US Returns to Iran Latest Batch of Ancient Clay Tablets

Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
TT
20

US Returns to Iran Latest Batch of Ancient Clay Tablets

Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP

The United States has returned to Iran more than 1,000 clay tablets dating from the Achaemenid-era, official media said, reporting the sixth such handover of its kind.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said Thursday evening that the tablets, 1,100 in all, were returned with President Masoud Pezeshkian who had attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Found at the ruins of Persepolis, the capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire which ruled from the 6th to 4th centuries BC in southern Iran, the repatriated tablets reflect how the ancient society was organised and its economy managed.

According to AFP, the tablets constitute records of "the rituals and the way of life of our ancestors", said Ali Darabi, vice-minister of cultural heritage, cited by IRNA.

The tablets were returned to Iran by the University of Chicago's Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa, formerly known as the Oriental Institute.

A large portion of the tablets were returned in three batches between 1948 and 2004 before the rest were blocked by legal action until 2018.

More than 3,500 tablets were repatriated in September, 2023.

"The American side undertook to return the rest," Darabi said, cited by Iran's ISNA news agency.



Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference
TT
20

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission Calls for Participation in 12th Red Sea Conference

Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission, in collaboration with the Heritage Commission, launched on Monday an open call for participation in the twelfth edition of the Red Sea Conference, scheduled for April 9 to 12, 2026, at the forthcoming Red Sea Museum.

The museum is housed in the historic Bab Al-Bunt building, located in the heart of Jeddah Historic District, which has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014.

The event aligns with Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to boost its cultural and academic presence in the region and to activate the role of museums as vital platforms for cultural knowledge and exchange.

‏Since its inception in 2002, the Red Sea Conference has established itself as a leading international forum for the interdisciplinary study of the Red Sea as a unique historical and geographical corridor.

Past editions were hosted by renowned institutions including the British Museum, the University of Southampton, the University of Exeter, the University of Tabuk, the Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale", the University of Warsaw, the Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée, the University of Crete, and the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.

‏The conference will explore a rich array of interdisciplinary themes, including the Red Sea as a dynamic space shaped by cultural and geographical boundaries, its role as a major artery of ancient maritime trade and exchange, and the relationship between people and the environment over time.

Participants will also examine the archaeological landscapes of ancient cities and ports, approaches to preserving cultural and underwater heritage, and the lasting impact of cross-cultural interactions across Africa, Arabia, and the Indian Ocean.

‏In support of scholarly research and to encourage broad participation, the organizers have announced the availability of five travel grants for researchers whose papers are accepted. These grants will cover travel, accommodation, and registration fees, with preference given to applicants from the Red Sea region and developing countries.

‏By hosting the Red Sea Conference, the Museums Commission and the Heritage Commission underscore the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to foster cultural dialogue, strengthen international collaboration, and highlight the enduring role of the Red Sea as a living archive of human history and civilizations.