Türkiye Secures Repatriation of 28 Artifacts Including Rare Boubon Bronze Statue

Türkiye has welcomed home 28 invaluable cultural artifacts following successful repatriation efforts from the United States. The returned items include a significant bronze statue of a Roman emperor from the ancient city of Boubon in Burdur, a marble head of the Greek orator Demosthenes, and terracotta tablets from Duver in Kayseri.

Legal Pressure Facilitates Key Return

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the completion of the transfer, emphasizing the role of international legal action. He stated that a U.S. collector who had illegally purchased the Boubon statue faced a court detention order. "This individual avoided potential arrest by agreeing to surrender the artifact," Ersoy noted on social media, framing the process as a testament to Türkiye's global pursuit of its heritage.

Broad Cooperation and Previous Successes

The minister credited the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for their collaboration with Türkiye’s Anti-Smuggling Department. The repatriated objects also include a marble column capital depicting Archangel Michael, illicitly removed from a monastery in Istanbul’s Samatya district and returned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ersoy reiterated that Türkiye has brought back 9,133 cultural assets to Anatolia over the past seven years.

Ongoing Commitment to Heritage Protection

"This operation stands as one of the foremost examples of the effective struggle and international cooperation we are executing worldwide to reclaim our cultural heritage," Minister Ersoy said. The government underscores its unwavering commitment to protecting Türkiye's historical legacy and continuing to track down smuggled artifacts across the globe through both legal channels and diplomatic agreements.