Seventeen ancient parchment manuscripts that had been in the United States for decades after leaving Ethiopia under various circumstances have officially been returned to their homeland. Following their return, the Ethiopian Heritage Authority presented these rare artifacts to seven domestic institutions across the country.

According to the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, more than 67 artifacts taken from the country at various times and for different reasons have been repatriated over the past seven years. Elias Shukur, Deputy Director of the Authority, noted that this figure excludes the latest handover.

“Protecting our heritage is protecting our history,” Shukur said, affirming that the Authority is working diligently to preserve these treasures for future generations.

Officials highlighted that returning these artifacts to their place of origin is crucial for properly safeguarding Ethiopia’s historical, cultural, and spiritual traditions, passing them to upcoming generations, and sharing them with the global community.

The manuscripts were entrusted to the institutions to ensure they are securely preserved, studied by experts, and utilized for ongoing research.

Emphasizing that ancient manuscript heritage is a shared global asset rather than Ethiopia’s alone, the Authority stressed the need to properly promote these artifacts and integrate them into educational and research initiatives.

Successful repatriations like this provide significant momentum toward protecting Ethiopia’s historical heritage and bolstering ongoing efforts to recover artifacts that were illegally removed from the country.