Axel Kerep

Axel Kerep is the Chief Project Officer and Consultant in Archaeology and New Technologies at PARCS solutions. He specializes in developing innovative technological tools for the protection of cultural heritage.1 Kerep was involved in the creation of Arte-Fact, a mobile application designed to detect stolen cultural objects and identify looted artifacts. This tool was developed as part of the European PREVISION H2020 project, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team including archaeologists, police officers, and developers from organizations such as CNRS HiSoMA, Michael Culture Association, and PARCS.1

Arte-Fact, the technology Kerep helped develop, is capable of identifying any stolen cultural object registered in police databases. Moreover, it can detect looted objects by comparing images to similar items found in national museums. This innovation is particularly significant as it addresses the trafficking of previously unknown, looted objects that have been illegally excavated.1

Kerep's work contributes to the broader effort of combating the illicit trafficking of cultural goods, which poses a threat to the collective memory of peoples and has been identified as a source of funding for terrorism.1