Loading...
HSChapter 97
U.S. imports of archaeological, ethnographic & historical collections and collectors' pieces (HS 970510) totaled $6.1M in April 2026, traded with 69 countries.
Importers of Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces paid $138K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 8.1% on $1.7M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces imports of $6.1M in April 2026 ran 15% below the year-to-date monthly average of $7.2M.
Last updated: April 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.
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.
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 970510 — Archaeological, Ethnographic & Historical Collections and Collectors' Pieces. Be the first supplier listed.
Monthly import values over time
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| HONG KONG | -- | $5.4M | +$5.4M |
| UNITED KINGDOM | $2.2M | $1.0M | -$1.2M |
| FRANCE | $253K | $2.0M | +$1.8M |
| CANADA | $55K | $1.6M | +$1.5M |
| JAPAN | $1.5M | $137K | -$1.3M |
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9705100090 | COLLECTIONS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST, NESOI | $4.4M | 8.18% | $132K |
| 9705100020 | ETHNOGRAPHIC PIECES DESCR IN STAT NOTE 1 TO CH | $1.4M | 10.00% | $3K |
| 9705100010 | ARCHAEOLOGICAL PIECES DESCRIBED IN STAT NOTE 1 | $368K | 5.57% | $4K |
COLLECTIONS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST, NESOI
ETHNOGRAPHIC PIECES DESCR IN STAT NOTE 1 TO CH
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PIECES DESCRIBED IN STAT NOTE 1
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9705100000 | COLLECTIONS, ARCHAEOL, ETHNOGRAPHIC, HIST INTEREST | $13.5M |
COLLECTIONS, ARCHAEOL, ETHNOGRAPHIC, HIST INTEREST
31.9K kg
PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS AND PASTELS NOT OVER 100 YEARS
HS 970191
PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS AND PASTELS, OVER 100 YEARS
HS 970121
ORIG SCULPT, STATUARY NOT OV 100 YRS ANY MATERIAL
HS 970390
COLLAGES AND SIM DECORATIVE PLAQUES NOT OV 100 YRS
HS 970199
ORIG SCULPTURE, STATUARY OVER 100 YRS ANY MATERIAL
HS 970310
ANTIQUES OF AN AGE 100 YEARS TO 250 YEARS
HS 970690
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NY | $3.5M | $5.5M | +$1.9M |
| CLEVELAND, OH | $386K | $3.2M | +$2.8M |
| HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, TX | $176K | $1.8M | +$1.6M |