Damascus, Sept. 25 (SANA) U.S. authorities have returned a collection of Syrian antiquities seized after being illegally removed from the country, the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) said, calling the recovery an important step in efforts to protect Syria’s cultural heritage and combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
DGAM said in a statement that the artifacts were returned on Sept. 23 during the UN General Assembly meetings in New York, in the presence of President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Artifacts span Roman, Byzantine and other periods
The recovered collection spans several historical periods and includes Roman and Byzantine mosaics, a funerary bed from the ancient city of Palmyra, cylinder seals and a number of bronze objects, according to the statement.
The DGAM said the return followed months of work by Syria’s diplomatic mission in New York, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Culture and the antiquities authority, to track the trafficked artifacts and complete arrangements for their return.
Efforts to recover looted heritage
The recovery is part of a broader effort to retrieve Syrian antiquities looted through illegal excavation and trafficking, the DGAM said, describing the protection of cultural heritage as a national priority and an essential part of preserving the country’s identity.
The directorate said the artifacts’ return also reflects continuing diplomatic and legal efforts to recover looted cultural property and restore it to Syrian museums, preserving the country’s heritage for future generations.
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