trafficked antiquities from…25 May 2020 — Among the seized items were 190 fake clay tablets cove…
Bahrain’s role in the case
Publicly available evidence establishes that the trunks were shipped from Bahrain. It does not establish that the objects were manufactured there, nor does it show that Bahraini museums, archaeologists or cultural authorities were involved. Investigators and museum specialists instead treated Bahrain as the dispatch point in a wider international transaction.[Sky News]news.sky.comNews Middle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to beSky NewsMiddle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be…May 5, 2020 — 5 May 2020 — Two trunks filled with individually bubble…
That distinction is important. The significance of the case lies not in proving a local forgery industry but in showing how counterfeit antiquities can move across borders using ordinary commercial channels. The route through Bahrain became visible only because customs officers opened the shipment and sought expert advice before the objects reached their intended buyer.[Sky News]news.sky.comNews Middle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to beSky NewsMiddle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be…May 5, 2020 — 5 May 2020 — Two trunks filled with individually bubble…
What the seizure revealed about the modern fake-antiquities trade
The Heathrow discovery attracted attention because it suggested a shift in the economics of antiquities fraud. Traditionally, discussions of illicit antiquities focused on genuine artefacts removed illegally from archaeological sites. In this case, the objects were not stolen heritage at all. They were modern creations designed to imitate ancient treasures.[Artnet News]news.artnet.comcounterfeit antiquities heathrow british museum 1852233Artnet NewsA Trove of Artifacts Inscribed With Gibberish Was…4 May 2020 — British Museum curators explain what makes the new wave of b…
For criminals, producing convincing fakes can be attractive. Counterfeit clay objects cost relatively little to manufacture, carry fewer risks than excavating or smuggling genuine antiquities, and can potentially be sold for substantial sums if buyers accept them as authentic. British Museum specialists described the shipment as evidence of an emerging market aimed at unsuspecting collectors.[Museums Association]museumsassociation.orgseized fakes reveal emerging market in counterfeit antiquitiesMuseums AssociationSeized fakes reveal 'emerging market' in counterfeit…5 May 2020 — The British Museum, London, has warned of growing…
The case also demonstrates why expertise remains crucial. Customs officers recognised that the shipment warranted scrutiny, but the decisive step came when specialists compared the objects with genuine examples and examined details that photographs and sales descriptions could easily conceal.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
Why the story remains important
Among Bahrain-related stories involving deception and false claims, the counterfeit-antiquities shipment stands out because it is documented, investigated and publicly explained by the institutions involved. Unlike folklore, rumours or internet myths, the evidence is unusually concrete: seized objects, expert examination and detailed explanations of how the fraud worked.[British Museum]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
The lesson is straightforward. In the antiquities market, an object can look ancient, carry mysterious writing and arrive in carefully packed trunks from overseas while still being entirely modern. The Heathrow seizure showed how easily appearance can be manufactured—and how careful examination of provenance, materials and craftsmanship remains the most effective defence against being deceived.[britishmuseum.org]britishmuseum.orgfake antiquities made unsuspecting collectorsBritish MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo…
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Endnotes
1.
Source: news.sky.com
Title: News Middle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be
Link:https://news.sky.com/story/middle-east-clay-antiques-seized-at-heathrow-found-to-be-fake-by-british-museum-experts-11983275
Source snippet
Sky NewsMiddle East clay antiques seized at Heathrow found to be...May 5, 2020 — 5 May 2020 — Two trunks filled with individually bubble...
Published: May 5, 2020
2.
Source: antiquestradegazette.com
Link:https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2020/fake-mesopotamian-antiquities-seized-at-heathrow-airport-with-help-of-border-force-officers-and-the-british-museum
Source snippet
Fake Mesopotamian antiquities seized at Heathrow airport...5 May 2020 — Fake Mesopotamian antiquities seized at Heathrow airport with he...
Published: May 2020
3.
Source: returningheritage.com
Title: Faked artefacts: Exposing a damaging trend
Link:https://www.returningheritage.com/faked-artefacts-exposing-a-damaging-trend
Source snippet
May 6, 2020 — 6 May 2020 — The size and thickness of the fake tablets failed to match originals in the Museum's collection, a common erro...
Published: May 6, 2020
4.
Source: news.artnet.com
Title: counterfeit antiquities heathrow british museum 1852233
Link:https://news.artnet.com/art-world-archives/counterfeit-antiquities-heathrow-british-museum-1852233
Source snippet
Artnet NewsA Trove of Artifacts Inscribed With Gibberish Was...4 May 2020 — British Museum curators explain what makes the new wave of b...
Published: May 2020
5.
Source: youtube.com
Title: The British Museum is full of stolen artifacts
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoTxiRWrvp8
Source snippet
British Museum to return looted 5,000-year-old artefacts to Iraq...
6.
Source: youtube.com
Title: British Museum to return looted 5,000-year-old artefacts to Iraq
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3qkkKFYSC8
Source snippet
The Exchange: Art and crime - the dark side of the antiquities trade...
7.
Source: britishmuseum.org
Title: fake antiquities made unsuspecting collectors
Link:https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/fake-antiquities-made-unsuspecting-collectors
Source snippet
British MuseumFake antiquities made for unsuspecting collectors5 May 2020 — The trunks had as many as 190 clay tablets covered in cuneifo...
Published: May 2020
8.
Source: museumsassociation.org
Title: seized fakes reveal emerging market in counterfeit antiquities
Link:https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2020/05/seized-fakes-reveal-emerging-market-in-counterfeit-antiquities/
Source snippet
Museums AssociationSeized fakes reveal 'emerging market' in counterfeit...5 May 2020 — The British Museum, London, has warned of growing...
Published: May 2020
9.
Source: arabnews.com
Link:https://www.arabnews.com/node/1679636/amp
Source snippet
Arab NewsWhy fakes are replacing real trafficked antiquities from...25 May 2020 — Among the seized items were 190 fake clay tablets cove...
Published: May 2020
10.
Source: gdnonline.com
Link:https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/981261
Additional References
11.
Source: youtube.com
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0twQPNbl0n0
Source snippet
Qatar Airways First Class Lounge #shorts FLY WITH CHANG · 505 views...
12.
Source: theartnewspaper.com
Title: two trunkloads of fake iraqi antiquities seized by uk customs
Link:https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2020/05/05/two-trunkloads-of-fake-iraqi-antiquities-seized-by-uk-customs
Source snippet
Numbering 190 items, they represent a wide variety of objects...Read more...
13.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Former Louvre curator arrested for smuggling antiquities
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y6DPhxClHQ
Source snippet
Putting a Price on the Priceless: Measuring the Illicit Antiquities Trade in Data and Dollars...
14.
Source: youtube.com
Title: The Exchange: Art and crime
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0L6DijDEE
Source snippet
Former Louvre curator arrested for smuggling antiquities...
15.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/wrhstol/posts/british-officials-intercepted-an-artifact-smuggler-at-heathrow-airport-who-was-a/2814902688557978/
16.
Source: coinsweekly.com
Title: success in the fight against the faked antiquities market
Link:https://coinsweekly.com/success-in-the-fight-against-the-faked-antiquities-market/
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