COPENHAGEN, Denmark – About 100 missing tablets and other archeological objects from ancient Mesopotamia have been found and confiscated in Norway, police said Friday.
Authorities said they would now be examined to determine their authenticity and establish where they came from if possible.
The Norwegian national authority for the investigation and processing of economic and environmental crimes said they were “important objects for the world cultural heritage”.
The agency said it had “assisted the Norwegian Ministry of Culture (asterisk) in a matter in which Iraqi authorities have reported a large number of missing ancient artifacts suspected of being smuggled out of the country.” .
“During the search a large number of objects were seized and several witnesses were interviewed,” the agency known as Oekokrim said. “Our help is not an ordinary police investigation, but is limited to locating the missing objects.”
Police did not say how or when the objects were finished in Norway. No further details were obtained immediately.