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HSChapter 97
U.S. imports of archaeological, ethnographic & historical collections and collectors' pieces (HS 970510) totaled $8.2M in July 2026, traded with 83 countries.
Importers of Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces paid $110K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 7.1% on $1.5M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: July 2026 dataCollectors' pieces of archaeological, ethnographic, or historical interest — ranging from ancient artifacts to indigenous cultural objects to historically significant documents — are among the most legally complex categories in US import trade, governed by a layered framework of domestic and international law. The US tariff schedule subdivides this heading into archaeological pieces (9705100010), ethnographic pieces (9705100020), and historical interest items not elsewhere specified (9705100090), each potentially subject to different documentation requirements under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act and bilateral cultural property agreements. The United Kingdom and Japan are leading suppliers to the US market under this heading. Importers must verify that objects were lawfully exported from their country of origin and should be prepared to provide provenance documentation tracing ownership history, particularly for objects originating from countries with which the US has signed Memoranda of Understanding restricting import of undocumented cultural property.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
252 shipments/mo
Archaeological pieces (9705100010) are objects recovered from excavation or underwater sites and are subject to the strictest import controls, including bilateral MOU restrictions. Ethnographic pieces (9705100020) are objects of cultural significance to indigenous or traditional communities and may be subject to repatriation claims. Historical interest items (9705100090) are a broader residual category covering objects significant for their historical associations. The distinction affects which bilateral agreements and documentation requirements apply at entry.
A foreign export permit is necessary but not always sufficient. CBP and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSI) may also examine whether the object was stolen, illicitly excavated, or subject to a US import restriction under a bilateral MOU. Importers should obtain full provenance documentation — including pre-1970 ownership records where possible — and consult legal counsel familiar with the National Stolen Property Act and the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act before importing.
Subheading 2 of 6 in heading 9705
Subheading 970510 · $8.2M of $25.0M
Supplier Network
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9705100090 | Collections of Historical Interest, NESOI | $7.9M | 1.36% | 19.18% | $108K |
| 9705100020 | Ethnographic Pieces Descr in Stat Note 1 to Ch | $170K | 0.37% | 3.67% | $627 |
| 9705100010 | Archaeological Pieces Described in Stat Note 1 | $128K | 0.53% | 5.25% | $672 |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9705100000 | Collections, Archaeol, Ethnographic, Hist Interest | $9.0M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
ImportsExports
Imports
$8.2MYoY · Pro
Exports
$9.0MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
United Kingdom and Japan together supply 59% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
81.4% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 1.33%.