Eighteen Cypriot antiquities repatriated from the United States

On February 23, 2026, eighteen Cypriot antiquities were handed over to the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Washington. The items had been identified by officials from the Cypriot Department of Antiquities, who were monitoring online auctions for the illegal trafficking of cultural heritage. Following successful consultations with the auction house, Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers & Appraisers, the objects were withdrawn from sale. The collection consists of two Early Bronze Age vessels (2500–1900 BC), eleven Middle Bronze Age vessels (1900–1600 BC), three Cypro-Archaic I period vessels (750–600 BC), one Cypro-Archaic II period vessel (600–480 BC), and one limestone head of a male statue dating to the 4th century BC. The Department of Antiquities expressed gratitude to the auction house and the donors for their cooperation in the voluntary repatriation process. The Embassy of Cyprus in Washington coordinated the handover. No legal dispute was reported, as the artifacts were returned voluntarily.