Archaeologist exposes open sale of antiquities across 5 Yemeni cities, urges immediate intervention

SANAA, Aug. 24 (YPA) – A new wave of Yemeni antiquities is being openly sold across local markets in Yarim, Rada’a, Sanaa, Ataq, and Hazm Al-Jawf cities, warned prominent Yemeni archaeology expert Abdullah Mohsen, highlighting a renewed threat to the country’s cultural heritage.

The items offered for sale include ancient inscriptions, bronze artifacts, and gold jewelry believed to have been looted from archaeological sites, Mohsen stated. He urged the General Organization of Antiquities and Museums (GOAM) and relevant authorities to take immediate action to halt illicit trade and prevent these artifacts from being smuggled abroad.

Mohsen emphasized the critical need for urgent measures:

Documentation and Cataloging: Capturing high-resolution photographs, recording precise dimensions and descriptions, and assigning distinct tracking numbers within looted heritage registries to establish identity and provenance.

International Coordination: Immediately entering item records into the INTERPOL Stolen Works of Art Database to facilitate tracking across local and international auctions and bolster repatriation efforts.

Legal Action and Enforcement: Dismantling illicit trafficking networks and curbing illicit excavations and looting to safeguard the country’s cultural and historical property.

YPA