Lost treasures return: 1,500-year-old artifacts reunited with Türkiye
An oil lamp, seven coins, and one gold medallion dating from the 4th to 7th centuries A.D., seized in various investigations in Switzerland, have been returned to Türkiye, November 1, 2024. (AA Photo)
Seized in Switzerland and dating from the fourth to seventh centuries, a Byzantine-era oil lamp, seven coins minted in Istanbul, Balikesir and Izmit, and one gold medallion have been returned to Türkiye.
The artifacts, handed over to Turkish officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, are expected to arrive in Türkiye later this month.
Cross-border investigation uncovers smuggling network
Swiss authorities initiated a probe into cultural property trafficking based on documents revealing the illicit movement of cultural artifacts. A deeper investigation uncovered a network involved in smuggling artifacts, especially from Middle Eastern countries into Europe.
This ring comprised illegal excavators, suppliers, intermediaries, restoration specialists, counterfeit producers, gallery owners and art dealers. The network stretched across Switzerland, the United States, the Caribbean, Gibraltar, Panama and the United Kingdom. The Geneva courts have since issued sentences to those implicated.
Türkiye acts swiftly for artifact repatriation
In this process, customs officials near Geneva seized a fifthto seventh-century oil lamp determined to have origins in Türkiye. Museum experts under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Türkiye confirmed the lamp’s origin and shared their findings with Swiss authorities, leveraging a bilateral agreement to combat cultural property trafficking.
Simultaneously, in a separate Swiss investigation, seven Byzantine coins dated between the fourth and sixth centuries and a gold medallion, minted in Istanbul, Balikesir, and Izmit, were also confiscated. Following a formal ceremony at the Turkish Embassy in Switzerland, these artifacts were officially returned to Türkiye.
Artifact repatriation continues
With these artifacts, Türkiye has now successfully repatriated 12,164 cultural treasures since 2002.
Notably, 7,846 of these returns have occurred since 2018, and so far in 2024 alone, 45 artifacts have been brought back to their homeland.
