There are 19 Foreign Archaeological Institutes in Greece, also known as "schools," all based in Athens. Seventeen of them are officially accredited. In addition to conducting their share of government-authorized research projects, they issue reports and other publications, support specialised archaeological/classical libraries, conduct regular lecture programmes, award scholarships/bursaries and provide accommodation for a fee. They do not offer degrees, nor are their courses part of any regular, gradated curriculum. The "students" are not regular students as they are known in the countries of initiation; in fact, some schools, such as the British School, now avoid the term, in favor of "member." The members, or students, are often already degreed professionals in archaeology or related fields. They take courses to prepare themselves for the research conducted by the school, which is typically archaeological. Undergraduate or graduate students present are enrolled in degree programs in their own countries. The "foreign archaeological schools" are research institutes. Some have associated laboratories. Some of the institutes also maintain specific site facilities or study centres outside Athens. Additionally there is one separate foreign-run Archaeological library in Athens, as well as one foreign research institution elsewhere in Greece. Compliance with Hellenic Law 3028/2002 From the Hellenic point of view, the foreign archaeological schools exist to assist in the professional recovery and protection of overwhelming numbers of antiquities within and below the country's topography. All of ancient Greece, the oldest civilization of Europe, lies hidden under the soil (unless already excavated). Antiquities have always been a prey to treasure-hunters, collectors, dealers of all sorts, and the thefts and counterfeits of unscrupulous men. In the 19th century the native Hellenic cultural establishment were desperate for any professional assistance they could obtain. They found it in the zeal of like-minded classicists of the other nations of Europe, who hastened to found the initial foreign archaeological schools. These now semi-legendary archaeologists and schools dominated the culture scene, excavating places such as Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae, Knossos, and Troy in Turkey. There was little restriction on the removal of antiquities from the country, or on their private ownership. Permits were relatively easy to obtain. Today a long period of peace and stability under the Hellenic Republic has enabled the Hellenes to recapture a much higher level of control over the processing and preservation of their antiquities and monuments. Hellenic institutions have come to the fore and Hellenic archaeologists dominate the culture scene. The