Turkey has brought around 100 cultural artifacts back from the United States, using artificial intelligence and scientific methods to help identify objects connected to the country's archaeological heritage. The return was marked at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums alongside the opening of "No Escape: Boubon," an exhibition focused on protecting cultural heritage.
Among the artifacts are bronze sculptures associated with the ancient city of Boubon in Burdur, along with terracotta architectural panels from Düver, objects from Horoztepe, a portrait from Aphrodisias, theatrical masks and goddess statuettes. Boubon's ancient sculptures were dispersed after illegal excavations in the 1960s. Archaeological work at the site resumed in 2023 and continues.
Three tools help trace artifacts
The recovery effort combined lead-isotope analysis, which can indicate where bronze was smelted, with geometric comparisons that match sculptures to their original pedestals. Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism also used TraceART, an AI platform launched in 2025 to scan auction listings and social media for cultural objects. Specialists review items flagged by the system.
Evidence connecting the objects to their origins helped support the return process, alongside legal and diplomatic cooperation. Manhattan District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos said the office's Antiquities Trafficking Unit has recovered 6,452 looted antiquities, including 276 from Turkey.
Turkey says it repatriated about 180 cultural objects in 2025, taking the total returned since 1980 to more than 26,700. The combination of data tools, scientific analysis and expert research could make it easier to identify and return heritage objects in the years ahead.
