[MSN] Italian officials met in Rome yesterday with a delegation from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to present evidence that antiquities in the museum's collection had been looted from archaeological sites in Italy.

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May 19, 2006
Boston Museum's Antiquities Are Scrutinized

Italian officials met in Rome yesterday with a delegation from the Museum of
Fine Arts in Boston to present evidence that antiquities in the museum's
collection had been looted from archaeological sites in Italy. A joint
statement issued afterward offered no details on which objects were
discussed. It said that both sides agreed "to continue discussions in order
to resolve issues raised, in a timely fashion, with a view to furthering
cultural understanding and cooperation." Italy hopes to reach an accord
similar to the one it struck this year with the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
which agreed to return 21 contested works to Italy in exchange for long-term
loans of objects of equal importance. In recent years Italy has aggressively
pursued American museums to reclaim ancient artifacts that it says were
illegally excavated and then wrongfully sold abroad through a shared network
of dealers. Italian officials also met this month with a delegation from
Princeton University to press claims for antiquities in the university's
museums.