U.S. Returns Angkor-Era Artifacts To Cambodia

http://english.ntdtv.com/

via Khmer NZ

2010-07-19

Dancers help celebrate the return of seven artifacts to Cambodia's national museum by the United States.

The return is a measure of goodwill as both countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties.

Ties that hesitated but survived through secret U.S. bombings during the Vietnam war and the rule of the Khmer Rouge.

These artifacts - from the Angkor period - include sandstone divinity statues and decorative temple fragments.

The oldest piece dates from between the 10th and 12th centuries.

After a presentation of the artifacts by a U.S. official, Cambodia's culture minister spoke of his happiness.

[Him Chhem, Cambodia Culture Minister]:

"Today it seems that our antiquities souls are back home. We are very happy to receive them today, and we thank the generosity of the United States people and the United States government."

This isn't the first time the U.S. has returned artifacts to Cambodia - so far 27 pieces have come home.