German authorities probe theft of Middle Eastern artifacts

German police are currently investigating a man in connection with a collection of ancient artifacts that were allegedly stolen from the Middle East

German police are currently investigating a man in connection with theft of ancient artifacts from the Middle East. Among the items in question is a thousand-year-old cuneiform tablet, which is believed to have been taken from Syria

The Criminal Investigation Service (LKA) of the state of Baden-Württemberg said investigators first became aware of the case when they found that the man was in possession of the cuneiform tablet from Ebla in Syria.

“Investigations revealed that the artifact had been stolen from the museum in Idlib, Syria, in 2015 and then possibly illegally imported into Germany,” it said.

Investigators then searched the man’s home in Heilbronn and found another cuneiform tablet and a collection of ushabti figurines, small sandstone figurines used in ancient Egyptian funeral rites.

Police seized the objects and the investigation is ongoing, the LKA said.

Syria’s extraordinary archaeological heritage has fallen victim to the conflict that has ravaged the country since the civil war began in 2011.

In a country where corruption and smuggling of archaeological artifacts and treasures was already a chronic problem, widespread conflict and power vacuums in some areas have led to an explosion in looting and illegal excavations.

Source: Newsroom & Agence France-Presse