The Social Science of Piracy

Restoring History

In this Science Bite, Museum scientist Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, explains the law that's helping thousands of cultural items get returned to the Native American tribes to which they belong.

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Konovalenko: Gem Carvings of Russian Folk Life

On Permanent Display
See the only collection of the remarkable Vasily Konovalenko gem sculptures on public display outside of Moscow.

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July 11, 2011
For most of us, the word "pirate" conjures up Hollywood images of larger-than life characters like Blackbeard, who prowled the waters of the Atlantic nearly 300 years ago during the Golden Age of Piracy. But guess what? Piracy still thrives today and it's nothing like what you've seen at the movies. In this Science Bite, Museum scientist Marc Levine takes an anthropological look at piracy and considers how social and political issues have driven piracy throughout history.