The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is embarking on a first-of-a-kind campaign to register private antiquities collections that are held by the general public in Israel. An individual who is listed in the state’s databank as the owner of an antiquities collection will be recognized by the state as a “collector of antiquities”.

It is estimated that there are at least 100,000 people in Israel who can be considered by definition “collectors of antiquities”, but only several hundred of them are recognized by the state.

In February 2009, regulations took effect that will make it possible to enforce a law passed in 2002, regarding private antiquities collections. The IAA is now calling on the public to comply with the law and report any antiquities they possess. An individual doing so will be granted the legal status of ‘collector’ and will be issued a certificate.