Real archaeology is often more intriguing than fiction.

Illicit artifact trafficking, forged provenance, private collectors, and the painstaking work of cultural property investigators — these real-life stories reveal just how much can be at stake when history is stolen.

This week’s Artifact Watch story fascinated me so much that it sparked a new idea for Mistrusted, my next Victoria Barrón archaeological thriller. Because sometimes the past doesn’t just inspire stories, it practically demands them. And I know a good plot twist when I see one.

Sources & Further Reading

FBI: “FBI Returns Cultural Artifacts to Peru,” June 12, 2026.

Federal Bureau of Investigation: “FBI Returns Cultural Artifacts to Peru,” March 30, 2026.

Image- courtesy of the FBI

Artifact Watch graphic: S.L. Hulen.

SLHulen.com