TAXILA, Feb 21: The local archaeological authorities have repossessed 52 priceless antiquities from Gandhara civilisation that were seized by the United States customs in October 2004.

Sources in the Federal Department of Archaeology and Museums told Dawn that the more than 2,000 years old artefacts were shipped in a container to the United States via Dubai but were detected at Newark Port, New Jersey.

The antiquities, which included Buddha figurines, are described as some of the earliest evidence for the domestication of plants and animals in South Asia and the beginning of a sedentary lifestyle.

The sources said the department’s director-general, Dr Fazal Dad Kakar, visited New Jersey in December 2004 to endorse the genuineness of the seized artefacts.

After in depth study and arduous scientific analysis, he submitted a report to the US Customs as well as the Pakistani Ministry of Culture declaring that more than 41 pieces were genuine and dated back to the Gandhara civilization of Taxila valley.

Mr Kakar proved to the US authorities that these antiquities were of Pakistani origin and smuggled by the treasure hunters after illegal excavations at some unpreserved site in Taxila. However, some of these pieces were found to be fake.

According to the sources, after three years of continued efforts and a number of visits, the US authorities accepted the ownership claims of Pakistan and handed back the relics a couple of days ago. A high-ranking official, while confirming the development, said: “Yes we got them back and presently they are in our possession.”

He told this reporter that archeological experts were also being sent to identify the antiquities seized recently at the Heathrow Airport in London.

The official stressed the need for urgent documentation of the priceless Gandhara antiquities to check their smuggling abroad.