Eighteen historical artifacts illegally smuggled from Türkiye were returned at a ceremony in New York.
The handover ceremony was held at the Turkish House in New York.
Among the 14 artifacts seized by the joint efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and Turkish institutions are 1 bronze statue and 2 bronze statue heads originating from the ancient city of Boubon in Gölhisar district of Burdur, which have an important place in the world archeology literature.
Eighteen historical artifacts illegally smuggled from Türkiye were returned at a ceremony in New York.
“I hope that the contribution of the restitution efforts to the universal culture of humanity will be better understood over time,” said Gökhan Yazgı, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.
“Cultural heritage is the only way to celebrate and embrace our differences, while maintaining respect. To those who smuggle artifacts, “there is no escape.”
Yazgı stated that the “dressed bronze statue of a woman”, which constitutes the largest piece among the returned artifacts, was unearthed for the first time and emphasized the importance of the support provided by American officials, Turkish missions in the US and Turkish Airlines officials in this process.
Matthew Bogdanos, Chief of the Antiquities Smuggling Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, said at the ceremony that historical artifacts represent a shared cultural heritage, but that they “belong to the place where they were unearthed and should be returned there.”
Noting that for decades, some collectors “thought the law didn’t apply to them,” Bogdanos said, “Now it’s time to do the right thing,” and promised to continue working to return smuggled artifacts to their rightful place.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, in cooperation with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the US Homeland Security Investigation Unit (HSI), received 14 pieces of Anatolian cultural artifacts seized as a result of sensitive surveillance.
Among the 14 artifacts returned are 1 bronze statue and 2 bronze statue heads originating from the ancient city of Boubon, which has an important place in the world archaeological literature and was unearthed during illegal excavations in Ibecik village in Gölhisar district of Burdur province, 3 coins from the Byzantine period, 2 daggers from the 18th and 19th century Ottoman period, 3 terracotta pots from various periods, a piece of a jewelry box dating back to the 11th century and a terracotta lamp.
Cover Photo: Mücahit Oktay/AA
