PHNOM PENH, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia announced on Friday the return of 18 Khmer cultural objects recovered in London, following a successful repatriation effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MCFA).
The antiquities were recovered by the Art and Antiques Unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service, with support from the Heritage Crime Task Force led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said an MCFA's press release.
The collection was formally handed over to the Cambodian Embassy in London on Friday.
Dating from the 10th to the 13th centuries, the returned collection comprises stone sculptures, bronze ritual objects, and jewelry fragments. Notable pieces include stone heads sculpted in the 11th-century Baphuon style and the late 12th-century Bayon style.
The treasure trove also features a Buddhist bell with a handle bronze, dancing figures on a pedestal, decorative plaques with pendants, and a ceremonial bronze lamp.
"Together, these objects reflect the artistic achievements, religious traditions, and cultural life of Khmer civilization across several centuries," the press release said.
Authorities originally recovered the artifacts in November 2025, it said, adding that following authentication by experts who confirmed their Cambodian origin, the ministry submitted a formal claim for their return in September 2026.
For decades, countless cultural properties were plundered from Cambodia due to war, theft, and the illicit international antiquities trade.
"The return of these 18 cultural objects represents another important achievement in Cambodia's ongoing efforts to recover its displaced heritage," the press release said. "The kingdom remains committed to pursuing the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from its territory." ■
