[ad_1]
The authorities inspect the items to determine their authenticity and determine their origin.
Norwegian police seized nearly 100 Mesopotamian archaeological artifacts from a collector, and Iraqi authorities reported that they were missing.
The police said in a statement: “The seized items are believed to be cuneiform tablets and other archaeological items from Mesopotamia, modern Iraq…and are considered important to the world’s historical and cultural heritage.”
These items were seized during a search of a collector’s house in southeastern Norway.
The authorities stated that they will now be inspected to determine its authenticity and where possible to determine its provenance.
They are the subject of a return request made by the Iraqi authorities to the Norwegian Ministry of Culture.
“The return procedure has been initiated, but an expert review must first be conducted to determine the source and authenticity of these items, and the Iraqi authorities must record their requests,” prosecutor Maria Bach Dar told AFP.
The Norwegian police stated that they seized nearly 100 Mesopotamian archaeological artifacts claimed by Iraq from a collector. [Okokrim/AFP]She said that the relevant collector was raising objections to Iraq’s request and added that he was not a criminal suspect and was not arrested.
The police did not specify when the items might arrive in the Nordic country, nor how they got there.
Iraq was once home to the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians, and is now a major gathering place for smugglers of ancient artifacts.
According to Iraqi officials, armed groups have gained considerable influence in the country, and trafficking has fueled criminal networks.
When ISIL armed groups occupied large areas of Iraq from 2014 to 2017, they used bulldozers, pickaxes, and explosives to destroy dozens of pre-Islamic treasures, but they also funded their operations through smuggling.
[ad_2]
Source link