An ancient Cypriot zoomorphic urn dating from the bronze age was on Saturday formally handed back to the Cyprus government in London.
The urn was handed over by the director of the ArtAncient London gallery Costas Paraskevaides at a ceremony at the Cyprus high commission in London which was attended by both high commissioner Kyriacos Kouros and Cyprus’ Culture Deputy Minister Vasiliki Kassianidou.
It had remained in Cyprus for most of history, having been recorded in Famagusta by the Republic’s antiquities department after independence.
However, it is believed that it was illegally exported out of the island after Turkey’s invasion in 1974.
Kassianidou said “unfortunately, after the 1974 invasion, a large part of our cultural heritage has been lost and has been channelled into the illegal antiquities market, and so it is very important for us when such an object is found to be returned”.
Paraskevaides said he had identified the urn at an auction in Germany last year.
The urn is one of a number of ancient Cypriot artefacts which have been found in Cyprus in recent weeks, with a collection having been handed over to the high commission in London on Monday.
The culture deputy ministry said the artefacts’ return will “enhance the exploration and promotion of our cultural heritage”.
This was just days after it was announced a total of 69 Cypriot artefactswhich were in the possession of a private citizen in Austria are also to be returned to the island.
Studies confirmed that the artefacts had been “illegally exported” from the island, and as such, the man who had inherited them decided to return them to the Cypriot authorities.
