Comment on DOS-2011-0115-0001

I visited Bulgaria a few years ago, and saw that there were many ancient tumuli that needed protection. I support a ban on import of ancient grave goods--masks, diadems, helmets, etc., and other items intended to be permanently fixed such as mosaics and steles. However, this request appears to be overly broad. Certainly coins should be excluded, because of their wide circulation throughout the ancient world. Private collections of ancient coins are exhibited in Bulgarian museums, and all the catalogs of medieval Bulgarian coins have been written by amateur numismatists and private collectors, not archaeologists. Finally, I do not understand the claim extending as late as the 19th century, because that would include such things as the first Bulgarian postage stamps and modern coins, not to say books. Perhaps they are trying to protect icons, but if so, icons should be named specifically.