About us
The Achilles Research Group is a collaborative, non-profit research organization dedicated to shining a light on the dark corners of the global art market. We act as a frontline defense for human memory by exposing and combating the illicit antiquities trade and cultural heritage crimes.
Our Mission Our mission is to protect human history from looting and exploitation. We believe that fighting art crime and heritage trafficking cannot rely on passing anecdotes; it requires hard evidence and accurate data. Therefore, we deliver fact-based, investigative research to expose the criminal networks trading in our past.
Our Approach From open digital markets to complex smuggling routes, we trace the path of plundered history. Our team brings together archaeologists, researchers, and investigative journalists to utilize the latest data analysis techniques. We document how the illicit antiquities trade intersects with organized crime and terrorism financing, particularly in conflict zones.
Our Initiatives We lead pioneering projects designed to create real impact, most notably:
- The ATHAR Project: A groundbreaking investigative initiative that tracks and documents the illicit antiquities trade across social media and digital platforms.
- MOLA (Museum of Looted Antiquities): An interactive platform and database documenting looted artifacts that have been recovered worldwide, ensuring their origins and journeys are never forgotten.
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Partnerships
Meet Our Dedicated Team Members
Jason Felch
Jason Felch is an author and investigator who has studied the black market for looted antiquities over two decades.He began as an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times.His writing on the role of the Getty and other American museums in the illicit antiquities trade was a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting.In 2011, he co-authored Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World’s Richest Museum. He continues writing about this trade at ChasingAphrodite.com. Since 2014, he has led a consulting firm conducting open-source investigations for law firms, companies and NGOs.
Katie A. Paul
Katie A. Paul is an anthropologist and investigative researcher directing the Tech Transparency Project, tracking extremism, disinformation, and crime on platforms like Facebook.She co-founded and co-directs the Antiquities Trafficking and Heritage Anthropology Research Project.As a founding member of the Alliance to Counter Crime Online, she investigates trafficking, terror finance, and organized crime on Big Tech platforms.Previously, she was chief of staff and a research fellow at the Antiquities Coalition in Washington, combating cultural racketeering.Paul holds a BA in Anthropology and Ancient Greek from Miami University, and an M.A. in Anthropology from The George Washington University.
AMR AL-AZM
Amr Al Azm earned his 1991 doctorate from the Institute of Archaeology at UCL.He founded and directed the Scientific and Conservation Laboratories at the General Department of Antiquities and Museums from 1999 to 2004, teaching at Damascus University until 2006.Currently, he is a tenured Professor of Middle East History and Anthropology at Shawnee State University, and teaches at Qatar University and Georgetown University-Qatar.A renowned commentator on Syrian and Middle Eastern affairs, he writes for major outlets like the New York Times and Time Magazine.Furthermore, he co-founded The Day After project and co-directs the ATHAR Project.
Meaning Behind Name Achilles
The name Achilles reflects the core mission of the organization: identifying and examining the hidden vulnerabilities within the global art and antiquities market. Just as Achilles’ legendary heel represented a critical point of weakness, Achilles Research Group focuses on uncovering systemic gaps that enable illicit trade, trafficking, and exploitation of cultural heritage.
Through rigorous research and data-driven analysis, the organization aims to expose these weaknesses and support efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and protection of cultural property worldwide.