FBI Seizes Looted Mesopotamian Artefacts

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The initial Associated Press news report is brief ('FBI seizes looted ancient artifacts' Tuesday, October 26, 2010):

The FBI has seized numerous ancient artifacts originating in Mesopotamia, which were looted from Iraq and smuggled into the United States. Most of the items are cuneiform tablets which were used in Mesopotamia for record keeping. Federal officials learned an antiquities dealer in California was offering the artifacts for sale, and the FBI seized the items.

Although this looks like new news, it is in fact old news only now being released (Department of Justice Press Release 25th October 2010):

In July of this year, the United States Attorney’s Office, the FBI Wilmington Resident Agency, and the FBI Art Crime Team seized a multitude of ancient artifacts originating in Mesopotamia, in present day southern Iraq.

There is a picture of these artefacts.

The artifacts were looted from present day Iraq by persons unknown and smuggled into the United States unlawfully. The government of Iraq asserts ownership over them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office learned that these artifacts were held by an antiquities dealer in California, who was offering them for sale, and the artifacts were seized. The California dealer has surrendered any right he had in the artifacts, which have been forfeited to the United States government to be removed from the stream of commerce.”

I wonder how far the FBI is bothering to trace these objects commercial history? Who were they bought from and by what means did they arrive in the USA? Is "surrendering the rights" to the objects the only thing that will happen to this dealer? Shameful. At least name him.

Photo: US Department of Justice