YANGON, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture has presented cash awards and certificates of recognition to individuals who donated ancient artefacts to the country, the state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Wednesday.
The awards were presented at a ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, where donors of 1,173 ancient artefacts received cash awards totaling more than 104.9 million kyats (about 50,000 U.S. dollars), along with certificates of recognition, the report said.
The donated artefacts date back to the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, and the Pyu, Konbaung, Waithali and Mrauk U periods. They included fragments of gold floral ornaments, silver coins, stone rings, stone beads, bronze weights, bronze bells, bronze alloy plates and pottery, it said.
The recipients included people from Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, Mandalay region, Magway region and Mon state, the report said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Union Minister for Hotels, Tourism and Culture U Maung Myint said that cultural heritage and ancient artefacts are invaluable symbols of the nation's dignity and enduring historical legacy, making their long-term preservation essential.
He thanked the donors for handing over the artefacts to the country and said the donated items would be systematically preserved and displayed in national museums. ■
