keystone of this new arc of protection is Hellenic Law No. 3028/2002 "on the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General," passed by the Hellenic Parliament in 2002, and implemented by the President. In a single sweeping injunction it declares all antiquities the property of the state and establishes criminal penalties for mishandling them. A network of archaeological councils is set up over localities and regions of the entire country, which must be advised of the presence of antiquities and consulted as to their disposition. They take precedence over any other consideration. This is the framework into which the foreign archaeological institutes now fit. They take their marching orders, so to speak, from the councils of government. They must accept oversight and advice. Without their accreditation can be no authorization to excavate, survey, or experiment. Law 3028/2002 labels what English speakers know as an archaeological excavation, or in slang, "a dig," as "archaeological research in situ." It is defined as "the exploration of the ground, the subsoil, the seabed, or the bed of lakes and rivers for the purpose of locating or discovering ancient monuments ...." These researches are divided into two types. The first is "systematic excavations." These are not undertaken as part of any emergency activity to rescue threatened antiquities, but are assigned to excavating institutions in due process by the Minister of Culture. These institutions can be the Greek Archaeological Service, "domestic ... institutions," or "foreign archaeological missions or schools established in Greece." This is the only type allowed to the foreign schools. The second type, "rescue excavations," is reserved to the Greek Archaeological Service. It may involve intervention in Greek business operations or property ownership." The law allows to each accredited school "a Maximum of three excavations or other archaeological research per annum." They can have another three in cooperation with the Greek Archaeological Service. "Other archaeological research" applies to the surface, and must be non-destructive. In this category are surface surveys. Permission is required for the use of metal detectors. All permissions are granted by the Minister of Culture. To simplify the procedures and investigations required, the ministry has adopted a policy of only accepting foreign applications that have been processed through the appropriate accredited foreign school. Exclusive though it may seem, this requirement excludes excessive or trivial excavations, and screens archaeologists for suitability. The Greek Archaeological Service is free to spend most of