New York Authorities Return 36 Syrian Antiquities Valued Over $5 Million Amidst Provenance Questions
New York authorities have returned 36 Syrian antiquities, collectively valued at over $5 million, to Syria. The handover, which occurred on September 23, includes a Palmyrene funerary relief, 14 mosaics, and other objects, some of which were previously held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This restitution highlights three distinct enforcement paths through which the objects were recovered: 31 items linked to an alleged trafficking network associated with Georges Lotfi, four from the Steinhardt collection, and one trafficked by the convicted Eugene Alexander. Notably, 13 of these objects were seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, though the museum itself has not been accused of criminal conduct. The return has brought to light inconsistencies in the timeline of some objects' looting, particularly the Palmyrene relief, which was reportedly shipped to New York in 2011, predating ISIS's occupation of Palmyra in 2015-2016, contrary to some reports. Furthermore, questions regarding the authenticity of s...
