BANGKOK, 8 February 2018 (NNT) – A meeting has been convened by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, to follow up on the progress of the recovery of 96 ancient artifacts from foreign countries.

Culture Minister Weera Rojpotchanarat chaired the first annual meeting of the committee responsible for retrieving ancient Thai artifacts from overseas. The meeting was informed that the Fine Arts Department has submitted a letter to the United States Homeland Security Investigations concerning the return of 14 artifacts which were taken from Thailand.

Among the items are stone lintels from Prasat Nong Hong in Buri Ram and Prasat Khao Lon in Sa Kaeo, which were found being exhibited at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, as well as other pieces displayed at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Once all the items are proved to belong to Thailand, the US will be obliged to return them to the Kingdom.

The committee also acknowledged that another 13 prehistoric objects, being surrendered by an American citizen, are currently in the process of being returned after they were verified as originating from Thailand. In addition, the US Homeland Security Investigations has asked Thailand to inspect photographs of 69 more artifacts, which are believed to belong to the country.

Lately, a further 23 Thai artifacts have been discovered outside the Kingdom. The committee gave approval to a plan to submit related information and proof of origin to concerned countries in a bid to initiate their retrieval.


National News Bureau Of Thailand | Culture Min meets to hear progress in retrieving lost artifacts from abroad