US returns ancient stone carvings to Thailand
Two ancient sandstone carvings, believed to have been stolen from Thailand and smuggled to the US during the Vietnam War, are being repatriated, BBC News reports.
The carvings were originally lintels - support beams - in temples dating back to the 10th Century and feature the Hindu deities Indra and Yama.
For decades they have been on display in San Francisco's Asian Art Museum.
They are due to go on display at the National Museum in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The San Francisco museum said it always wanted to return the beams to Thailand, but disputed experts' allegations that they had been stolen.
"We are very pleased that these lintels are going back to their country of origin," said Jay Xu, the museum director, in a statement.
The repatriation followed a three-year investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security.
Agents learned that the relics had been illegally imported, making them forfeitable under federal law, CBS reported. In February, the US reached a settlement with the city of San Francisco which agreed to forfeit the items.
Thai Fine Arts Department Director General Prateep Pengtako told AFP news agency that the lintels showed the influence of the ancient Khmer Kingdom, which was based in modern-day Cambodia.
"The lintels were assessed to be taken away some time between 1958 and 1969. In particular, 1965-66 saw a lot of Thai artefacts go missing," he said.
It is believed the artefacts came from Prasat Khao Lon historical sanctuary, in Sa Kaeo province, and Prasat Nong Hong, in Buri Ram province, the Bangkok Post reported.
A handover ceremony took place in Los Angeles earlier this week between US authorities and the Royal Thai Consulate General.
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