Dozens of Cyprus’ ancient artefacts returned

The antiquities department on Wednesday announced that 38 artefacts from different periods of Cyprus’ prehistory and history have been delivered recently to the country’s embassy in the US.

The 38 items were delivered by Katherine Grayson Wilkins who had them in her possession, left to her by her late husband, Fraser Bryan Wilkins, who was president of the board of trustees of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute-CAARI.

The antiquities had initially been in the possession of Wilkins’ father-in-law, Fraser Wilkins, who served as the first US ambassador in Cyprus between 1960 and 1964.

Cyprus’ ambassador to the US, Marios Lysiotis, thanked Grayson Wilkins for returning the artefacts in memory of her late husband and late father-in-law.

The antiquities department expressed “special thanks and appreciation to Ms Grayson Wilkins for her commendable work, but also for her excellent cooperation throughout the communication process on the subject.”

It also thanked CAARI and its director Dr Lindy Crewe for her decisive contribution to the delivery of the antiquities and for her assistance on many levels.

The antiquities department also thanked Cyprus’ embassy in Washington and Lysiotis for their valuable contribution.

As the competent department of the Republic of Cyprus for the protection and management of cultural heritage and repatriations we, “will continue its intensive efforts to save and repatriate our cultural heritage and clamp down on the looting and illegal trafficking of cultural objects,” the statement said.