Research On The Investigation Countermeasures Of Illegal Excavation Of Ancient Cultural Sites And Tombs

Illegal excavation of ancient cultural sites and tombs is defined as clandestine excavation of ancient cultural sites and tombs of historical,scientific and artistic value without permission of cultural relics authorities.With relics looted by devastating means,perpetrators obtains illegal profit of huge amounts,which triggers other related crimes and severely undermines security of relics and social order and harmony.However,in-depth and detailed researches into such cases about their features and countermeasures are rarely seen among theoretical specialists.Chaoyang City,where Liaoning,Hebei and Inner Mongolia's border joints,is selected as an ideal sample for this research for its numerous and widely-ranged ancient cultural sites and tombs which were ever frequent victims of illegal excavation.More importantly,Chaoyang Cultural Relics Protection Unit was established in 2015.The Unit has won impressive victories in combating crimes against cultural relics such as illegal excavation of ancient cultural sites and tombs,which offers illuminations in this sphere.The dissertation selects crime cases of illegal excavation of ancient cultural sites and tombs in Chaoyang City as samples and analyzes the traits of perpetrators,tools and means of excavation.Suggestions for investigation department are proposed based on the difficulties and deficiencies collected from interviews with local investigators,literature reviews and the author's experience in practice.Currently,its occurrences are featured by large number of underreporting,high frequency of linked but scattered committing and season-based rules.In addition,other factors,such as the complex structures of such criminal gangs and their members,the rare peculiarity of crime scenes,difficulties in tracing and seizing stolen cultural relics,variety of related crimes and etc.,are complicating investigations in terms of clue hunting,evidence collection,interrogation,and relics tracing,which undermines investigation efficiency.In a bid to contain this,investigators are suggested to have holistic knowledge of features,workflow,means and tools of such crimes,and scheme plans in collecting clues and evidence of individuals,objects and places related to the case.Safety of stolen relics should be ensured by collecting evidence in crime scene investigation,searches,seizures and interrogation.In the long run,investigation department is suggested to make efforts in squad and database construction and investigation cooperation mechanism,so as to lay a solid foundation for cracking down on crimes of illegal excavation of ancient cultural sites and tombs and other crimes against cultural relics.