Italy has celebrated the return of around 600 antiquities from the United States, including ancient bronze statues, gold coins, mosaics, and manuscripts valued at 60 million euros ($65 million). The artifacts were looted years ago, sold to US museums, galleries, and collectors, and have now been recovered as a result of criminal investigations. The return of these artifacts is part of Italy's ongoing effort to recover antiquities that were looted or stolen from its territory. The presentation of the returned artifacts was attended by the US Ambassador and members of the US Homeland Security Investigations department, who vowed to continue returning stolen loot as a sign of respect for Italy's cultural and artistic heritage. However, the 'Victorious Youth' ancient Greek bronze statue, which has been the subject of a court battle between Italy and the Getty Museum, was not included in this latest haul. The European Court of Human Rights recently backed Italy's right to seize the statue. The returned artifacts also included a fourth-century Naxos silver coin, a life-sized bronze figure, bronze heads, multiple Etruscan vases, and oil paintings from the 16th and 19th centuries. The US does not distinguish between items taken during illicit excavations or those stolen in thefts, considering it all as looting. The US aims to minimize looting, increase the risk to traffickers, and convict and sentence them. [f4975108] [fb2c9678]