2,700-Year-Old Gold Necklace Returned to Turkiye After Decades in U.S. Museum
Boston, The Gulf Observer: A gold necklace dating back to the Ancient Kingdom of Lydia, approximately 2,700 years old, has been returned to Turkish authorities after being displayed in a U.S. museum for decades. The artefact, believed to originate from the 6th or 5th centuries BCE, was officially handed over in a ceremony held at the Turkish Consulate in Boston.
The necklace, which measures about 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) in length and is crafted from carnelian beads shaped like pomegranates, was stolen from the Turkish Aegean province of Manisa and illicitly smuggled into the U.S. in 1982. For many years, it was exhibited at a museum in Boston before its return.
The repatriation of this significant cultural and historical item is part of a broader effort by Turkey to reclaim valuable artefacts. Since the beginning of this year, a total of 21 historical artefacts have been returned to Turkey.
In a statement on X, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that the necklace will soon arrive back in Turkey, marking a momentous occasion for cultural heritage preservation.
