After Decades of Smuggling, 100 Artefacts Return to Türkiye as Istanbul Exhibition Reunites Roman Emperor Statues

Treasures from Anatolia, some dating back more than 4,000 years, take centre stage as the exhibition No Escape: Boubon reveals the story of statues looted in the 1960s and scattered across museums and international collections.

Türkiye has recovered 100 artefacts from the United States, some dating back more than 4,000 years, coinciding with the opening of No Escape: Boubon at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. The exhibition brings together Roman statues looted decades ago, marking another significant addition to the city's cultural and tourism scene.

The recovered artefacts were presented and the exhibition opened on 2 November 2026, in the presence of Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Manhattan Deputy District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, following joint legal and scientific efforts to trace and recover smuggled antiquities.

Speaking at the opening, Ersoy said: “Our goal is not simply to move artefacts from one display case to another, but to reassess them within the stories and cultural context to which they belong.” He also reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to continuing its efforts to combat the illicit trade in cultural property.

The recovered collection includes 40 artefacts from the Horoztepe area in Tokat Province, dating from between 2300 and 2000 BC. These include ceremonial musical instruments, weapons and metal vessels that reflect the advanced metalworking skills of ancient Anatolia.

The collection also features 44 terracotta architectural plaques from the Düver area in Burdur Province, dating back to the sixth century BC, alongside sculptures, theatrical masks and small statues of deities.

The exhibition No Escape: Boubon offers visitors an opportunity to discover the story of bronze statues that once adorned a site dedicated to Roman emperors in the ancient city of Boubon, before being dismantled and smuggled out of the country during the 1960s.

The displayed works include statues associated with emperors such as Marcus Aurelius, Caracalla, Septimius Severus and Lucius Verus. Archaeological research, together with soil and metal analyses, helped establish their origins.

The recovery follows cooperation with US authorities that helped halt the sale of Anatolian antiquities offered at an auction in May 2026.

For visitors to Istanbul, the exhibition opens a window onto a chapter of Anatolia's history. The value of these artefacts lies not only in their artistic beauty, but also in the stories they tell about ancient civilisations and the long journey they undertook before returning to their homeland.