Artifacts to be displayed at special 2012 exhibition JEDDAH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has said it has recovered in recent times some 14,000 archeological artifacts from abroad and will display some of the pieces at a special National Museum exhibition for the 2012 Janadriya Festival. Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the SCTA, said that royal approval had been given for the display — to be entitled “Recovered National Antiquities Exhibition” — and praised King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for his concern for the “considerable cultural reserve in which the Kingdom takes pride”. “The exhibition will be held to show the importance of recovered pieces and collections of national artifacts which left the country over the years in various ways,” Prince Sultan said. “They form an important part of the nation's authentic heritage.” He said the exhibition would also take the opportunity to honor individuals who have helped secure the return to the Kingdom of valuable pieces or collections that were illegally taken abroad. “In recent times great efforts have been made to bring back archeological pieces to the Kingdom. Approximately 14,000 pieces have been returned from abroad, some of them taken during explorations and when experts have come to the Kingdom, others which had been missing for 50 years. Work has been stepped up this year with all the relevant authorities in the Kingdom and abroad to recover more pieces which will be displayed at the exhibition.” The National Museum exhibition in Riyadh will be divided into two sections: one for pieces recovered from within the Kingdom, and the other for pieces recovered from abroad. “There will also be a symposium to go along with the exhibition on the recovery of museum pieces, with local and international experts addressing the role of the Kingdom in this area and promoting public awareness and knowledge of issues related to antiquities,” the prince said. He said that a national awareness campaign would also be launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information to inform the public of the threat of vandalism and misuse of archeological sites. “The sites are part of the nation's wealth,” he said. “Protecting them is the duty of every citizen.” Prince Sultan further appealed to anyone in the Kingdom or abroad with illegally-acquired pieces or collections pertaining to Saudi Arabia to “cooperate with the Tourism and Antiquities Commission and take part in the exhibition”. “It would be an act in the service of the nation and its heritage and culture,” he said.
