Historical development of international regulations on preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural property.

The focal point of this study is to contribute to the elimination of ongoing problems owing to the existing regulations through an examination on the basis of the historical development of international regulations. It is considered that the study will contribute to the current level of knowledge and practice by creating a source in Turkish both for national implementations regarding possible amendments to the Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage No. 2863 and international regulations. In the introduction part of the study, it is determined a conceptual framework with regard to the importance and scope of the subject. In the following parts, first-hand archival documents and second-hand sources are examined and the initiatives taken to prevent illicit trafficking of cultural property in the Ottoman Empire, the national regulations on the illegal trade in cultural property during the Republican Period, the effect of international regulations on national regulations, and elements involved in the preparation of regulations are analyzed in the light of historical documents. In the conclusion part, it is included the issues to be considered in the national laws on combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property, moreover, a number of determinations and recommendations concerning the priorities of the future regulations are pointed out.