The Raiders of the Lost Art

The PITCHER project (Erasmus+ Programme, 2021-2024) designed and tested a set of Open Educational Resources focused on improving the capacity of teachers and educators in preparing new learning experiences to support the fight against archaeological looting and illicit trafficking of cultural goods. This educational board game targets young people aged 14 to 18 and their families, aiming to raise awareness of the value of archaeological heritage as a shared, accessible cultural asset.Different stories inspired by real-life events (chance discoveries, looting, theft, counterfeiting…) serve as the starting point for a game that combines quizzes, challenges, and activities. Players must not only solve puzzles but also tackle challenges by identifying the correct behavior to adopt in certain situations.Various concepts are addressed throughout the game (grave robber, clandestine excavation, illicit trafficking, intermediaries, black market, money laundering, archeomafia, artnapping...) that the teacher or mediator can further explore using supplementary documentation.