Spain Launches Investigation into Auction of Yemeni Artifacts in Barcelona

'Spain Launches Investigation into Auction of Yemeni Artifacts in Barcelona', YemenOnline 2025-10-20

Spanish authorities are investigating the sale of two ancient Yemeni tombstones from the Kingdom of Qataban (1st century BC–AD) at a Barcelona auction held by Templum Auction House on July 30, 2025. The probe, sparked by Yemeni antiquities expert Abdullah Mohsen, focuses on the artifacts’ provenance amid suspicions of illegal export from Yemen. Mohsen flagged one tombstone’s bull’s head decoration and potentially falsified Musnad inscription. The case highlights concerns over the global trade of looted cultural heritage from conflict zones, with critics condemning the sale as a violation of UNESCO conventions and a threat to Yemen’s legacy.