According to the Guardian, the campaigning group Avaaz bought 109 items of ivory and had them tested using radiocarbon dating.
Avaaz bought the items over a four-month period and they were tested in labs at Oxford University to determine their age. The testing was funded from small donations made by 50,000 Avaaz supporters around the world.
Nearly one-fifth of the objects were found to contain ivory from animals killed since 1990, which is illegal, after restrictions on them were put in place in 1989.
Three-quarters of the items were dated to after 1947. The sale of ivory made after that date is subject to restrictions, and to be sold legally requires official documentation.
Bert Wander, campaign director at Avaaz, said: “This proves beyond doubt that illegal ivory is being sold across Europe. It must spark the end of this bloody trade. Every day the sale of these trinkets continues is a day closer to wiping out majestic elephants forever.”
Current restrictions are meant to ensure that ivory from recently killed elephants cannot find its way to market, but does allow restricted trade in antique ivory. Ivory was used for centuries in objects from piano keys to billiard balls and objets d’art, and banning it completely has until recently been viewed as difficult, given its widespread use in antiques.