Artifacts

Greece calls for return of Parthenon Statues from British Museum at UNESCO, backed by 20 countries

Greece and Turkey argue that Lord Elgin had no firman permissing him to remove the artifacts, while the UK claims Elgin had all necessary documents and brought the Statues to Britian legally.

Visitors view the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, at the British Museum in London on January 9, 2023.
Ancient Egyptian wooden coffin found at  Draʻ Abu el-Naga’s necropolis site near Thebes, Egypt, May 19, 2026.

Over 30 mummified cats, ancient Egyptian tombs, coffins discovered at Luxor necropolis site

Eight-year-old Dor Wolynitz with the over 1,700-year-old statuette fragment he found in the Ramon Crater area, May 11, 2026.

Eight-year-old boy visiting Ramon Crater finds over 1,700-year-old statue fragment hidden in rocks

Statues of ancient Greek and Roman dieties discovered in  in the Muharram Bek neighborhood of Alexandria, Egypt, May 8, 2026.

Collection of Greek, Roman, Byzantine artifacts discovered in neighborhood of Egypt’s Alexandria


Hunting for stolen history: Inside Israel’s fight to recover its looted past

Israel’s antiquities watchdog is battling black-market theft, forgery, and a global trade that strips history of its story

Visitors to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s new center in Jerusalem look at items such as jewelery, makeup brushes, and weapons that had been stolen by antiquities thieves.

Ancient sites, modern stakes: The fight to own the West Bank's past - from the editor

As fighting rages, another battle unfolds in the West Bank – over history, heritage, and identity, where competing claims to the past are shaping the future

As the current war wages, Israelis and Palestinians battle over ancient narratives.

Palestinian doctor arrested for smuggling Second Temple-period coins from West Bank to Jerusalem

Trading in antiquities and bringing antiquities from the West Bank into Israel without a permit as well as searching for antiquities without a license using a metal detector are criminal offenses.

Coins seized by Border Police from vehicle of Palestinian doctor after attempted smuggling into Israel, March 23, 2026.

Polish archaeologists find evidence of legendary king hidden in south Sudan - study

Despite its origin, the decree is seemingly ordinary. Written by a royal scribe named Hamad, it instructs an individual named Khidr to exchange textiles for livestock.

Dongola. Qashqash Manuscript.

Real-life Indiana Jones: British Museum to hire ‘treasure hunter’ to find stolen artifacts - report

Since the original 2023 announcement of the theft, the museum has recovered 654 of these, the most significant of which was 268 gems returned all at once by the United States.

London, England, General view of the British Museum with visitors, Bloomsbury, March 2025.

‘Secrets of ancient Egypt’: Old Kingdom tombs, artifacts discovered on Nile's west bank

The tombs, discovered in the Qubbet el-Hawa site, were complete with shafts and burial chambers.

Pottery vessels, discovered alongside jewelry and other artifacts, inside Old Kingdom tombs at the Qubbet el-Hawa site in Aswan, Egypt, February 26, 2026.

University of Haifa student discovers 12th century Crusader sword off of Israel’s northern coast

The sword was eventually transferred to Elisha Medical Center in Haifa for an advanced CT scan to examine the blade’s condition without causing it futher harm.

Ancient Crusader sword, dated to the 12th century CE, discovered off of Israel's Dor Beach in northern Israel, February 22, 2026.

Suspect charged for stealing Egyptian artifacts from Australia museum, citing church ties - report

The stolen artifacts included a 26th Dynasty rare painted wooden Egyptian cat figure, a 3,300-year-old necklace, a collar, and a mummy mask.

An ancient Egyptian collar stolen from the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture, Australia, February 20, 2026.

Portugal returns stolen Mayan, Zapotec artifacts to Mexico in first-ever archaeological restitution

INAH specialists were sent photographs of the finds and conducted a preliminary review of the three, confirming that they indeed “form part of Mexico’s archaeological heritage.”

Portugal returns three stolen artifacts to Mexico in handover ceremony at the Mexican Embassy in Lisbon, February 17, 2026.

Researchers discover world’s oldest sewn hide, dated to Ice Age, in Oregon caves - study

Through carbon dating, researchers have ruled that the artifacts are between approximately 11,700 and 12,900 years old, a time when Ice Age temperatures had returned after a brief warm period.

Inside Sea Lion Caves, Oregon, February 10, 2026.