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Cyprus celebrated the return of 266 valuable antiquities on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in cultural repatriation. The artifacts, delivered to the island's Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, in Claremont, California, were returned by Harvey Mudd College. The transfer of these ancient objects follows years of cooperation and research between Cyprus and the college, with a particular effort by Dr. Kassianidou in tracing their origins.
The collection, originally exported from Cyprus in the 1930s under British colonial rule, includes an array of ancient items, from clay vessels and lamps to glass objects, figurines, and bronze tools. These items, which date from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman Period, had been transferred to the United States after being acquired by the Cyprus Mines Corporation, which once operated the Skouriotissa mine.
Among the treasures is a notable bronze talent—an ingot shaped like an oxhide—dating back to the Late Bronze Age (1600-1050 BC). This artifact is especially rare, with only two others of its kind known to exist: one in the British Museum and the other housed in the Cyprus Museum. The talent represents a crucial part of Cyprus' copper trade during that time and is considered an extraordinary find.
The story of the collection's return dates back to 2017 when Dr. Kassianidou, during her academic research into ancient Cypriot mines, contacted Harvey Mudd College, requesting permission to study the objects. Her inquiry set in motion a chain of events that led to the college's decision to return the artifacts. Following consultations with the college’s leadership and Harvey Mudd's granddaughter, Victoria Mudd, the family expressed their desire to return the collection to Cyprus. In 2018, an agreement was signed between Harvey Mudd College and the University of Cyprus for the donation of the artifacts.
During the handover ceremony, Dr. Kassianidou expressed her gratitude to Victoria Mudd and the college’s Board of Directors for their decision to repatriate the collection. She also thanked the Embassy of Cyprus in Washington for its role in facilitating the process.
Dr. Kassianidou emphasized the importance of this repatriation, calling it one of the largest private initiatives to return cultural artifacts to their homeland. She expressed hope that this example would inspire others to follow suit. After cataloguing by the Department of Antiquities, the objects will be sent to the University of Cyprus for display and used in the training of students studying history and archaeology. Notably, some of the more significant items, including the bronze talent, will be incorporated into the upcoming Cyprus Archaeological Museum.
This return is part of Cyprus’ ongoing efforts to reclaim its cultural heritage. The Department of Antiquities continues to work on identifying, claiming, and repatriating artifacts that were exported from the island in the past, urging anyone with knowledge of such objects to come forward.
With info from CNA
