US vows more returns of looted antiquities as Italy celebrates latest haul of 600 artifacts

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Italy is celebrating the return of around 600 antiquities from the U.S. They were looted years ago, sold to U.S. museums and collectors and recovered as a result of criminal investigations. Italy’s carabinieri art squad says the items have a value of around 60 million euros or $65 million and date from the ninth century B.C. to the second century. The U.S. ambassador to Italy and the head of the antiquities trafficking unit of the New York district attorney’s office were on hand for the presentation on Tuesday alongside the leadership of Italy’s Culture Ministry and Carabinieri art squad. It was the latest presentation of the fruits of Italy’s decades-old effort to recover antiquities that were looted.