Introduction

When Cicero published his seminal work In Verrem, he could not have foreseen how relevant this text would be nearly two thousand years later. 1 He traced the trajectory of cultural goods that crossed the Mediterranean twice, discussed their ownership, acquisition, and disposal histories, and in doing so, adopted what we would call now an interdisciplinary approach.Research on the origins and description of objects, their documentation, and their relationships is highly topical.Today, as in the past, cultural property attracts attention, stirs passion, and requires protection. CENTRAL THEMESThese elements -from the materiality of objects to the intangibility of practices and traditions -are intertwined in Art, Culture and Heritage, which are at the core of this Research Handbook.This is a wide-ranging subject and specific topics within it deserve analysis from different disciplines.Its chapters vary between the theoretical and the practical, providing cross-disciplinary perspectives in law, criminology, sociology, heritage, and cultural studies.It considers different aspects of culture from a contemporary perspective.Where it seems appropriate, its authors highlight concerns regarding different themes: decolonisation, past injustices, sustainability, intergenerational equity, equality and inclusion, public participation, and local community involvement.Authors could choose to address one or several of these themes as they relate to the development of international cultural heritage law.We did not define the themes for them, to avoid constraining their approach to their topic.However, we are providing our readers with a short explanation to clarify what is meant by sustainable development, intergenerational equity, decolonisation, and cultural rights.The Bruntland report published in 1987 defined sustainable development as development that 'meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.' 2 Although the expression had not been widely accepted, sustainable development and intergenerational equity were at the forefront of the Global South's concerns 1