The U.S. has returned 337 ancient artifacts to Italy that were illegally removed from the country, in one of the largest recent recoveries of stolen cultural property, Reuters reported.
The artifacts include Roman sculptures as well as Greek, Etruscan and Egyptian objects. They were presented in Rome at the headquarters of Italy’s Carabinieri Art Squad following a series of investigations, many of them centered in New York.
Among the most significant items are a first-century CE marble head of Alexander the Great, stolen from a Roman museum in 1960, and a bronze sculpture looted from Herculaneum. The collection also includes Egyptian statues, Roman coins, jewelry and ceramics dating from the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD.
According to Italian authorities, many of the objects were taken during illegal excavations or stolen from cultural institutions before being funneled into the international art market.
U.S. officials said the country remains committed to returning cultural heritage, while Italy noted that such efforts help preserve historical memory and strengthen cultural identity.
