Epic Hunt Fo... — Short History Of Tomb-raiding: The

: Egyptian builders constantly innovated to outsmart thieves, moving from conspicuous pyramids to hidden tombs in the Valley of the Kings and using massive granite blocks to seal entrances. 2. The Professionalization of Looting

: Because tombs were seen as vehicles to the afterlife, robbing them was considered sacrilegious. Legal documents from the 20th Dynasty (1189–1077 B.C.E.) detail trials of gangs who pillaged rock-cut tombs in Thebes. Short History of Tomb-Raiding: The Epic Hunt fo...

: In the 9th century, Arab ruler Ibn Tulun established guilds of "seekers" ( mutalibun ) who were actually taxed on their finds. Legal documents from the 20th Dynasty (1189–1077 B

By the medieval and early modern periods, tomb raiding became more systematic. : In the early 19th century, figures like

: In the early 19th century, figures like Giovanni Battista Belzoni—a former circus strongman—became famous for moving massive artifacts, such as the bust of Ramesses II , from Egypt to European museums. 3. The Modern Era: From Curiosity to Conservation

: Many early modern hunts were steeped in the supernatural, with "expert magicians" hired to locate treasure and communicate with guarding spirits like ghosts or djinns.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the birth of modern archaeology, though the line between "scholar" and "raider" remained blurred.