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Ancient artifacts dating back nearly 5,000 years have been returned to Pakistan after being recovered in Italy, the Pakistani Embassy in Rome said Tuesday.
The relics, which belong to the prehistoric Kuli and Naal cultures of Balochistan, were transported from Rome and arrived in Pakistan on Oct. 30, according to the embassy. Nearly 100 culturally significant items have been retrieved and returned to Pakistani authorities in Italy over the past 18 years, it added.
“Recovery of stolen and smuggled artifacts is an outstanding example of excellent cooperation between two friendly states, both being homes to ancient civilizations and UNESCO sites,” the statement said.
The Pakistani Embassy in Rome expressed gratitude to Italian authorities for their support, emphasizing the deep-rooted collaboration in archaeological research between the two countries.
Since its establishment in 1955 by Professor Giuseppe Tucci, the Italian Archaeological Mission in Swat has conducted significant excavations and research, resulting in nearly 1,500 publications on sites in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Two Italian scholars involved in Pakistan’s archaeological work, Dr. Luca Maria Olivieri and Dr. Valeria Fiorani Piacentini, received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Distinction) in 2016 and Tamgha-e-Pakistan (Medal of Pakistan) on March 23, respectively, in recognition of their contributions.
“Pakistan prides itself on its extraordinary standing among the comity of nations as being a ‘cradle of civilizations,’” the statement added.
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