ERBIL — The Turkish government on Friday returned several dozens of ancient artifacts to Iraq, nearly 11 years after they were seized from smugglers in Turkey.
The artifacts were being kept in a museum in Hatay, Turkish media reports said. Iraq previously made an official request to Turkey before expert examinations identified them as being of Iraqi origins.
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country’s ambassador to Turkey has signed documents with Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry officials to return the artifacts.
Artifacts include 20 silk carpets, 49 pieces of furniture, two primitive heaters, two pieces of a door, a closet, two chests and four candle holders, Daily Sabah reported.
A cylindrical seal of Iraqi origin dating back to 2,000 B.C. which was discovered to be of Iraqi origin and was kept in a museum in Ankara, was also handed over to the Iraqi authorities at the ceremony.