The Government of India have enacted "The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act 1972 in order to curb the smuggling of art treasures from India. There is also rampant illicit trafficking in Pancholoha bronzes. Due to the implementation of this act, the antiquities, art objects which are the imprints of the social, economic and cultural activities of our past society are preserved for posterity. The Chola bronzes are considered as most beautiful art object but due to the sanctity and religious significance made them as sacred and are worshipped in the temples of South India especially in Tamil Nadu as processional deities. Even today the bronze icons, art objects, Tanjavur paintings are made in Tamil Nadu and sent to South East Asian countries, USA and other Western countries. South India, particularly the bronzes are considered not only as art pieces they have sacred reasons and are worshipped in temples even today. The bronzes are taken in procession, cala bimbos and resemble the principal deity of the temple where the image belongs. The main deity is fashioned out of stone and enshrined permanently with in the sanctum of the temple. This has been considered as a part of the religious life of the community. In South India five metals were used, Panchaloha as the admixture was called composed of brass, copper, silver, gold and tin. The other antiquities of 100 years old such as sculptures, paintings, inscriptions, art work of craftsmanship, manuscripts, and records of historical value are also registered.
I am thankful to the Government of Tamil Nadu for providing sufficient funds for the publication of this book on Registration of Antiquities. I wish to compliment Thiru M.T. Sridharan, for the design and exquisite photos that adorn these pages. And finally, I wish to thank all the officers and staff of State Department of Archaeology in bring out this book..
The protection of cultural properties is widely accepted by all nations. There is a worldwide awareness on safeguarding the cultural properties, art objects. UNESSCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), plays a vital role in identifying, prohibiting the illicit traffic of cultural properties and preserve them for posterity. It has identified the essence of human creation threatened by looting as well as plundering and destroying them in the name of religion which is considered as the foremost cause of unlawful activity in the world today.
The Laws governing cultural heritage didn't begin coming into existence until the second half of the 20th century. Instead, arts institutions quietly carried out dealings with the illicit art market, and curators were far more focused on making a name for themselves and their collection than the ethical and legal implications of such practices. If pressed even to this day some directors might argue that culture belongs to the entire world, or that host country institutions are in a far better position to care for works than those of their home countries.
The illicit transporting of the art objects are due to the opening of borders, the increasing number of armed conflicts, poverty, and the exponential growth of the art market. The UNESCO and its partners continue to monitor and work out an international solution to combat the illicit traffic of cultural property. It has decided to create a database of National Cultural Heritage Laws. The UNESCO also decided to collect prevailing national laws of its Member States. The creation of the database will definitely help all stakeholders (Governments, customs officials, art dealers, organizations, lawyers, buyers and so forth) involved in protecting the illicit trafficking of a complete and easily accessible source of information. UNESCO's first convention was Convention of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict 1953.
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