# Stolen artefacts of Kosovo

The stolen artefacts of Kosovo (Alb: Artefaktet e vjedhura te Kosoves) (Srb: Украдени косовски артефакти) refers to the ongoing debate in Kosovo and Serbia regarding the destroyed or stolen archeological and ethnological artefacts of Albanian heritage before the Kosovo war, during and after. The artefacts were stolen and transported to the Museum of Belgrad where they to this day still are kept. According to Albanian sources, the artefacts remaining in Serbia may be illegal. More than 1,200 artefacts of Neolithic type (5,500-6,000 years-old) and Vinča-type were stolen from the Museum of Kosovo in 1999. They were then smuggled out during the war.
On May 19, 2022, the Museum of Kosovo hosted an event named "Return Us Home" with the intention of raising awareness of the stolen artefacts. Over 700 photographs were shown.

## Stolen artefacts in 1998-99

During the Milosevic-led Yugoslav aggressions in Kosovo many artefacts were stolen in an attempt to wipe out any traces of Albanian history. The first collection of 677 artefacts were "borrowed" according to Serbian authorities by the Gallery of the Academy of Arts. The second collection numbers 571 artefacts, which were "borrowed" and transported to the Museum of Novi Sad, Belgrade and Subotica. A total of 1,247 artefacts remain unreturned.

## Stolen artefacts in 2015

According to Time journalist Shaban Maxharraj, in an interview with "Tonight with Rronin", Serbian archaeologists published a scientific paper based on some stolen artifacts in Kosovo. These artifacts, according to Maxharraj, were stolen during the restoration process of the Noboberda Castle that started in 2015, until the tender for this was won by a company based in Belgrade, named "Koto".
He also stated that there is communication with the authors of the publication and that they have stated that they are not aware of smuggling and have expressed readiness for the artefacts to be returned to Kosovo if that be the case. Maxharraj has indicated that KOHA has provided a report of the Inspectorate with the findings and recommendations for the Ministry of Culture regarding this case, which will be published in the Thursday issue of the newspaper "Koha Ditore".

## UNESCOs approval

The request is supported by UNESCO's Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

## International reactions

In an article in the BalkanInsight, it is stated that "the forced removal or displacement of a nations cultural heritage cuts to the bone of a nations identity."

## List of artefacts

A few of the artefacts requested:
* "The Runik ocarina", a musical instrument made of baked clay. It belongs to the early Neolithic period (7th-6th millennium BC). It was found in Runik, Skenderaj.
* An anthropomorphic figurine belongning to the late Neolithic period (5th - 4th millennium BC), Vinca culture. Found in Fafos II, Mitrovica.
* The marble sculpture known as "Lady Dardane", representing a unique example of the artistic creation of the autochthonous population, created in the 2nd - 3rd century. Found in Vërban, Kllokot.
* The marble "actor's head" (2nd century AD) discovered in the Northern Necropolis (Memoria) of Ulpiana.

## German police raid

In February 2013, German police raided two Serb citizens homes and discovered some of the artefacts and stated that they had came from illegal excavations. The artefacts were then returned to Kosovo.

## Returnal of artefacts

Of a total 1,248 artefacts requested, the Serbian authorities returned only one.
Director of Kosovo's National Museum Ajet Leci has written a letter to the National Museum in Belgrade, the Ethnographic Museum, and Serbia's Academy of Arts and Science asking them to return Kosovo artifacts that continue to be held in Serbia. Two official requests have been made and published.