Cambodia Repatriates 74 Khmer Antiques from British Dealer’s Collection

Cambodia Repatriates 74 Khmer Antiques from British Dealer’s Collection

PHNOM PENH, March 2, 2026 — Cambodia has received the return of 74 Khmer cultural treasures that were part of a controversial British art dealer’s collection, officials announced on Tuesday, marking a significant repatriation of national heritage items.

The artifacts, dating from the Angkorian period and earlier, were handed over in London and flown back to Phnom Penh, where authorities welcomed them at the airport. The return follows prolonged negotiations and global scrutiny over the ownership and provenance of cultural objects that were removed from Cambodia decades ago.

Cambodian officials said the items — including sculptures, religious objects and ritual pieces — were unlawfully taken during periods of conflict and instability and later acquired by an overseas dealer whose collection drew criticism from heritage advocates.

Prime Minister Hun Manet described the repatriation as a “restoration of rightful heritage,” reaffirming the government’s commitment to recovering Cambodian cultural property from abroad.

“The return of these treasures honors the legacy of our ancestors and reinforces our identity and history,” he said in a statement.

The Ministry of Culture said the artifacts will be conserved and displayed in national museums, adding that the government is pursuing additional claims for other items believed to be held in foreign collections.

International observers hailed the return as a positive development in cultural restitution, a global push to address historical looting and illicit trade in antiquities.

There was no immediate comment from the British collector involved in the case. Authorities did not disclose details of any legal arrangements or settlement underpinning the repatriation.