Uzbekistan: WOSCU and the Center of Islamic Civilization Returned Lost Heritage from the United Kingdom
Thanks to the joint work of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU), the OSCE, the international specialized company engaged in the search for stolen, lost and illegally exported works of art, antiques and cultural valuables Art Loss Register, the Metropolitan Police Service, relevant British institutions and international experts, the rarest unique masterpieces of global significance are being returned to Uzbekistan.
In London, at the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the international media event “History and Cultural Heritage of the Great Timurids” was held, dedicated to the 690th anniversary of the birth of the great statesman and military leader Amir Temur. The event brought together leading British and foreign historians, orientalists, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the scientific community, cultural circles and international organizations. During the evening, special materials were presented about the personality of Amir Temur, his role in world history, the achievements of the Timurid era, as well as modern initiatives of Uzbekistan for the preservation of historical heritage. A special event of the evening was the premiere of the new mini-film “The Golden Age of the Timurids” featuring Sir Ben Kingsley — an outstanding British actor of world renown.
Particular interest was generated by the presentation of a new publication prepared by WOSCU within the framework of the series “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the Collections of the World” — the book by Firuza Melville “The Manuscript Heritage of Central Asia in the Libraries of Cambridge University,” dedicated to the unique written monuments of the region.
The culmination of the event was the ceremonial return of Uzbekistan’s cultural valuables, which aroused great interest among the participants. Among the returned items were ten priceless artifacts related to various periods of Central Asian history. Some of the finds are connected with the culture of the Kushan period, ancient Termez, Buddhist artistic traditions and the heritage of Sogdiana. Some items date back to the 2nd–8th centuries AD. The list of returned heritage also includes a unique Timurid cenotaph that belonged to a royal personage.
· The return of the historical artifacts became the result of large-scale and painstaking international work that lasted several months. Behind this event stood dozens of specialists, experts, lawyers, art historians and representatives of law enforcement agencies from several countries. The return process began after information was received about items allegedly originating from the territory of Uzbekistan. After that, an international working group of the Center of Islamic Civilization was formed with the support of foreign specialists — WOSCU members, art historians and cultural heritage experts. Today we express our sincere gratitude to everyone who took part in implementing this important program, and first of all to the OSCE, Art Loss Register, the Metropolitan Police, the relevant state structures of the United Kingdom, international experts, as well as all partners who contributed to the return of Uzbekistan’s cultural valuables, — emphasized the Director of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and Chairman of the Board of WOSCU Firdavs Abdukhalikov.
A key role in the return process was played by WOSCU, which in recent years has turned into one of the most effective international mechanisms for the search, study and return of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage from foreign collections.
· For the law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom, participation in returning cultural valuables to their lawful owner is an important part of international work against illicit trafficking of property and crimes in the field of art. We are proud that today we have the opportunity to transfer these valuables to the people of Uzbekistan. We see the great attention that the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev pays to issues of culture, historical memory and the return of national heritage. All this creates important conditions for such initiatives and unites the efforts of different countries for a noble purpose, — noted Detective Superintendent Kerry Wood, head of the economic crime unit.
According to specialists, among the returned objects a special place is occupied by sculptural heads made of stucco and terracotta dating approximately to the 2nd–5th centuries AD. Such works are characteristic of the cultural environment of the Kushan period and the Buddhist artistic centers of ancient Termez, including Kara-Tepe, Fayaz-Tepe and Dalverzintepa. Fragments of ancient wall paintings are of no less interest. Some of them may be connected with the Sogdian artistic tradition of the 7th–8th centuries or with earlier monumental schools of southern Uzbekistan.
· The returned items represent exceptional historical and scientific value, since they belong to various periods of the ancient history of the territory of modern Uzbekistan and reflect the diversity of civilizational processes that took place in Central Asia over the centuries, — noted Director of the Institute of Anthropology of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Dr. Farhod Maksudov.
After arriving in Tashkent, the items will undergo additional attribution, restoration examination and scientific description. This will make it possible to introduce them into international academic circulation and present them to the wider public for the first time as a returned part of Uzbekistan’s historical memory.
Within the framework of the ceremony, official documents were solemnly signed and certificates were exchanged confirming the lawful transfer of the returned cultural valuables to the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. This act became an important symbol of international cooperation, restoration of historical justice and the return of priceless relics to their historical homeland.
— This event may become the beginning of a new stage: following London, similar processes may take place in other countries where objects originating from Uzbekistan are located. Such examples show that international cooperation and a responsible attitude toward cultural heritage are capable of restoring historical justice and returning priceless valuables to peoples, — noted Chairman of the Art Loss Register James Ratcliffe.
This act became an important symbol of international cooperation, trust, legal responsibility and restoration of historical justice.
