Certain facts related to the war in Afghanistan
hardly reach the news headlines. One of those is the alarming fact that no less
than two thirds of the artifacts from the National
Museum in Kabul were destroyed or simply stolen during
the war of the 1990’s. Among them is a wide and unique collection of
Hellenistic and post-Hellenistic art which we owe to the conquests of Alexander the Great.
By luck or by chance, it happens that stolen items are being seized by customs or by specialized official institutions like the Art and Antiques Unit of the British Police services. We are all aware that many objects are smuggled out ofAfghanistan to end up on black markets
all over the world. It takes constant awareness and alertness from officials
and museums alike to recognize and identify those precious pieces.
By luck or by chance, it happens that stolen items are being seized by customs or by specialized official institutions like the Art and Antiques Unit of the British Police services. We are all aware that many objects are smuggled out of
It has been revealed that the British Museum ,
for instance, recently assisted in the return of 843 artefacts to Afghanistan ,
including those entrusted to the museum for safekeeping like the famous Begram
ivories and an important sculpture of Buddha.
Other objects, including Bronze Age carvings and medieval Islamic coins, were
saved by private individuals.
Thanks to the assistance of the Royal Air Force, the precious cargo was flown toKabul through the army base of Helmand . What an event!
It is such a comfort to read some positive news and to see that at least part ofAfghanistan ’s own cultural heritage
is coming home after so many years of conflict in spite of the frequent looting
and the illegal removal of these objects. It is an ongoing project and I hope
many more success story will follow this one.
Thanks to the assistance of the Royal Air Force, the precious cargo was flown to
It is such a comfort to read some positive news and to see that at least part of
[picture from BBC]
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