For Immediate Release
November 23, 2004

Lost Afghan Artifacts Recovered
Fact of the Day

More than 22,000 treasures of Afghanistan's cultural history thought to have been stolen by looters during the Afghan civil war or destroyed by the Taliban were found earlier this year when a safe was opened at a presidential palace. These artifacts were hidden 25 years ago by staff of the National Museum in Kabul. With support from National Geographic and the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities, a team of 18 Afghans has catalogued the entire collection. The artifacts are not yet on display, but an international tour is being considered while a suitable permanent exhibit is built.

Source: The National Geographic Society