Metropolitan Museum of Art to Return Stolen Ancient Artifacts to Cambodia and Thailand

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced that it will return 16 ancient artifacts, including sculptures, to Cambodia and Thailand. The works were looted during periods of civil war and unrest in those countries. The investigation revealed that the pieces had been stolen by art dealer Douglas A. J. Latchford, who was indicted in 2019 for running an antiquities trafficking network. The museum is reviewing its collecting practices and plans to hire additional staff for provenance research. Ten of the artworks will remain on view at the museum until they are repatriated.