A noteworthy find in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has customs officials seizing a shipment containing numerous swords and arrowheads that date back to the Bronze Age, around 4,000 years ago.
On February 18, Customs and Border Protection agents confiscated 36 copper alloy daggers and 50 copper alloy arrowheads that were determined to have been illegally imported into the United States.
The shipment had arrived via express delivery from the United Arab Emirates on October 16, addressed to a location in Jacksonville, Florida.
According to CBP’s announcement on Friday:
CBP officials conducted an X-ray analysis of the shipment and found metal jewelry among the contents, along with a sword-like object. Upon further inspection, they uncovered a sword and an arrowhead. Suspecting these items were cultural property, the officers detained the shipment for a more thorough investigation.
They reached out to the Antiquities Division at the National Targeting Center and enlisted the help of a local archaeologist from Philadelphia University, who has considerable experience in the Middle East. By February 13, it was confirmed that the dagger and arrowhead were ancient artifacts originating from a region near Iran’s Tarish Mountains and date back to the late 2nd millennium BC, specifically between 1600 and 1000 BC.
Customs officials suggest these artifacts likely stemmed from illicit excavations at burial sites.
Federal authorities released footage of the discovery to the media.
“Our agents work to safeguard cultural property from illegal international traders who exploit and profit from the heritage of other nations,” remarked Elliott N. Ortiz, the acting regional port director for CBP in Philadelphia.
He added, “The deceptive methods used to introduce these treasures into the U.S. not only violate our import laws but also threaten our efforts to uphold the integrity of our cultural history.”
Many countries have various laws safeguarding cultural property, including export restrictions and national ownership rights, as noted by federal officials.
“Even if items are bought in their country of origin or through a company, it doesn’t automatically grant ownership rights that allow legal import into the United States,” CBP stated.
CBP further explained that the import of such artifacts is permitted only if an export permit from the origin country accompanies them; however, smugglers are often known to provide false documents.
Authorities will maintain custody of these antiquities until they can be appropriately returned to their rightful owners. So far, there have been no arrests related to this ancient shipment.
