PHNOM PENH: The United States is pleased to highlight the return home of 56 antiquities that were looted from Cambodia during the conflict years. U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh Chargé d’Affaires Bridgette Walker attended a handover ceremony at the Peace Palace on August 22, 2024, presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet.
“The United States is a committed and reliable partner for protecting the cultural heritage of Cambodia,” Chargé Walker said. “Returning looted artifacts to their rightful home is the right thing to do.”
As of today, the United States government has facilitated the return of over 150 antiquities, including previous returns of the Hindu elephant god Ganesh statue and the 10th century “Skanda on a Peacock,” both on display at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.
These returns are possible under the bilateral cultural property memorandum of understanding between Cambodia and the United States, which both countries renewed in August 2023 for an additional five years. Since signing the first agreement in 2003, the United States has helped train heritage protection professionals, prevented pillaging of antiquities, and facilitated the return of looted artifacts from private collections and galleries throughout the United States.
U.S. cultural cooperation with Cambodia also includes $6 million in total investment for cultural preservation through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation and other projects. Activities have included restoring the 9th century temples of Phnom Bakheng in Angkor Archaeological Park and Preah Vihear Temple in northern Cambodia.
Photo by: U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh, Cambodia
