A Thai citizen living in the United States has returned 13 ancient Ban Chiang artifacts to their homeland. The collector, identified as Mali Nongyao, contacted the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles to express his desire to return the items to Thailand as national heritage artifacts.
The artifacts, which include five clay-fired pottery items and eight iron bracelets, were officially handed over to the Department of Fine Arts in a ceremony held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including Nattapol Kanthahiran, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Phanombut Chantarachot, Director-General of the Department of Fine Arts.
The MFA and the Department of Fine Arts have been working together to repatriate priceless Thai artifacts from abroad and expressed their gratitude to Mali for relinquishing the ownership of the ones in his possession. The joint effort is part of a larger initiative to bring Thai artifacts back to their homeland, where they belong.
The Department of Fine Arts will now examine the condition of the Ban Chiang artifacts and begin an authentication process before storing them appropriately. The repatriation of these ancient treasures is a significant step towards preserving Thailand’s rich cultural heritage and ensuring that these valuable artifacts are protected for future generations.
