Friday, 19th November 2004 (3079 views)

Afghan treasures that had been feared as lost have been found as a result of an updated inventory list.

The priceless artefacts were revealed as archaeologist Fredrik T Hiebert completed an inventory which showed nearly all of them had been recovered from hidden caches in the presidential palace complex in Kabul and other "safe places".

Due to a current lack of interest in museums and collections in the area, the contents of many of the discovered boxes was actually unknown.

Mr Hiebert told the Telegraph India: "Every time an object came out [of a box] there was a stab of fear, followed by a leap of joy.

"It was amazing these artefacts were in such stable condition. The boxes were dented... and there was evidence that animals had nested on them."

Mr Hiebert was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Geographic Society and had originally been invited by the Afghan government to complete an inventory on Bactrian gold jewellery and ornaments.

When looking at the latest treasures, boxes revealed over 2,500 objects including 2,000 gold coins displaying royalty, as well as medallions and plaques.

 

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