A collection of ancient artefacts, illegally trafficked out of Iraq, was officially returned by Italy on Wednesday in a ceremony at the Iraqi embassy in Rome. The items had been seized by Italian authorities and were handed over in the presence of law enforcement officials and Iraq’s Ambassador to Italy, Saywan Sabir Mustafa Barzani.
Artefacts Dating Back Over 4,000 Years
Michele Minetti, commander of the Monza Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit, described the recovered objects:
“These five archaeological pieces date back to before 2000 BC. Among them are four inscribed cones and a terracotta tablet. The tablet is an administrative document containing records of prisoners, while the cones were originally placed in temples to honor their builders.”
Recovered from an Auction House
The investigation began when the Iraqi embassy in Italy discovered the artefacts were being sold at an auction. Ambassador Barzani revealed that the items were part of a vast collection looted from Iraq, particularly during the 2003 invasion.
“The embassy identified these five artefacts at an auction house. After a lengthy investigation, we worked with the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit to recover them,” Barzani stated. He also noted that similar stolen items continue to surface, with another auction house recently found selling Iraqi artefacts.
Ongoing Efforts to Combat Cultural Theft
The Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit has previously returned 19 stolen Iraqi artefacts to Baghdad, reflecting Italy’s commitment to curbing the illegal trade in cultural treasures.
This latest recovery is part of a broader international effort to track and return stolen heritage items to their countries of origin.
