The artifacts, dating back to the early Bronze Age about 5,000 years ago, are from the site of Jiroft in the southeastern Kerman Province. The two jars, five cups, six vases, one bowl, one dish and three weights were among many artifacts smuggled out of Iran over a period of four years between 2001 and 2005.
The Barakat items were among many artifacts associated with the Jiroft site that were scavenged by locals before the state took charge of the site.
Iran sued to get the 18 items in the Barakat Gallery back. The London High Court turned down that request in March 2007, paving the way for the gallery to auction the items off.
But Iran appealed the decision in May 2007 and won the case later in December of the same year. Barakat Gallery then challenged the appellate court’s decision, but its efforts failed when the court validated Iran’s claim last week.
The Jiroft site, near the Halil River, was discovered more than 10 years ago by archaeologist Yousef Madjidzadeh.
