ROME (AP) — Italy on Tuesday celebrated the return of around 600 antiquities from the U.S., including ancient bronze statues, gold coins, mosaics and manuscripts valued at 60 million euros ($65 million), that were looted years ago, sold to U.S. museums, galleries and collectors and recovered as a result of criminal investigations. U.S. Ambassador Jack Markell, Matthew Bogdanos, the head of the antiquities trafficking unit of the New York district attorney’s office, and members of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations department were on hand for the presentation alongside the leadership of Italy’s Culture Ministry and Carabinieri art squad. It was the latest presentation of the fruits of Italy’s decades-old effort to recover antiquities that were looted or stolen from its territory by “tombaroli” tomb raiders, sold to antiquities dealers who often forged or fudged provenance records to resell the loot to high-end buyers, auction houses and museums. |
Bonza Airlines collapse: Employees left 'screaming and crying' as the budget airline implodesSophia Smith contributes to 4 goals as the Portland Thorns beat Seattle Reign 4French star halts Eurovision rehearsal in Israel protestElias Díaz has 2 hits including a tiebreaking single in a sixProfound sadness, anger grips Israel on Memorial DayLondon's faltering 'nightAfghanistan flash flooding: Hundreds dead and missingRise in UK knife attacks leads to a crackdown and stokes public anxietyConnecticut Democrats unanimously nominate U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy for a third termFrench star halts Eurovision rehearsal in Israel protest