Regardless of whether the items were clean or not, their origin was never questioned, and the seller's situation was not probed. A black market auction could not even guarantee the authenticity of the items. It was entirely up to each individual's skill and ability to discern.
The black market itself was like a brokerage, bridging the gap between tomb robbers and collectors. It bought low and sold high, earning a profit from the margin and kept the tomb robbers' secrets while assuming some of the risks.
As for whether the items had just been unearthed or were stolen property, the organizers did not care. Essentially, items brought to this auction were either freshly unearthed relics or stolen goods. If they were legitimately obtained, they would have been taken directly to the commercial auction houses, not here.
