Culture
Australia returns 14,000-year-old artifact to Jordan
October 14, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Jordan's foreign minister took delivery of a rare artifact returned by Australia at the Australian National Gallery on Tuesday.
- Ayman Safadi received the piece during a handover ceremony on the sidelines of King Abdullah II's visit to Australia.
- The artifact, dating to around 12,000 BC, was discovered in 1983 by a joint Sydney University and Worcester College mission and transferred to Australia in 1985.
- Jordan's Foreign Ministry said the piece is one of three parts of what is considered the oldest large-scale sculpture known in the world.
- Safadi thanked the Australian government and museum for their cooperation in returning the piece.