Major blow to cultural smuggling: Over 26K artifacts repatriated to Türkiye since 1980

Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, through its Directorate General of Cultural Heritage and Museums, has successfully repatriated 26,665 historical artifacts and cultural assets smuggled abroad since 1980.

The country’s dedicated cultural heritage smuggling prevention teams have been tracking these priceless items for over four decades.

18 countries, 162 operations

Anatolia, often referred to as an open-air museum, has seen countless artifacts stolen and smuggled overseas over the years. To bring these relics back home, Türkiye conducted 162 operations in 18 countries since 1980.

The leading countries from which the most artifacts were recovered include Germany, Croatia, Bulgaria, the U.K., the U.S., and Serbia.

Recovered artifacts by country

According to official records, Germany led the list with 8,670 artifacts returned, followed by Croatia with 4,147, the U.K. with 3,744, Bulgaria with 3,061, the U.S. with 2,618, and Serbia with 1,865.

Major successes in 2024

In 2024 alone, Türkiye secured the return of 1,149 artifacts. Among them were 1,055 coins from the Lydian civilization saved from smugglers in Greece, a bronze head statue of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus from the Boubon Ancient City, and 49 terracotta architectural plaques from Duver village.

Additionally, the country recovered a nearly 2,700-year-old red-beaded necklace from the Bintepeler archaeological site, and a historic Quran with 13 lines of Nesih calligraphy by Mustafa Dede, son of the master calligrapher Sheikh Hamdullah, which was once part of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s collection.

Artifacts repatriated in 2025

In 2025, 13 more artifacts were brought back to Türkiye. Among them were items from Canada, including an Anatolian-origin jug, two oil lamps, two terracotta vessels, and a pazubent (armband), all now housed in the Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.

The U.S. also returned a sarcophagus used in ancient Anatolia for storing the bones or ashes of adult individuals.

Rare Iznik tile found at auction

A remarkable recovery in 2025 included a rare 16th-century hexagonal Iznik tile stolen from Adana Ulu Mosque in 2003. It was discovered at an auction in the UK and has since been returned to Türkiye, where it is now safeguarded at the Ankara Ethnography Museum.

Türkiye continues its determined efforts to protect its cultural heritage, bringing home artifacts that reflect the country’s rich history and cultural legacy.