Yemen Identifies 28 Allegedly Looted Artifacts at British Museum and London Auctions

Yemen’s Antiquities Authority has identified 28 allegedly looted artifacts from Yemen in collections abroad, including 20 pieces at the British Museum and 8 offered at London auction houses. This announcement was made as part of Yemen's ongoing efforts to recover cultural heritage, detailing finds from sales around July 2, 2023.

Details of the Looted Artifacts

The identified artifacts include a range of significant items such as statue heads, inscriptions, and funerary stelae. The auction houses Bonhams and Apollo Art Auctions featured these items, with descriptions often categorizing them as “South Arabian” or “Ancient Arabian.”

Two alabaster heads depicting male and female figures were included in the Bonhams auction, which reported their sale results. The Apollo auction consisted of several hundred lots, likely including more of the identified artifacts, although specific lots have not been confirmed publicly.

British Museum's Collection of South Arabian Artifacts

The British Museum houses a significant collection of ancient South Arabian artifacts, with many items potentially matching those identified as looted by Yemen. This collection features stone slabs and funerary stelae from the ancient city of Shabwa, alongside alabaster sculptures known for their stylized designs.

Some artifacts date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, linked to British figures such as William Francis Prideaux and his son, Lieutenant L. A. R. Prideaux. Notably, a limestone slab with a Qatabanian inscription dedicated to the deity Anbay was acquired in 1907, highlighting the historical significance of these artifacts.

Yemen's Efforts to Recover Cultural Heritage

The identification of these artifacts is part of Yemen's “Our Looted Heritage” project, which aims to trace stolen cultural items back to their origins. This latest list marks the 34th release in a series documenting looted Yemeni artifacts abroad. Yemen’s authorities estimate that over 13,000 antiquities have been smuggled out of the country since 1994, with around 8,000 taken during the last decade of conflict.

Despite numerous requests for comment, the British Museum has not responded regarding the artifacts identified by Yemen. The ongoing efforts to recover these items underscore the challenges faced in preserving cultural heritage amidst conflict.