Türkiye reclaims rare bronze emperor statue, other artifacts from US

Türkiye has successfully repatriated a significant collection of ancient artifacts from the United States, including a monumental bronze statue of a Roman emperor excavated from the ancient city of Bubon. Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on Thursday that the objects, now held at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, were returned following extensive scientific and legal cooperation with U.S. authorities.

A Diverse Collection Spanning Millennia

The returned artifacts represent a rich cross-section of Anatolian history. The centerpiece is a larger-than-life bronze statue from the Roman-era city of Bubon in southwestern Türkiye. The collection also includes a Roman depiction of the Athenian orator Demosthenes, a marble capital featuring Archangel Michael, and other works from the Urartian and Lydian civilizations. Minister Ersoy stated on the social media platform NSosyal, "As a result of scientific and legal efforts, we have reunited these works, the heritage of these lands, with their homeland."

Coordinated International Legal Effort

The repatriation resulted from close collaboration between Türkiye’s General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums and U.S. agencies, including the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and Homeland Security Investigations. The Ministry highlighted that the process involved meticulous provenance research and legal procedures. In one notable case, Turkish authorities provided testimonies and scientific reports proving an artifact in a private California collection was illegally excavated from Bubon, leading to an arrest warrant and the item's eventual surrender.

A Milestone in Cultural Heritage Recovery

With this latest return, the total number of artifacts recovered from the ancient site of Bubon alone has reached 18, six of which are monumental bronze statues. The Ministry described the event as a new milestone in Türkiye's long-running campaign to reclaim its cultural assets taken abroad. Following necessary conservation and study, the artifacts will be presented to the public, adding to the nation's unparalleled record of its multilayered historical legacy.