Italy recently celebrated the return of approximately 600 looted antiquities from the United States, marking a significant achievement in the ongoing battle against illegal antiquities trafficking. The returned items, valued at around 60 million euros ($65 million), include ancient bronze statues, gold coins, mosaics, and manuscripts. These artifacts, stolen and sold to U.S. museums, galleries, and collectors, were recovered through extensive criminal investigations.
The U.S. commits to returning looted antiquities as Italy celebrates the recovery of 600 artifacts worth $65 million, including ancient statues, coins, and manuscripts. Learn about this significant cultural repatriation effort.
High-Level Diplomatic Celebration
U.S. Ambassador Jack Markell, alongside Matthew Bogdanos, head of the antiquities trafficking unit at the New York district attorney’s office, and members of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations department, attended the presentation. Italy’s Culture Ministry and Carabinieri art squad leadership also participated, highlighting the strong international cooperation in cultural heritage protection.
Markell emphasized Washington's commitment to returning stolen cultural artifacts to their rightful owners, underscoring the respect for Italy's rich cultural and artistic heritage. "Safeguarding this history requires care and vigilance, and this is why we do what we do," Markell stated. He also noted that the U.S. is closely monitoring art trafficking activities in Ukraine.
Decades-Long Efforts and Major Recoveries
This latest repatriation is part of Italy’s decades-long effort to recover antiquities looted or stolen by “tombaroli” (tomb raiders) who sold them to antiquities dealers. These dealers often falsified provenance records to resell the artifacts to high-end buyers, auction houses, and museums. The collaborative effort between the U.S. and Italy has been crucial in tracking and reclaiming these priceless cultural treasures.
Among the notable artifacts returned is a fourth-century Naxos silver coin depicting Dionysius, the god of wine, looted from an illicit excavation site in Sicily before 2013. The coin, valued at $500,000, was found in New York last year during an investigation into a British coin dealer.
Ongoing Investigations
Despite the success, the “Victorious Youth” ancient Greek bronze statue remains a contentious issue. The statue, at the center of a legal battle between Italy and the Getty Museum in Malibu, California, was recently reaffirmed as illegally exported by the European Court of Human Rights. Bogdanos and Homeland Security officials did not comment on the statue's potential return, citing the ongoing investigation.
The recovered artifacts also include a life-sized bronze figure, bronze heads, multiple Etruscan vases, and oil paintings from the 16th and 19th centuries. These items were stolen from Italian museums, religious institutions, and private homes in well-documented thefts.
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Continued Commitment to Cultural Repatriation
Matthew Bogdanos, who has a long-standing partnership with the Italian Carabinieri art squad, emphasized that all stolen items, whether taken during illicit excavations or thefts, are considered looted. This unified approach is crucial in the broader effort to repatriate cultural heritage items.
The return of these 600 artifacts is a testament to the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating antiquities trafficking and protecting cultural heritage. As the U.S. and Italy continue their joint efforts, there is hope for further successes in the repatriation of stolen cultural treasures.
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Source: Associated Press
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