Expert opinion versus radiocarbon dating in the ivory trade
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61389005%3A_____%2F25%3A00636330" target="_blank" >RIV/61389005:_____/25:00636330 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/00216208:11310/25:10499830
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002604" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002604</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03659" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03659</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Expert opinion versus radiocarbon dating in the ivory trade
Original language description
All extant elephant species have been protected from excessive international commercial trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) since at least 1989. However, legal protection often includes exemptions, such as for antiques, which may create critical loopholes that enable the laundering of modern ivory into legal markets, undermining conservation efforts. This study presents, for the first time, a robust forensic dataset comparing antique expert evaluations of 46 seized ivory artefacts with radiocarbon dating results, demonstrating that the inaccuracy of expert opinions can reach up to 58.7 %. These inaccuracies may challenge the enforcement of CITES regulations. In addition, the study compares the legal frameworks of selected countries, revealing that the definition of antique ivory varies significantly across regions. To address this vulnerability, we argue that integrating forensic methods such as radiocarbon dating-combined with other verification techniques-into regulatory practices could drastically improve detection accuracy, closing gaps that currently facilitate illegal trade.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
10304 - Nuclear physics
Result continuities
Project
Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Global Ecology and Conservation
ISSN
2351-9894
e-ISSN
2351-9894
Volume of the periodical
61
Issue of the periodical within the volume
September
Country of publishing house
NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Number of pages
12
Pages from-to
e03659
UT code for WoS article
001503080500001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105006904063