Encounter of ancient missing Mesopotamian artifacts found in Norway

OSLO, Sept. 3 (Reuters) – Norwegian police said Friday they had confiscated a large number of archeological artifacts reported missing by Iraqi authorities, including alleged cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia.

The objects were found by the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Processing of Economic and Environmental Crimes (Oekokrim), which assisted the Norwegian Ministry of Culture in the search.

The objects had been part of a private collection in Norway and while several witnesses were questioned, there were no criminal charges, a police spokesman told Reuters.

“In total, nearly 100 objects relevant to the world cultural heritage have been confiscated,” Oekokrim said in a statement.

“They are now being examined by experts to determine their authenticity and, if possible, to establish their provenance.”

Police did not say when the items could have arrived in the northern European country or how they ended up there.

Iraq is the site of ancient Mesopotamia, a region that is home to many ancient civilizations, including Sumer, which developed the cuneiform, one of the oldest writing systems in the world.

Report by Victoria Klesty, edited by William Maclean

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