U.S. officials formally returned 337 looted antiquities, archival materials, and artworks to Italy during a ceremony at Rome’s La Marmora barracks. The objects, spanning from the Villanovan era (900–700 B.C.E.) through the Hellenistic period (323–31 B.C.E.), include Etruscan, Greek, Italic, and Egyptian artifacts. The repatriation was coordinated by Italy’s Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. Key items include a marble head of Alexander the Great, a bronze sculpture from Herculaneum, and Egyptian basalt sculptures. Some 221 objects were recovered via the Manhattan DA, while the remaining 116 were secured with help from Christie’s.
This repatriation marks 25 years since the U.S. and Italy signed their first Memorandum of Understanding to combat antiquities trafficking, the longest-standing Cultural Property Agreement in continental Europe. Since 2022, the partnership has returned tens of millions of euros in treasures, including 600 objects worth about €60 million in 2024. The return underscores ongoing efforts to curb the illicit antiquities trade and restore cultural heritage, though one Italian archaeologist has questioned the authenticity of some items. Italy’s Ministry of Culture says the artifacts will be studied, preserved, and eventually displayed publicly, yielding both cultural and economic benefits.