Iraq’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities managed to recover thousands of archaeological items following a demand by the central government for the return of stolen assets last year, according to Arab media.
The raid on the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad, from which more than 15,000 items were stolen, was one of the largest thefts of cultural property of the past century. Many exhibits have been recovered over the years, but a significant number remain lost or missing despite the combined efforts of international search teams.
Much of it has been sold repeatedly on the black market in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Britain and the United States, according to reports.
Azhar Baha Sabri, head of the Antiquities Receipt Department at the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, stated that 39 museum-registered ancient artefacts were recovered in Iraq last year. The UK handed over ten objects and 50 boxes, each containing a collection of artefacts that have not yet been verified, Sabri reported.
The Iraqi ministry has also collected over 15,000 other items in addition to more than 10,000 coins and gold artefacts from the stolen collections. Sabri added that just this week, the National Museum claimed 499 items from a British archaeological mission working in the Dhi Qar governorate.
Archaeological finds at the Talo Karso site included 465 clay cuneiform tablets from the Akkadian civilisation and Ur period, cylindrical seals, pottery, jewellery, necklaces and other artefacts.
The expert noted that 145 new archaeological sites have been discovered with important discoveries, such as a small figurine of the Lady of Warka, the second example found in the ancient city of Nippurr in Diwaniyah governorate. The city is located along the Euphrates River south of Baghdad.
However, Sabri warned that the secret technical committee tasked with evaluating the stolen antiquities faced significant risks as lawyers were barred from following suspects despite protection by security forces. Their work was also hampered by insufficient funding and lack of technical staff, she noted.
Sabri emphasised the need to update the antiquities law. She stated that the receipt of antiquities from citizens or through customs seizures by the security forces was co-ordinated through the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. A special archive for received items was maintained, she added.
Then, they are transferred to a museum repository via a process that involves technical committees of antiquities experts as well as lawyers to examine and authenticate the objects before secret committees approve them under legal protection.
