APAC Labs researchers attend second ANCHISE project demonstration event in Sweden

Researchers Dr. Valentina Vassallo and Dr. Avgoustinos Avgousti traveled to Stockholm, Swden to participate in the second demonstration of the ANCHISE Project. 

ANCHISE aims to develop 6 state of the art tools that will be used in the fight against illicit trafficking of antiquities. These tools will increase the surveillance of archaeological property that is vulnerable to looting and improve the identification of ancient artefacts while assisting law enforcement with trafficking networks. The demonstration was the second of three to be held to deliver hands-on training sessions on the use of the different tools presented.

During the first day’s event at the Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki, Dr. Vassallo presented APAC Labs' contribution to project ANCHISE by detailing one of the six tools, named GUARDIAN-CH. This database will be used for data organization and exploitation of items subject to illicit traffic. During the second day of events, the team traveled to the archaeological site of Amphipolis, where they provided further presentations about the tool and engaged in a Q&A session with attendees.

Overall, the events added a high level of value to how the tools will be refined and it was vital to engage in professional exchanges with law enforcement agencies, museum professionals and archaeologists who are at the forefront of fighting illicit trafficking of antiquities.