US authorities return 33 looted antiquities to Cambodia

[reader]

From The Art Newspaper

Three of the ancient heads from Angkor Wat being returned to Cambodia Courtesy United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Priceless antiquities that were looted from the historic Khmer sites of Koh Ker and Angkor Wat will be repatriated to Cambodia after officials from the US Attorney’s Office for the New York’s southern district and the Department of Homeland Security turned the 33 objects over to Cambodian officials on 11 September. The objects had all belonged to the late collector George Lindemann, who died in 2018, and whose family voluntarily turned the artefacts over to authorities.

The objects being repatriated date from the tenth century to the 12th century, and include a reclining figure of Vishnu with Lakshmi that was taken from the Krachap temple at Koh Ker (the Khmer kingdom’s capital), a monumental sculpture of the seated figure of Dhrishtadyumna also from Koh Ker and six heads of demonic and angelic figures that were taken off a gate in the Angkor Wat complex.

The US Attorney’s Office for the southern district of New York has now assisted in the return of 65 Cambodian antiquities since 2012; the latest repatriation follows the renewal, on 30 August, of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Cambodian governments regarding cultural patrimony, which was first signed in 2003.

 

[vinapu]

good for Lindemanns, 

genuine question- if they turned object voluntarily why Attorney office was involved, any idea ?

[reader]

27 minutes ago, vinapu said:

good for Lindemanns, 

genuine question- if they turned object voluntarily why Attorney office was involved, any idea ?

Good question. A careful reading of the following press release from the US Attorney's office provides the clue. It appears that the family understood it was the wise thing to do under the circumstances.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-return-significant-collection-antiquities-cambodia

[PeterRS]

In the UK, the historical response when looted artefacts were discussed was almost always that they would be better looked after in better surroudings than in their original locations overseas. Most major ones are housed in the British Museum. Over the summer this institution has now had to admit that around 2,000 pieces from its collection have either been stolen or lost! Some have since been found, but no number has been put on them. One of the"lost" items was discovered for sale on eBay for around $51. Its value is estimated at $64,000.

Experts call the loss "the worst in modern history."