Uzbekistan to Repatriate Ancient 2nd–7th Century Artifacts

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is preparing to repatriate nine unique archaeological artifacts dating back to the 2nd–7th centuries, which were previously illegally taken out of the country and later identified during an international investigation.

The collection includes heads of ancient statues and fragments of gypsum frescoes. The recovered items are expected to be transferred to the exhibition of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent.

The artifacts are considered to be of significant historical value, reflecting the cultural legacy of the region, which in antiquity served as an important center of the Bactrian and Kushan civilizations.

Their discovery was made possible through an international operation codenamed “Inherent Vice,” conducted with the participation of specialized experts and international organizations, including the OSCE. Some of the items were presented by a specialized unit of London police investigating art-related crimes.

The repatriation of cultural property is part of a broader systematic effort to restore Uzbekistan’s national heritage. Previously, the Center for Islamic Civilization facilitated the return of authentic Eastern miniatures from the 15th–16th centuries from British collections, created by masters from Bukhara and Shiraz.

In the future, the center plans to expand cooperation with European galleries and participate in auctions of major international houses, including Sotheby’s and Christie’s, to identify and recover additional culturally significant objects linked to Uzbekistan.