Stolen artefacts of Kosovo

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The stolen artefacts of Kosovo (Alb: Artefaktet e vjedhura te Kosoves) (Srb: Украдени косовски артефакти) refers to the ongoing debate in Kosovo and Serbia regarding the destroyed or stolen archeological and ethnological artefacts of Albanian heritage before the Kosovo war, during and after.[1][2] The artefacts were stolen and transported to the Museum of Belgrad where they to this day still are kept. According to Albanian sources, the artefacts remaining in Serbia may be illegal.[3] More than 1,200 artefacts of Neolithic type (5,500-6,000 years-old) and Vinča-type were stolen from the Museum of Kosovo in 1999. They were then smuggled out during the war.

On May 19, 2022, the Museum of Kosovo hosted an event named "Return Us Home" with the intention of raising awareness of the stolen artefacts.[4] Over 700 photographs were shown.

Stolen artefacts in 1998-99[edit]

During the Milosevic-led Yugoslav aggressions in Kosovo many artefacts were stolen in an attempt to wipe out any traces of Albanian history. The first collection of 677 artefacts were "borrowed" according to Serbian authorities by the Gallery of the Academy of Arts.[5] The second collection numbers 571 artefacts, which were "borrowed" and transported to the Museum of Novi Sad, Belgrade and Subotica. A total of 1,247 artefacts remain unreturned.[6]

Stolen artefacts in 2015[edit]

According to Time journalist Shaban Maxharraj, in an interview with "Tonight with Rronin", Serbian archaeologists published a scientific paper based on some stolen artifacts in Kosovo. These artifacts, according to Maxharraj, were stolen during the restoration process of the Noboberda Castle that started in 2015, until the tender for this was won by a company based in Belgrade, named "Koto".[7][8]

He also stated that there is communication with the authors of the publication and that they have stated that they are not aware of smuggling and have expressed readiness for the artefacts to be returned to Kosovo if that be the case. Maxharraj has indicated that KOHA has provided a report of the Inspectorate with the findings and recommendations for the Ministry of Culture regarding this case, which will be published in the Thursday issue of the newspaper "Koha Ditore".

UNESCOs approval[edit]

The request is supported by UNESCO's Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.[9]

International reactions[edit]

In an article in the BalkanInsight, it is stated that "the forced removal or displacement of a nations cultural heritage cuts to the bone of a nations identity."[10]

List of artefacts[edit]

The Neolithic Runik Ocarina is the oldest musical instrument found in Kosovo to date.

A few of the artefacts requested:[11]

  • "The Runik ocarina", a musical instrument made of baked clay. It belongs to the early Neolithic period (7th-6th millennium BC). It was found in Runik, Skenderaj.
  • An anthropomorphic figurine belongning to the late Neolithic period (5th - 4th millennium BC), Vinca culture. Found in Fafos II, Mitrovica.
  • The marble sculpture known as "Lady Dardane", representing a unique example of the artistic creation of the autochthonous population, created in the 2nd - 3rd century. Found in Vërban, Kllokot.
  • The marble "actor's head" (2nd century AD) discovered in the Northern Necropolis (Memoria) of Ulpiana.

German police raid[edit]

In February 2013, German police raided two Serb citizens homes and discovered some of the artefacts and stated that they had came from illegal excavations.[12] The artefacts were then returned to Kosovo.[13]

Returnal of artefacts[edit]

Of a total 1,248 artefacts requested, the Serbian authorities returned only one.[14][15][16]

Director of Kosovo's National Museum Ajet Leci has written a letter to the National Museum in Belgrade, the Ethnographic Museum, and Serbia's Academy of Arts and Science asking them to return Kosovo artifacts that continue to be held in Serbia.[17][18] Two official requests have been made and published.[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ IOANNIS ARMAKOLAS, AGON DEMJAHA AROLDA ELBASANI STEPHANIE SCHWANDNERSIEVERS (2021). LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF KOSOVO'S STATEHOOD (PDF) (The Kosovo Museum’s collection is itself defined by the ongoing political dispute between Kosovo and Serbia, with the latter refusing to recognize the independence of the former. A large number of the Kosovo Museum’s artefacts from the classical, post-classical and medieval periods were displayed in an exhibition in Belgrade in 1999 and never returned. This has weighed heavily on the museum’s identity since. ed.). LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF KOSOVO’S STATEHOOD —VOLUME II. p. 52. ISBN 978-9951-503-06-8. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. ^ Sasa Dragojlo, Perparim Isufi (December 7, 2022). "Heritage Heist: Kosovo, Serbia Fight over 'Loaned' Museum Exhibits". No. Belgrade, Pristina BIRN. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Artefakti i vjedhur nga Serbia, Kosova e kërkon kthimin e tij". Paparaci. No. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kosovo, headed by Hajrullah Çeku, has started a campaign on "twitter" through which Serbia is asked to return the artifacts that it stole from Kosovo. This is how this ministry acted today when it asked Serbia to return an anthropomorphic figure from the 5th-4th millennium BC, which was found in Mitrovica. "1247 Kosovo artifacts illegally kept in Serbia. This anthropomorphic figurine belongs to the late Neolithic period (5th - 4th millennium BC), Vinca culture. Found in Fafos II, Mitrovica, Republic of Kosovo. Help us bring the FIGURINE back home", says the reaction of MKRS, where Unesco, the European Commission and the Council of Europe are also included in the post. 9 July 2022.
  4. ^ "'Return us Home': Exhibition Seeks Return of Artifacts Held in Serbia". Prishtina Insight. 19 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Waiting endlessly for ethnological and archeological exhibits taken by the museums of Serbia". DWP-BALKAN. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Ceku: Serbia to return 1,247 artifacts to Kosovo; Gojkovic: Pristina is trying to falsify history". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Maxharraj talks about Serbian research with stolen artifacts in Kosovo". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Rikonfirmohet kontrabandimi i artefakteve të Novobërdës për në Serbi, Ministria "heton"". No. ". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Kosovo Requests the Return of over 1000 Artifacts from Serbia". Exit - Explaining Albania. No. The request is backed by agreements that foresaw the return of the archeological and ethnological artifacts after they had been exhibited in Belgrade, as well as UNESCO’s Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  10. ^ Wellner, Nora. "Serbia Must Return Kosovo's Cultural Treasures". Kosovo needs to step up its campaign to ensure the return of important cultural artefacts that were removed before, during and after the war, and are now being kept by Serbia. BalkanInsight. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  11. ^ Pamfleti, Pamfleti. "Kulture". No. In 2002, an energetic chief administrator, the German Michael Steiner, had made a special trip by helicopter from Pristina to Belgrade. The UN Governor for Kosovo had gone there with a mission to bring the "Goddess to the Throne", which Serbia had stolen while administering and holding Kosovo with the army and police. Since then, what is known as the material culture of the country, a part of it or 1247 artifacts are kept there. The Kosovo authorities have chosen to remind the international community of this, by posting these figurines on Twitter, just when they are being pressured to implement the decision for the Deçani Monastery. Pamfleti.net. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Germany's return of antiquities to Kosovo – looting and murder details unknown and withheld". conflict antiquities. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Germany returns lost ancient artifacts to Kosovo | HAEMUS | Center for scientific research and promotion of culture". 25 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Kosova kërkon kthimin e këtij artefakti të vjedhur nga Serbia". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 9 July 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  15. ^ Bytyci, Valbona. "Në më shumë se 20 vjet, vetëm një artefakt i kthyer nga Serbia në Kosovë". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Serbia Has Returned Only One of 1248 Cultural Artifacts Stolen from Kosovo". Exit - Explaining Albania. Exit. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Kosovo requests Serbia to return museum artifacts". RTKLive. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  18. ^ Popović, Darko (12 July 2022). "Kosovo Culture Ministry demands sculpture from Belgrade". N1 (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Facsimile of the letter of the director of the National Museum of Kosovo, Ajet Leci, and that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz and the Minister of Culture, Hajrulla Çeku, addressed to the National Museum in Belgrade, the Ethnographic Museum of Belgrade and the Academy of Sciences and Arts in Serbia Two letters requesting the return of artifacts found in the Serbian capital since the end of the 90's have been addressed to three institutions in Belgrade. The National Museum of Kosovo, together with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did this on Wednesday, one day after the International Day of Museums". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stolen_artefacts_of_Kosovo&oldid=1220618206"