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Stolen antiques return to China
   CCTV.COM   2003-07-13 09:07:32   
    Six pottery figurines from the Western Han Dynasty are on display in Han Yangling Archaeology Museum, Shaanxi Province after being stolen, sent to America, and then returned to their rightful home.

    Now safe in well-protected glass containers, these six figurines are from Empress Ba Lingdou's tomb from the Han Dynasty.

    According to experts, the tomb was burned at some time between the Han and Jin dynasties and the wood coffin had been carbonized. The figurines were blackened after many years' contact with the charcoal.

    In 2001, tomb-diggers stole these six antiques and a year later they turned up in America in 2002. After another year's worth of negotiations with American authorities, US customs agents returned them to China on June 17 this year.


Editor: Xiao Wei  CCTV.com


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