A Byzantine-era oil lamp, seven ancient coins, and a gold medallion dating back to the fourth century have been repatriated to Türkiye from Switzerland. These artifacts were recovered through a cultural property trafficking investigation led by Swiss authorities.
The investigation began when Swiss officials uncovered documents related to the illegal trade of cultural heritage items. Their findings exposed a criminal network smuggling historical artifacts from the Middle East into Europe. The network involved illegal excavators, intermediaries, art dealers, restoration experts, and counterfeit artifact makers.
In Geneva, those involved faced legal repercussions, effectively breaking up the smuggling network. The investigation has also prompted a separate probe into a well-known European figure and a company suspected of similar activities.
During a customs inspection near Geneva, Swiss authorities seized an oil lamp from the fifth to seventh centuries A.D., which experts from the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry identified as of Turkish origin and exported illegally. Additionally, Swiss investigators found seven Byzantine coins and a gold medallion, thought to have been minted between the fourth and sixth centuries in Istanbul, Balıkesir, and İzmit.
Through a collaborative effort to combat artifact trafficking, Swiss authorities returned the artifacts to Türkiye. The items were officially handed over on Oct. 31 at a ceremony at the Turkish Embassy in Switzerland, with plans for their arrival in Türkiye later this month.
Türkiye has repatriated 12,164 artifacts since 2002, including 7,846 since 2018. This year alone, 45 artifacts have returned to Türkiye, reflecting the nation’s strong commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.
