On Tuesday, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Culture (FOC) handed over a marble sculpture of a young woman’s Head to the Libyan Embassy in Bern.
According to the FOC, the culturally significant archaeological find had been confiscated in the canton of Geneva. The repatriation of the artefact took place in accordance with the Federal Act on the International Transfer of Cultural Property.
The sculpture, which measures 19 centimetres high, dates to the period between the first century BC and 1st century AD. It most likely originated from the archaeological site of the ancient city of Cyrene, located in the eastern region of Libya.
It was found as part of a customs inspection, in a customs warehouse in Geneva in 2013. In response to a complaint from the customs authorities, the cantonal prosecutor’s office initiated criminal proceedings in 2016, which ultimately led to the confiscation of the statute.
There was sufficient reason to believe that it had been acquired as part of an illegal excavation, the FOC said.
The sculpture is completely covered with a reddish patina that points to its origins in Cyrenaica, which is one of the few regions around the Mediterranean that has “terra rossa” as well as marble of this quality.
Libya, and its UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Cyrene are heavily threatened by looting and destruction. In 2015, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) issued an Emergency Red List of endangered antiques in Libya, in order to take action against the illegal trade.
Switzerland and Libya are both parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The Libyan Foreign Ministry noted its continued communication and coordination with the relevant authorities, to complete efforts in following up on smuggled antiquities wherever they are found, and returning them safely.