Repatriated Ancient Artifacts on Display in Tehran: Iranian Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is displaying hundreds of ancient artifacts, some dating back as far as 3,500 years, all of which were recently brought back home from museums and collections in Western countries.
All of the items on display were repatriated over the past two and a half years from Britain, Belgium, Italy and the United States, Mohammad Hassan Talebian, deputy head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, told AP on Wednesday.
The special exhibit, which opened Monday in Tehran's National Museum, displays 558 different artifacts.
"The atmosphere after the nuclear deal was very important. It made it easy to bring back all these objects home,” he added.
The artifacts include hunting tools and stitching needles from the Iron Age and a pair of necklaces dating back more than 2,000 years to the Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Great — the high point of the Persian rule.
Among the oldest items on display are dozens of clay bowls, jugs and engraved coin coins dating back 3,500 years and formerly housed in the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany) reached the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in July 2015 and implemented it in January last year.