Sky Arte series 'Art Raiders' investigates archaeological thefts

On October 19, Sky Arte will debut the four-part series 'Art Raiders. Caccia ai tombaroli,' helmed by director Simona Risi and penned by Donato Dallavalle and Cecilia Ferrara, featuring an original score by Rodrigo d'Erasmo. This series delves into Italy's widespread archaeological theft, which has seen over three million artworks pilfered in the past fifty years, highlighting the connections among tomb raiders, collectors, organized crime, and prominent museums. Each episode zeroes in on a particular stolen piece: the Euphronios Krater, the Morgantina Goddess, the Capitoline Triad, and the Assteas Vase. The inaugural episode recounts the krater's controversial acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1972 for $1 million, leading to a 30-year investigation that culminated in its return to Italy in 2008. Notable interviews with experts such as Lynda Albertson and others enrich the narrative, alongside location footage and animations by TIWI. Central to the story is the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC), the first cultural crime unit established in 1969.