Archaeological looting is not a game!

The PITCHER project (Erasmus+ Programme, 2021-2024) intends to design and test of a set of open educational resources focusing on improving the capacity of teachers and educators in preparing new learning experiences to support the fight against looting and illicit trafficking of cultural goods. The seven activities in this educational resource enable students to understand the consequences of archaeological looting, in particular the loss of information that results from separating an object from its archaeological context, and why there is legislation that heavily regulates the use of metal detectors and all archaeological activities. These activities also enable them to understand how the illicit trafficking of cultural goods finances organised crime and terrorism, and how it harms the development potential of certain countries. The activities are complementary but independent, using a variety of media (videos, photographs, 3D, maps and plans, texts, etc.) and offering pupils a wide range of exercises that make learning easy and fun, particularly for the online versions of the first three activities.