U.S. exports of Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces (HS 970510) totaled $16.6M in August 2026.
Importers of Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces paid $6K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.09% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces imports of $6.6M in August 2026 ran 17% below the year-to-date monthly average of $8.0M.
Last updated: August 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.
275 import shipments a month
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.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 970510 — Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Subheading 1 of 6 in heading 9705
Subheading 970510 · $16.6M of $26.0M
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9705100090 | Collections of Historical Interest, NESOI | $4.1M | 0.14% | 1.98% | $6K |
| 9705100020 | Ethnographic Pieces Descr in Stat Note 1 to Ch | $1.8M | 0.00% | 0.00% | -- |
| 9705100010 | Archaeological Pieces Described in Stat Note 1 | $676K | 0.00% | 0.00% | -- |
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 | $16.6M |
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.
Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
98.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.09% of imports for consumption.
ImportsExports
Imports
$6.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$16.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $84.4M of Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces and exported $171.8M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.