New Delhi/IBNS: The United States has returned 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Delaware.

In a symbolic handing over, a select few pieces were showcased to PM Modi and President Biden on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.

PM Modi thanked President Biden for his support in the return of these artefacts. He noted that these objects were not just part of India’s historical material culture, but formed the inner core of its civilization and consciousness.

The antiquities belong to a time period spanning almost 4000 years, from 2000 BCE – 1900 CE, and have origins in different parts of India.

The majority of the antiquities are terracotta artefacts from Eastern India, while others are made in stone, metal, wood, and ivory and belong to different parts of the country.

Ten antiquities were returned during PM’s visit to USA in June 2016; 157 antiquities during his visit in September 2021 and a further 105 antiquities during his visit in June last year.

The total number of cultural artefacts returned from the US to India since 2016 stands at 578. This is the maximum number of cultural artefacts returned by any country to India.