The copper alloy sculpture, titled “Man Carrying a Box, Possibly for Offerings,” had been part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York’s (The Met) collection since 1955.
The Iraqi prime minister thanked the museum for delivering the Sumerian sculpture, emphasizing that such initiatives strengthen the two countries’ ties, according to a statement from his office.
“[Sudani] noted that Iraqi artifacts represent the nation's identity, history, and civilization. He affirmed that the government continues its efforts to recover all artifacts associated with Mesopotamian civilizations, especially after the country suffered from waves of theft and neglect, resulting in the loss of many archaeological items that chronicle Iraq’s contributions to human civilization,” the statement added.
Max Hollein, the museum’s director, said that they were honored to return the historical artifact, adding that the repatriation is part of the Met’s efforts to prove the provenance of the items in its collection.
Iraq’s artifacts have been subjected to frequent looting and vandalism since the invasion by the United States in 2003, with the theft worsening after the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group swept through large swathes of the country in 2014. The country has in recent years taken strides to return the lost antiquities.
The Iraqi foreign ministry last year announced that it has returned over 34,500 artifacts since 2019.
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid last May arranged the return of 6,000 artifacts that were taken by Britain a hundred years ago on the sidelines of his visit to attend the coronation of King Charles III.
